report by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer estimates that being overweight and inactive accounts for one-fifth to one-third of all breast, colon, endometrial, kidney and oesophageal cancers. Eating habits are also thought to influence risk of bowel, mouth, stomach and pancreatic cancer, and may also be a risk factor for prostate, lung, cervical and bladder cancer. The advice of Cancer Research UK is to eat a healthy and balanced diet including plenty of fruit and veg, high-fibre foods, starchy foods like potatoes and lower levels of fat and red or processed meat.
The Role of Sugar
Obesity is directly linked to cancer, and a diet high in sugar increases the likelihood of weight gain (possibly to the point of obesity). Researchers in America say that excess fat can act as a continuous ‘hormone pump’, leading to changes in the body that create favourable conditions for cancer to begin.
Other studies, however, make a more direct link between sugar consumption and cancer. One US study of more than 38,000 women, reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, suggested a link between a diet high in sugar and colorectal cancer. The risk was almost three times higher in women with the highest dietary glycaemic load (in other words, those who ate more foods with a higher glycaemic index, see Chapter 3).
Another study, this time at the University of Minnesota, indicated that women with a higher dietary glycaemic load may be at greater risk of developing cancer of the womb. American author Dr Patrick Quillin says that eating foods that keep blood-sugar levels balanced is vital for cancer patients and advisable for those who don’t have cancer. In his book Beating Cancer with Nutrition he says, ‘Elevating blood glucose in a cancer patient is like throwing gasoline on a smouldering fire.’
HEART AND CIRCULATION DISEASES
• Heart and circulatory diseases are the UK’s biggest killer
• Coronary heart disease accounts for one in six deaths in women and one in four in men
• Heart disease is an increasing problem in the UK, not least because of rising levels of obesity and overweight, which put a strain on the heart and circulatory system. As we’ve already seen, being overweight also increases the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, which brings with it an increased risk of heart problems.
The Role of Sugar
A diet persistently high in sugar means blood-sugar levels that are constantly raised above normal levels. High sugar levels raise the levels of serum triglycerides (fat in the blood) and harmful very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) – both risk factors for atherosclerosis, or furring up of the arteries. High blood-sugar levels trigger the release of more insulin into the bloodstream, and insulin increases the risk of arteriosclerotic plaques on the walls of blood vessels.
POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME (PCOS)
Polycystic ovaries are when a woman develops many small follicles (cysts) in her ovaries which can hinder monthly ovulation. About 1 in 10 UK women have polycystic ovaries to some degree, and PCOS is found in around 70 per cent of women who have ovulation difficulties leading to infertility. Many women with PCOS are found to be insulin resistant so it’s thought this plays a major part in the condition. The body produces more insulin than normal in an attempt to reduce blood-sugar levels but this extra insulin (along with the testosterone it also stimulates) stops follicles developing and prevents ovulation.
The Role of Sugar
A high-sugar diet can aggravate PCOS by increasing blood insulin levels and keeping them at a constantly raised level. PCOS can be worsened by overweight and obesity because excess fat can cause insulin levels to rise and make the resistance worse. However, PCOS can also contribute to overweight and obesity – a bit of a ‘catch-22’ situation. Good general advice to sufferers is to cut back on added sugars and refined carbohydrates.
CANDIDA
Candida occurs when yeast that is naturally present in our bodies changes into its fungal form, travels through the gut walls and leads to toxins entering the bloodstream. This can produce a wide range of symptoms, from food cravings and allergies to depression. Blood-sugar imbalances – such as diabetes and low blood-sugar levels (hypoglycaemia) – can prompt Candida to multiply and cause problems.
The Role of Sugar
An overly sugary diet feeds the yeast at the root of the problem. Candida thrives on sugar so if you are prone to yeast infections, it’s important to reduce the amount of sugary foods and refined carbohydrates in your diet. Craving sweet foods is often a sign of Candida. If you think you might have Candida, you should seek advice from a doctor or nutritionist who may advise tests and an elimination diet to confirm the cause and tackle it.
DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS
• One in ten British people suffers from a digestive disorder
• Digestive disorders account for around one in sixteen deaths
Whether we’re talking about gallbladder problems, bloating or flatulence, digestive disorders can be painful, miserable or simply inconvenient. What we eat directly influences the health of our digestive systems.
The Role of Sugar
Sugar and other refined carbohydrates can cause real problems for the digestive system. The refined carbs cling to the gut wall where they feed unwanted gut bacteria, helping it to thrive instead of passing out of the body. These bacteria lead to inflammation in the gut and an immune response. If the immune response goes on for too long – as it can do if the diet is constantly high in sugar and refined carbs – the body may start to produce too much insulin. In other words, you could become ‘insulin resistant’ and end up with health problems such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, obesity, PCOS, high blood pressure or even arthritis.
TOOTH DECAY
• Eating a diet high in sugar increases the risk of tooth decay
• 53 per cent of children have decay in their permanent or primary teeth
• Drinking fizzy drinks increases the chance of tooth decay in 12-year-olds by 59 per cent. Four or more glasses daily increases the risk by 252 per cent
The role of sugar in causing tooth decay has been known for hundreds of years. Queen Elizabeth I had terrible tooth decay after sucking on bars of the ‘white gold’ (as sugar used to be known). In its 2003 World Oral Health Report, the World Health Organization announced that dental problems such as tooth decay and gum disease are on the rise, and one of the major reasons is our ever increasing love of sugar. One survey found that thousands of children under the age of five are having large numbers of milk teeth removed in hospital because they are so badly decayed.
The Role of Sugar
Tooth decay happens when bacteria in your mouth use sugar from food to make acids. Over time, these acids can create holes or cavities in the tooth – decayed areas that require treatment such as fillings or even removal of teeth. When it comes to tooth decay in children, Professor Aubrey Sheiham, Professor of Dental Public Health at University College London, says, ‘Some people think, “They’re only baby teeth – what does it matter.” But that doesn’t take into account the impact of pain and suffering that goes with tooth decay.’
Tooth decay can lead to problems with eating and chewing, dental abscesses and missing or damaged teeth – something that can cause distress well into adulthood. There are socio-economic implications,