For many Jamaicans, rice and peas is a must for Sunday dinner, but carbohydrate-rich white rice contributes to a wide range of lifestyle diseases. - File

I have explained to readers over and over again that many of our common health problems such as obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure are related to the vast amounts of refined carbohydrate foods we consume: foods like white flour, white rice and sweet drinks loaded with corn syrup.

Beware: These foods also help create cancer. A new study published in the journal, Cancer Epidemiology, presents evidence of the link between the consumption of refined carbohydrates and cancer. This study looked at the dietary habits of over 1,800 women in Mexico, and found that those who got more than half of their total energy intake from carbohydrates (foods like white flour, rice, sugars and corn syrup) showed a 220 per cent higher risk of breast cancer than women with more balanced diets.

INSULIN CONNECTION

This research shows that foods with high glycaemic index values, that is, foods that quickly raise blood-sugar levels, actually accelerate the growth of cancer cells and tumours. The experts in this study propose that the correlation between the consumption of refined carbohydrates and breast cancer could be related to elevated levels of the hormone insulin.

Many breast and other cancers are encouraged and supported by high levels of insulin in the body. Too much insulin is a poison. To anyone who has read my writings about diabetes, insulin, sugar and refined carbohydrates, this should be no surprise.

I, and many other doctors involved in the use of nutrition to prevent and treat disease, have long known that the consumption of processed carbohydrates actually causes cancer. These foods actually promote many forms of cancer, including colon cancer, prostate cancer and ovarian cancer. They also play a role in the development of other common growths like uterine fibroids, a non-cancerous tumour. Thankfully, new scientific evidence now supports these beliefs.

EATING YOUR WAY TO CANCER

Many Jamaicans still do not know that consuming refined carbohydrates can cause cancer, and thus they continue to drink soft drinks containing high-fructose corn syrup. They continue to eat breakfast cereals loaded with sugars and corn syrup. They continue to eat large amounts of white flour in products like dumplings, crackers, pancakes, breads, pastries and cookies, oblivious to the idea that they are actually giving themselves cancer.

Once again, we see that preventing something as serious as cancer can come down to simple dietary choices. One of the easiest things a person can do to prevent cancer, based on this research, is to avoid virtually all processed carbohydrates. That means eliminating from your diet refined white flour, refined white sugar, processed grains, and ingredients like high-fructose corn syrup. These are all artificially processed ingredients that are not normally found in nature.

You don't find refined white sugar growing in the sugar cane fields. You don't see white flour growing on wheat grass stalks in the field. Instead, you see whole grains growing in nature, and it is these whole grains that should be consumed by human beings if they wish to attain a high degree of health.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT FOODS

Avoiding processed carbohydrates reduces your risk of being diagnosed with cancer. Unfortunately, many low-carb dieters end up consuming other cancer-causing ingredients that are present in some low-carb foods. Those ingredients can include sodium nitrite, monosodium glutamate (MSG), and artificial chemical sweeteners like aspartame, found in brands like NutraSweet and Sweet & Lo.

So, don't 'swap black dog for monkey' in your effort to avoid processed carbohydrates. Do not turn to chemical additives that are found in processed foods, especially artificial sweeteners and chemical taste enhancers. The foods that you should be consuming to support good health are the same ones I have been talking about for years. They are foods like soy protein, green tea, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, fresh fruits, and healthy oils.

You are what you eat: don't dig your grave with your teeth!