CancerCompass message board discussion started by poppy/cath on 1/31/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,20492,0.htm Sat, 05 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Sat, 05 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ I have had Multiple Myeloma for four years.  About 2 years ago I lost 50kg and nearly died, however I have since regained about 20kg and have been able to maintain my weight for the past 12 months.  I have been reading on this site that sugar feeds cancer.  Is this true?  What proof is there?  My current problem is that I am craving chocolate at the moment -- this has never happened before.  I want to eat chocolate covered sultanas and chocolate covered licorice.  In the big scheme of things, is it necessary for me to avoid these cravings?  Any help appreciated.  Cath  poppy/cath Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT I recently read this and thought I'd send your way.  According to the Diet channel, this is what they wrote on the subjectDoes Sugar Feed Cancer? Wednesday, October 25, 2006 By Erin Dummert RD, CDIf you search the Internet for sugar and cancer, you will find a barrage of warnings that sugar causes cancer. You might also be warned that since your doctor is not a nutritionist, he or she does not know the dangers of eating sugar, and is not providing you with the tools to prevent or fight the disease. For a cancer patient, this is extremely frightening information! Here is the truth about sugar and cancer from a registered dietitian and cancer nutrition specialist. Sugar and hormonesIt is true that sugar feeds cancer. But it is not as simple as some would have you believe. And it is certainly not as simple as curing cancer by cutting out all sugar. Sugar feeds every cell in the body, including cancer cells. The rest of the story is more complex, involving hormones such as insulin and insulin-like growth factor. The body releases these and other hormones that promote cell growth in response to a rise in blood sugar. These growth-promoting hormones are the real problem for people living with cancer.Good sugars and bad sugarsWhy does sugar take the rap when hormones are really the problem? Sugar does cause the body to release growth-promoting hormones, but that is not the whole story. Sugar is very important to life. However, just as there are good fats and bad fats, there are good sugars and bad sugars.Bad sugars, often referred to as simple sugars, are those in foods that do not offer any other nutritional benefit. Examples of simple sugars include foods like soda, sweets, sugar cereals, juice drinks, and refined grains.Good sugars, or complex carbohydrates, are present in foods that provide nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, protein, and fiber. Examples of complex carbohydrates include foods like fruit, vegetables, beans, and whole grains. Reduce simple sugar intakeSimple sugars enter the bloodstream quickly and cause a rise in insulin and other growth-promoting hormones. Research shows that high levels of these hormones may increase the growth of cancer cells. The key to reducing these hormones is reducing your intake of simple sugars. Complex carbohydrates do not affect insulin the same as simple sugars, and thousands of research studies have shown that they actually reduce the risk of cancer. Increase consumption of complex carbohydratesBy substituting complex carbohydrates for simple sugars in your diet, you can reduce your risk of cancer and other chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes. To reduce the amount of simple sugars in your diet make the following substitutions:Instead of…Try…Orange juice A whole orangeStrawberry flavored yogurt Plain yogurt with fresh strawberriesWhite bread Whole grain breadWhite rice Brown riceSugar cereal Whole grain cerealFruit snacksFruit leatherPrepared salad dressingHomemade vinegar and oil dressingPretzels Popcorn cal1519 Wed, 09 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT Thanks Cal1519 - can you please cite the source of your information?  Cath poppy/cath Wed, 09 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT