Posts Tagged "Warburg effect"

What Feeds Cancer: A Closer Look at Fats and the Ketogenic Diet

Posted on Feb 1, 2017 in Research

Many of my patients ask questions about cancer as a metabolic disease. Perhaps you’ve read that “sugar feeds cancer”, or have learned of the Warburg effect. In the next few newsletters, I’ll be digging deeper into the complex story of cancer as a metabolic disease. Some of my colleagues recommend a ketogenic diet for cancer patients. They reason that if cancer cells eat sugar, then feeding protein and fat might be a better choice. The ketogenic diet is mostly fat with moderate protein and very little sugar and starch. It’s tough to follow, and it can be...

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Ask the Doctor: Can Alkaline Diet or Alkaline Water Help Me?

Posted on Apr 14, 2013 in Introduction to Integrative Oncology

Q: I’m reading about the Warburg effect in cancer cells. Can alkaline water or an alkaline diet help me to fight my cancer? A: Tumors make acid because they are growing quickly. However, the acid doesn’t make the tumor grow. An alkaline diet can be beneficial if it’s alkaline because it’s a plant-based diet. Plant foods, exercise, and relaxation all fight cancer on their own. Alkaline diet programs claim that these things are “alkalinizing”, but the anticancer benefits are independent. An alkaline diet can also protect bone density. Blood pH is tightly...

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Does Sugar Feed Cancer?

Posted on Mar 25, 2013 in Introduction to Integrative Oncology

While dietary sugar does not necessarily feed cancer, blood sugar feeds cancer. Let’s explore 2 meals. In the first meal, you have a salmon filet, steamed broccoli, and a 3 pieces of dark chocolate for dessert. The protein and fiber balance the sugar, and blood sugar stays level. In the second meal, you have a bowl of cereal and a glass of orange juice. The starch and sugar quickly spikes blood sugar. The pancreas responds by releasing insulin, the hormone of calorie storage and tissue growth. Insulin raises insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Growth factors feed cancer. Insulin and...

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