Daily soft drink serving boosts aggressive prostate cancer risk by 40 percent

Thursday, December 13, 2012 by: John Phillip
Tags: soft drinks, prostate cancer, risk

(NaturalNews) Nearly one-quarter of a million men will be diagnosed with some stage of prostate cancer this year in the U.S., and many will suffer the unnecessary consequences of invasive treatment techniques that cut, irradiate and poison tumor cells in an effort to control the illness. In a manner similar to many other types of cancer, prostate cancer incidence is closely related to dietary and lifestyle practices over the course of many years and decades of life. New research pending publication in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition finds that fast-releasing carbohydrates and sugary drinks dramatically increases risk of the most aggressive forms of prostate cancer.

A study team from the University of Lund in Sweden determined that men who drink one normal-sized soft drink per day are at a greater risk of getting more aggressive forms of prostate cancer. Lead researcher, Dr. Isabel Drake commented "Among the men who drank a lot of soft drinks or other drinks with added sugar, we saw an increased risk of prostate cancer of around 40 percent." Those who drank one 330-millilitre (11-fluid-ounce) soft drink a day were 40 percent more likely to develop more serious forms of prostate cancer that required treatment.

Sugary soft drinks and processed carbohydrates raise insulin secretion and increase cancer risk

Researchers followed over 8,000 men between the ages of 45 and 73 for an average of 15 years. They found that men who ate a diet heavy in carbohydrates, including wheat, rice and pasta, increased their risk of developing milder forms of prostate cancer, typically requiring no treatment, by 31 percent. Men who ate a lot of sugary breakfast cereals were 38 percent more likely to develop milder forms of the cancer.

As a disturbing side note, scientists found that the risk applied not to early-stage disease that was spotted via blood tests, but to cancers that had progressed enough to cause symptoms. This is significant, as faster-growing forms of prostate cancer are more likely to be fatal. The study authors believe that sugar triggers the release of the hormone insulin, which feeds tumors.

In the past, many research studies have linked soft drink or soda intake to osteoarthritis as well as an 80 percent increased risk of stroke in women. Unfortunately, this study did not include diet drinks, and tea and coffee with sugar, as phosphoric acid and caramel coloring from soft drinks has been implicated in cancer development and progression. Health-minded individuals will limit refined carbohydrates (including 'heart-healthy' whole grains), sugars and carbonated beverages of all types to significantly lower the risk of prostate cancer and most chronic illnesses.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews.htm?NewsID=16943&Section=DISEASE
http://www.medicaldaily.com
http://articles.nydailynews.com
http://www.dailymail.co.uk

About the author:
John Phillip is a Certified Nutritional Consultant and Health Researcher and Author who writes regularly on the cutting edge use of diet, lifestyle modifications and targeted supplementation to enhance and improve the quality and length of life. John is the author of 'Your Healthy Weight Loss Plan', a comprehensive EBook explaining how to use Diet, Exercise, Mind and Targeted Supplementation to achieve your weight loss goal. Visit My Optimal Health Resource to continue reading the latest health news updates, and to download your copy of 'Your Healthy Weight Loss Plan'.