A report issued on April 5, 2016 at the American Society for Nutrition annual meeting in San Diego, is once again bringing attention to whether or not sugary drinks and carbs are linked to prostate and breast cancers.
Is There a Correlation with Soda Causing Prostate Cancer?
The study’s lead researcher Nour Makarem, a Ph.D. candidate in nutrition at New York University, explained the link her team found between sugar-sweetened drinks (both soda and fruit juice) and prostate cancer risk. The research compared with men who never drank sugary beverages to those who had them a few times a week. The finding showed a 3 times greater risk of developing prostate cancer as compared to men who stay away from these drinks. The study also showed that men who at a higher intake of processed foods (pizzas burgers, processed deli meats) doubled their prostate cancer risk.
How Do You Know How Much Sugar is Too Much Sugar?
Doctors, nutritionists and researchers alike have varying dietary recommendations*. According to Marji McCullough, strategic director of nutritional epidemiology for the American Cancer Society, “it is difficult to weed out the effects of particular diet habits on cancer risk. “Few dietary factors apart from alcohol and/or obesity have been consistently related to postmenopausal breast cancer and prostate cancer,” McCullough said.
What are Some of Prostate Cancer Risk Factors?
While the causes of developing prostate cancer are unknown, some risk factors for the disease have been identified:
- Advancing age
- Genetics
- Heredity
- Hormonal influences
- Dietary
- Environmental factors
However, it is important to note that I and most experts agree – limiting intake sugary drinks and processed carbohydrates, and eating more fruits, vegetables, legumes, fiber-rich whole grains and “good” unsaturated fats is a good health decision. Dr. Robert Pugach concurs with this recommendation.
Learn more about your risk for developing prostate cancer and read our articles. If you would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Robert Pugach to screen for prostate cancer or schedule a nutritional consultation with Nadine, call 887-735-4436.
American Society for Nutrition Study on Sugar Drink / Carbs Link to Prostate Cancer
- Based on nearly 3,200 U.S. adults whose diet habits and cancer rates were tracked for 20+ years.
- During that time, 565 people were diagnosed with cancer.
- The study was limited to one demographic group that is not reflective of the population of the United States. Most study participants were Caucasian.
- *The authors of this study abstract acknowledge their findings do not show that beverages cause any disease,” the group said in a statement.
For more information on prostate cancer and Dr. Pugach’s commentary, click here. For additional prostate cancer articles written by Dr. Pugach, click here.
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