Why Sugar and Carbohydrates Matter More Than You’ve Been Told

Why Sugar and Carbohydrates Matter More Than You’ve Been Told

When people hear the word sugar in relation to cancer, it often brings up fear, guilt, or confusion.

“Did sugar cause my cancer?”
“Do I have to cut it out completely?”
“Have I already done damage?”

Let’s take a breath and clear something up right away:

This is not about blame or restriction.
It’s about understanding how the body works so you can make choices that feel informed, supportive, and empowering.

Sugar Is More Than Just Something Sweet

All carbohydrates including vegetables, fruits, grains, and legumes that contain starches and naturally occurring sugars, as well as sugars added to refined and ultra-processed foods are broken down by the digestive system into glucose. Glucose is then used as one of the body’s primary sources of energy, and every cell in your body relies on it in some way.

The issue isn’t sugars or carbohydrates itself.
It’s how often and how high blood sugar and insulin are elevated over time.

When we eat in a way that constantly spikes blood sugar, the body releases insulin repeatedly throughout the day. Insulin isn’t just a blood sugar hormone, it’s also a powerful growth and storage signal.

Why This Matters in Cancer

Cancer cells behave differently than healthy cells.

Healthy cells have the ability to be metabolically flexible meaning they can use glucose, fatty acids, and even ketones for fuel. Cancer cells, however, tend to be far more dependent on glucose and less adaptable. It is estimated that up to 80% of all cancers use glucose as their primary pathway for fuel. 

This does not mean sugar or carbohydrates cause cancer.

But it does mean that chronically elevated blood sugar and insulin can contribute to an internal environment, a terrain, that cancer finds favorable to thrive in. 

Insulin: The Quiet Messenger

Insulin’s job is to move glucose out of the bloodstream and into cells. But it also sends signals related to growth, repair, and storage. 

When insulin is elevated frequently:

• Inflammation tends to increase

• Fat storage is prioritized

• Cellular stress rises

Over time, this can make healing more difficult especially when the body is already under the stress of cancer and treatment.

Again, this isn’t about fear.  It’s about understanding signals.

Think of it this way: You’re not fighting your body, you are shaping the conditions inside it with your diet and lifestyle.

This Is About Awareness, Not Perfection

You don’t need to eliminate all sugar and carbohydrates
You don’t need to eat “perfectly.”
And you certainly don’t need to add more stress to your plate.

This is about gently shifting awareness:

• How often am I eating?

• Is this causing blood sugar and insulin levels to rise or spike?

• What am I eating? - Whole foods or refined and ultra processed foods with added sugars?

• How stable is my energy?

• How does my body respond to certain foods?

Small insights lead to meaningful change.

A Gentle Mind Shift

Instead of asking, “What should I cut out?”
Try asking:

“What signals am I sending my body right now?”

"How am I supporting and nourishing my body with these foods that I am eating?"

These questions can open the door to empowerment.

Next week, we’ll take this another step and explore how cancer cells use fuel differently than healthy cells and why that matters when supporting healing.

If you’re curious how this applies to your body and your situation, you may want to explore the Metabolic Approach Lens Questionnaire, which helps uncover patterns within your unique terrain.

Click here for more information: https://www.terrainwellnesscoach.com/metabolic-approach-lens-opt-in