I am often asked the question, ‘If there was one word of advice that you could give to women afflicted with Breast Cancer, what would it be?” Since cancer is such a complex issue, there is no quick answer. However, if women would start with this 1 step, it could make a HUGE difference in their outcome.

STOP EATING SUGAR

Cancer cells LOVE sugar. A study published in the International Journal of Endocrinology states: “Cancer cells are well known to display an enhanced sugar uptake and consumption. In fact, sugar transporters are deregulated in cancer cells so they incorporate higher amounts of sugar than normal cells.”

In other words, cancer cells have a higher affinity for sugar than regular healthy cells. They need sugar to continue to grow and multiply.

Additional proof that cancer loves sugar is seen with a diagnostic tool that is used by mainstream medicine, called a PET scan (Positron Emission Tomography). This technology takes advantage of the cancer cells voracious appetite for sugar and helps to determine the extent of the cancer in the body. Before a PET scan, the patient is injected with a radioactive sugar solution. The cancer cells absorb the sugar solution and show up like little light bulbs during the scan.

High fructose corn syrup is a major source of sugar in the North American diet, to the tune of 150 grams of sugar per day or almost half a pound of sugar per day!

Studies have shown that high fructose levels contribute to altered cellular metabolism and DNA damage.

SO if we eliminate the obvious sources of sugar like candy bars, colas and junk food, what else needs to be avoided? A simple way to remember the sugar sources is by the color. Anything white needs to be eliminated from the diet…white rice, white pasta, white bread, white sugar, etc…

Some of you are panicking by now…thinking that you will never eat anything deliciously sweet ever again??? The good news is that there are healthy alternatives that do not affect your health in a negative way.

Stevia is a non-caloric herbal sweetener with no side effects. It can be used in baking and to sweeten your teas and lemonades. Some people find that the powdered Stevia has a bitter after taste while the liquid version is a little more palatable.

Another great alternative to sugar is Xylitol. Xylitol is a natural sweetener derived from the fibrous parts of plants. It looks like sugar and has a similar taste to sugar, but it has a very low glycemic index of 7 compared to sugar’s index of 100. You can bake with it and it dissolves very easily in liquid. Xylitol should be used very sparingly if you are afflicted with cancer.

Then the question of fruit and sugar often needs to be addressed. If you are on a Breast Cancer healing journey, limit your fruit intake to low glycemic fruits like Granny Smith green apples and low glycemic berries. These should also be consumed with moderation.

Simply by being proactive and eliminating all refined sugars from your diet, you are strengthening your Immune System and starving the cancer cells and getting one step closer to being a victorious Breast Cancer Conqueror.

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