Carbs can cause Cancer???

S

sarab

Cathlete
Hi....please no controversy here and sorry if this has already been posted. Just something interesting....

Last night on tv, I saw a new book called "Good Calories, Bad Calories". The author claims that 70% of cancers are caused by diet. He suggests a low carb, high protein diet...atkins comes to mind ;) Anyway, did anybody else see this and what did you think?

BTW, I know some will not agree at all with this claim and that is okay. I just want to ask everybody to remain civil. I thought about not posting this at all since diet can cause so much controversy. I personally believe there is no right or wrong way...everybody is different and has different needs when it comes to eating. I just thought this was an interesting claim so I wanted to share :)

Sara
 
I have not heard this Sara.

I find many of the studies are very narrow in their scope (example the alcohol leads to breast cancer from last week). As the years go by, I tend to ignore them and most of the diet books.

I believe in listening to your body. When I consume extreme amounts of protein or carbs I feel crappy. So, I don't do it. :) I think that Americans are seeking quick answers to all of their weight issues so that is why all of these diets and books are so popular. Maybe I am way off base here but if you eat a variety of foods which are not processed, I think your body will thank you for it, IMHO. :)
 
I am begining to think if you listen to the media, everything causes cancer!!! I am still upset about my microwave popcorn!!!!x( I really think, everything in moderation, and as clean as possible is key. And even then there are so many other factors: genetics, where you live, where you work, how active you are. I think Life is to be lived, and enjoyed and you can't worry everytime you eat something. Of course, I won't get on an airplane, so I may not be one to talk!:)

Deanie
 
I tend not to listen to the media about anything. You have to look closely at these studies...how long the study was, the cross section of people involved, etc. I believe that everything in moderation is the key. There are various factors that can lead to disease and cancer. I believe what you feed your mind is just as important as what you feed your body. Negative stresses breeds negativity in various forms. Eat healthy, exercise, laugh often, forgive and enjoy life.
 
I am starting to be of the opinion that EVERYTHING causes cancer. I've just been reading the opposite, that an overabundance of protein in our diets causes cancer, osteoporosis, etc.... It's hard to know what to believe. I try to focus on eliminating what I know isn't good - Cholesterol, Saturated Fats, etc... Eat foods that are close to nature, not highly processed, etc... That's the best I can do. And of course - exercise!
 
I haven't heard this either, but being an Atkins follower I like it.

However I agree w/the rest of the posters. If you believe all the doom & gloom that comes out of the media you'll end up living like Howard Hughes.
 
I think you might want to read the reviews on this. He's published in Science magazine, a reputable scientific publication (well, if you forget about that whole Hwang Woo-Suk and his fraudulent cloning research findings that were published LOL!) and he's really talking about refined carbohydrates (at least according to the Publishers Weekly review I scanned from Amazon). So I wouldn't necessarily take what you heard as an endorsement for Atkins.
 
>I haven't heard this either, but being an Atkins follower I
>like it.
>
>However I agree w/the rest of the posters. If you believe all
>the doom & gloom that comes out of the media you'll end up
>living like Howard Hughes.


LOL at Howard Hughes comment!!! Laura - I have a stash of mason jars in the basement if you need them for "anything". ;)
 
I personally belive simple carbs CAN cause cancer. Most of these things are man-made. High Fructose Corn Syrup comes to mind. I think anything you eat that's not naturally made CAN cause cancer. Some people eat nothing but processed crap and they're very healthy. Depends on your body IMO. It's not gonna stop me from enjoying some man-made food. Just listen to your body.

Lisa :)
 
>I think you might want to read the reviews on this. He's
>published in Science magazine, a reputable scientific
>publication (well, if you forget about that whole Hwang
>Woo-Suk and his fraudulent cloning research findings that were
>published LOL!) and he's really talking about refined
>carbohydrates (at least according to the Publishers Weekly
>review I scanned from Amazon). So I wouldn't necessarily take
>what you heard as an endorsement for Atkins.


YES! he is talking about REFINED cards and all of the processed foods out there...although he was talking about fruit, too...Carbs are the preferred fuel of the body, not fats and proteins. High fat diets causes heart failure and liver disease.
 
If people read this they might also want to check out the China Study which presents an alternate view (I'd like to read both for kicks and grins).
 
I believe that diet is a contributing factor in many cancers (dairy has been linked to prostate cancer, high meat consumption to colon cancer--which is what my father died of, eating foods that contain hormones can contribute to reproductive cancers, eating too few fruits and veggies can deprive the body of phytonutrients and antioxidants that could help fight cancer, etc.), but since people have overcome cancer through eating a diet high in carbs (such as a raw-food diet, a macrobiotic diet or a vegan diet), to make the claims that carbs (in general) cause cancer is ludicrous. (though it's a good hook for selling a high-protein/low-carb diet book!)

However, starchy carbohydrates that are heated to high temperatures (like fried potatoes, breads, potato chips) produce acrylamides, which are mutagens (causing mutation of the cells) and possible carcinogens (causing cancer).

I agree with others who say that it's the processed carbs that are problematic.
 
Pardon my French, but OH, FOR CRISSAKES, EVERYTHING causes cancer. It's a freakin' crapshoot. How could I POSSIBLY narrow down what *I* did to cause my own cancer?

Because I was fat? Because I live in Maryland, one of the highest diagnosis rates for cancer in the country? Because I ate an apple that I didn't wash first? Because the aiir I breathe is unbelievabley filthy?

Cancer is a matter of bad freakin' luck.

I pretty much roll my eyes and ignore every article that mentions was causes or prevents cancer. The problem is, you can believe what you want, but except for smoking, we don't know WHAT causes cancer!

The End! ;)

P.S. Hope that wasn't too uncivil. ;)
 
Oh no, I'm doomed! I grew up in MD!!!! ;)


>Pardon my French, but OH, FOR CRISSAKES, EVERYTHING causes
>cancer. It's a freakin' crapshoot. How could I POSSIBLY
>narrow down what *I* did to cause my own cancer?
>
>Because I was fat? Because I live in Maryland, one of the
>highest diagnosis rates for cancer in the country? Because I
>ate an apple that I didn't wash first? Because the aiir I
>breathe is unbelievabley filthy?
>
>Cancer is a matter of bad freakin' luck.
>
>I pretty much roll my eyes and ignore every article that
>mentions was causes or prevents cancer. The problem is, you
>can believe what you want, but except for smoking, we don't
>know WHAT causes cancer!
>
>The End! ;)
>
>P.S. Hope that wasn't too uncivil. ;)
 
I agree....everything these days seems to link to cancer in some weird way. I guess it would make more sense to say "help in the prevention of cancer".

I don't actually think this is an endorsement for atkins ;). What the author was saying to eat (meat, nuts, cheese, veggies) sounds similar to the atkins diet.

I don't necessary think this guy is right because he was in the media. I just think it is good conversation. :)

I don't know if getting cancer is really "bad" luck. I think it is preventable.

Sara
 
>I think
>it is preventable.
>

I don't agree. How could I have possibly prevented it since I cannot possibly control all the carcinogens in the world? Because if it could be prevented that would be called THE CURE FOR CANCER.

I would like to know the formula for preventing it because I don't want it again. And if anyone knows the answer, please tell my oncologist, because she doesn't want me to get it either.

You will forgive my tongue-in-cheek manner, please?
:)
 
<I don't necessary think this guy is right because he was in the media. I just think it is good conversation.>

Exactly, which is why I made the points that I did which were not really directed to you Sara but at the general reader, whomever that may be.
 
I say we all smoke, drink tons of alcohol and feast on all of the fat, cholesterol and trans-fat laden food that there is because according to all of the bozos out there that do these studies, even the HEALTHY stuff will kill ya!:eek:

I GIVE UP!x( x( x(
 
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