Recent preliminary research is confirming the association of increased carbohydrate intake and breast cancer recurrence. Cancer feeds off of sugar (glucose) and we have known this for a long time. But science is taking it a step further and measuring a biomarker called the IGF1 (Insulin like Glucose Factor 1) receptor. This receptor is found on cancer tumors and sucks up sugar and stimulates cancer tumor growth. Women with a diagnosis of breast cancer had a statistically significant increased chance of having breast cancer recurrence with increased carbohydrate intake. The research article did not specify which type of carb to limit, but higher glycemic index carbs stimulate more insulin and IGF1 as a general rule.
Another recent research article supports this relationship, but they analyzed glucose levels in the blood. The normal range for glucose levels, measured on a simple blood test, should be about 65 to 100. The research suggests that there is an increased risk for many cancers, including breast cancer, when glucose levels are between 100 and 126, an often ignored no-man’s land range. Conventional doctors often ignore these levels because diabetes is not diagnosed until the glucose levels are consistently above 126. When blood sugar is slightly above 100, doctors often ignore this because it does not fit a full diagnosis. Levels of 100 to 110 are almost always ignored as only a slight issue but “nothing to worry about.” A small percentage of conventional doctors may diagnose “insulin resistance” with ranges of 110 to 125. If you are seeking optimal health and disease and cancer prevention, you should seek to have your glucose levels below 100, at least. Many naturopathic physicians, including myself, and anti-aging medical doctors suggest the optimal level to be between 70 to 90.
It is important to note that it has been long known in the research that having the full diagnosis of diabetes (glucose greater than 126) clearly increases your risk for cancer.
What can I do?
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Limit high glycemic carbohydrates and grains. Increase your vegetables and fruit. Keep this ratio to 2:1, vegetables to fruit.
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Follow a Traditional Diet that limits grains, supported by the ground-breaking work of Weston A Price. www.westonapricefoundation.org
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Consider the Paleo Diet, another diet that limits grain-based carbohydrates.
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Increase your exercise. No shocker here, but this simple advice has profound benefit.
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Consider natural supplements to control blood sugar.
Yours In Health!
Dr John A Robinson
