In Addition To Smoking, This Food Can Increase The Risk Of Lung Cancer

Illustration of lung cancer (Freepik/stockking)

JAKARTA - Smoking habits have proven to be the main cause of lung cancer. Apart from smoking, apparently there is one food that is believed to increase the risk of lung cancer.

Reporting from the NBC News page, researchers revealed that people who eat sugary and stagnant foods can increase the risk of lung cancer, even if they don't smoke.

The researchers found people who consumed a lot of high sugar foods increased the risk of lung cancer. The glycemic index is a familiar term for diabetics. This term describes foods that increase blood sugar and stimulate insulin production.

The team at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston examined 1,905 people who had just been diagnosed with lung cancer and compared them with 2,415 people without cancer. The researchers asked about eating habits, smoking habits, income, and other factors.

People who eat foods with a high glycemic index of at most about 50 percent, are more likely to be in the lung cancer group, than people who eat less food in the high glycemic index.

People who are not smokers are faster to suffer from lung cancer, if they eat food with a high glycemic index.

"The results of this study show that, in addition to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, reducing food and beverage consumption with a high glycemic index can serve as a means to reduce the risk of lung cancer," said Dr. Xifeng Wu, who led the study.

There is a theory of food with a high glycemic index that stimulates the body to produce insulin, which in turn affects cell growth through compounds called insulin or IGF growth factors. Cancer is an uncontrolled cell proliferation, so it is possible that foods with a high glycemic index trigger small tumor growth.

"IGF has proven to play an important role in regulating cell proliferation and differentiation in cancer and there is evidence to suggest that the IGF is increasing in lung cancer patients," the Wu team wrote.

"Previous research has investigated the relationship between the glycemic index, and measures related to glycemic load, and various cancers including colorectal, stomach, pancreas, endometrium, ovarian, prostate, and thyroid, but this study is limited and the results are largely inconclusive," he continued.

Marji McCulough, a nutrition epidemiologist at the American Cancer Society, said it was important to observe people who don't have cancer from now on and pay attention to what has been eaten over the years. Then, look at what foods develop cancer.

Experts know diet and lifestyle can affect cancer. Obesity, lack of exercise, eating red meat and lots of high-fat milk foods, and eating too little fruit and vegetables can increase the chances of someone developing cancer.

This study adds to the evidence that people can lower their risk of cancer not only by staying away from tobacco and exercising more, but by choosing a healthier diet.

"In addition to not smoking, it is important to follow cancer prevention guidelines that maintain healthy weight, physical activity, and eat overall healthy foods rich in vegetables, vegetable foods, and lower processed meat. Choose foods that help maintain healthy weight." McCulough said.

According to the American Diabetes Association, food in the glycemic index is high including:

- White bread, includingET- Corn, rice, oatmeal- White rice, pasta, macronics and cheese from a mixture ofrusset and labu-Pretzel potatoes, rice cakes, popcorn, and salted biscuits- Melon and pineapple