Study shows white bread & bagels increase risk of lung cancer by 49 percent

The largest study of its kind ever to be performed has indicated that eating foods like white bread, bagels, white rice and even corn flakes can increase your risk of developing lung cancer by 49%.

The reason is the high glycemic index (GI) of these foods.  A higher GI means that food turns into blood sugar more rapidly and, in turn, causes the body to release insulin.  The lead researcher, Dr Stephanie Melkonian, of University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, explained "diets high in glycemic index result in higher levels of blood glucose and insulin, which promote perturbations in the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs)," adding that "previous research suggests increased levels of IGFs are associated with increased lung cancer risk."  Regarding the study performed, she said "we observed a 49 per cent increased risk of lung cancer among subjects with the highest daily GI compared to those with the lowest daily GI."

Freaky.

In the US, lung cancer is the second most common form of cancer to develop, and it's not an accident.  The study, which was published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, surveyed 1,905 patients newly diagnosed with lung cancer and compared the results with 2,413 healthy individuals.  Senior study author Dr. Xifeng Wu said "the associations were more pronounced among subjects who were never smokers" and that it "suggests that it is the average quality, instead of quantity, of carbohydrates consumed that may modulate lung cancer risk."

Wu added that "the results from this study suggest that, besides maintaining healthy lifestyles, such as avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol consumption and being physically active, reducing the consumption of foods and beverages with high glycemic index may serve as a means to lower the risk of lung cancer."

The authors of the study list some examples of low GI foods, including whole-wheat or pumpernickel bread, rolled or steel-cut oatmeal, and pasta.  Being able to locate a root cause of cancer is imperative and breaking the addiction to white bread is an important part of letting the body settle back into health-mode.

The authors also noted that choosing diets high in fruits and vegetables were found to decrease the risk of lung cancer.