| According
to a study, women who consume a high dietary glycemic load may
increase their risk of colorectal (colon) cancer. Glycemic load
is a measure of how quickly a food's carbohydrates are turned
into sugars by the body (glycemic index) in relation to the
amount of carbohydrates per serving of that food.
The study consisted of 38, 451 women who were followed for
almost eight years. The participants filled out questionnaires
about their eating habits, so researchers could examine the
associations of dietary glycemic load, overall dietary glycemic
index, carbohydrate, fiber, non-fiber carbohydrate, sucrose,
and fructose with the subsequent development of colon cancer.
Researchers found that women who ate the most high-glycemic-load
foods were nearly three times more likely to develop colon
cancer.
This study shows that not only can a diet rich in sugar boost
the risk of type 2 diabetes and contribute to obesity, but
it may also lead to colon cancer.
Journal
of the National Cancer Institute February 4, 2004;96(3):229-233
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