541-323-3833What Feeds Cancer: A Closer Look at Fats and the Ketogenic Diet
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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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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