While no evidence has been found that sugar causes or even helps cancer grow, it may contribute to an unhealthy lifestyle that increases cancer risk. For instance:

• Too much sugar may contribute to weight gain and obesity, one of the most significant lifestyle risk factors for developing cancer.
• Research suggests that diets high in added sugars tend to be low in essential nutrients, including calcium, vitamin A, zinc and fiber. A healthy diet is considered key to helping reduce cancer risk.

“While we don’t recommend avoiding all types of sugars, there are healthy ways to satisfy a craving for something sweet,” says Kara Sonntag, Registered Dietitian at Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA). “For example, fruits have sweet flavors and provide important health benefits in the forms of antioxidants and phytonutrients, both of which are known to be associated with cancer risk reduction.”

Read more explore the differences in various types of sugar and what role, if any, sugar plays in cancer from Cancer Treatment Centers of America.

About Cancer Treatment Centers of America®
Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) is a national network of five hospitals that serves adult patients who are fighting cancer. CTCA® offers an integrative approach to care that combines advancements in genomic testing and precision cancer treatment, surgery, radiation, immunotherapy and chemotherapy, with evidence-informed supportive therapies designed to help patients physically and emotionally by enhancing their quality of life while managing side effects both during and after treatment.

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