The short answer from a clinical nurse specialist
A: You may have heard of the phrase “sugar feeds cancer.”
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
This concept might have lead you to wonder if you should stop eating sugar for fear of feeding cancer growth or fear of developing cancer in the future.
Research supports the notion that cancer cells consume more sugar than normal cells, but there is no conclusive evidence proving that eating sugar will make cancer grow or spread more quickly or that cutting out sugar will prevent it.
However, that doesn’t mean that a high-sugar diet is healthy for you. Eating too many calories from sugar has been linked to weight gain, obesity and diabetes, which are all risk factors for the development of cancer.
All cells in our bodies, including cancer cells, need sugar (glucose) for energy. Our bodies have several back-up strategies to keep blood sugar levels normal. Even without eating carbohydrates, your body will make sugar from other sources, including protein and fat.
During cancer treatment and recovery, our bodies need energy. If you’re restricting your diet under the assumption that you’re helping, you may, in fact, be depriving yourself of sources of energy that you need to fight cancer.
Wondering what you should be eating if you have cancer? Meeting with a registered dietitian can help.
— Cancer care nurse Josette Snyder, RN, MSN, AOCN.
Learn more about our editorial process.
In babies under 12 months, honey may cause a serious illness called infant botulism
Working has its benefits, but it may require some modifications — and that’s OK
Plan ahead by hydrating, cutting back on sugar and managing medications
Studies show the high health cost of spending hours in a chair
Stress, lack of sleep and not eating enough all contribute to sugar hankerings
A low-FODMAP elimination diet can help identify your symptoms
It’s important to share the news in an honest and age-appropriate way
If menopause symptoms disrupt your life, HRT can help, with minimal cancer risk
Your metabolism may torch 1,300 to 2,000 calories daily with no activity
A gentle touch in all the right places may help drain your sinuses