Effects of Excess Sugar

Over the last 20 years, as intake of sugars from processed foods has gone up, obesity rates have skyrocketed, leading many researchers to implicate excess sugar in the current obesity epidemic. In fact, recent work suggests that high-fructose corn syrup — a form of sugar frequently found in processed foods such as soft drinks — is converted to fat much more quickly than is naturally occurring glucose.

Yet, the negative effects of excess sugar begin even before it is stored as fat. Sugar is a prime energy source for many cancers, including prostate cancer. Most normal cells can adapt to an environment low in sugar and use other energy sources — a process developed through evolution when people would go through periods of starvation. However, cancer, which grows faster than normal cells, does not have the same ability to adapt to low sugar environments. Thus, the more excess sugar consumed, the more the tumor is stimulated. Indeed, several animal studies suggest that cutting simple sugar intake can slow prostate cancer growth.

Excess sugar intake is further linked to prostate cancer growth through its interactions with insulin. Upon consumption of sugar, the body produces insulin, which helps to break down the sugar, ensuring that the sugar is stored as needed. When too much sugar is consumed and the body constantly produces high levels of insulin to help process it, the cells can become immune to the effects of insulin, resulting in too-high levels of sugar in the blood — a common sign of metabolic syndrome and a strong risk factor for diabetes. In addition, high insulin levels have been linked to an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and prostate cancer growth, independent of its interaction with sugar.

Putting this evidence together, research is beginning to suggest that the more processed sugars you eat, the higher your insulin levels, and the more likely it is that your prostate cancer will grow.

Yet, cutting back on sugar intake is only one important step. Studies of animals with prostate cancer have shown that restricting overall caloric intake can slow advancement of their disease. Maintaining a healthy diet and engaging in a regular exercise regimen will not only help you achieve and maintain your goal weight, it might also help slow the growth of cancer. Working with a registered dietitian will help you identify “good” and “bad” foods, while working with a qualified exercise physiologist will help you develop an exercise regimen to keep you fit.