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Probability of getting cancer?

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Original post by Steezy
Yes I realise that, by sugary foods I meant refined sugar.


No difference in how the body processes it, sugar is sugar
Best thing to do is to reduce your risk of getting cancer, and when the above mentioned fruit and veg (UCL suggests 7 a day) it allows you to get antioxidants. and i'll add eat a balanced diet, personally and many others suggest vegetarian, like pulses and other non processed foods.
Basically an antioxidant is a molecule that inhibits the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that transfers electrons or hydrogen from a substance to an oxidizing agent. Oxidation reactions can produce free radicals. In turn, these radicals can start chain reactions. When the chain reaction occurs in a cell, it can cause damage or death to the cell. Antioxidants terminate these chain reactions by removing free radical intermediates, and inhibit other oxidation reactions.
Original post by bertstare
No difference in how the body processes it, sugar is sugar


The 2 sugars are very different, sugar from fruit are much "better" so to speak.
The first difference between sucrose and high-fructose corn syrup is sucrose contains a 1-to-1 ratio of glucose-to-fructose molecules, whereas high fructose corn syrup has a greater percentage of fructose than glucose. The second difference is a disaccharide takes longer for your body to digest, absorb and process than a mixture of unbound fructose and glucose molecules.
Secondly eating fruits enables you to control your blood sugar better than eating refined sugar and sweeteners containing fructose. The glycemic index indicates how quickly glucose enters the blood and increases blood sugar after you eat a particular carbohydrate-containing food. The higher the glycemic index, the more likely the food will spike blood sugar levels and increase your risk of insulin resistance and diabetes. Grapefruit, peaches, pears and apples have a lower glycemic index than pure fructose, which, in turn, has a lower glycemic index than sucrose.
Reply 23
Original post by bertstare
No difference in how the body processes it, sugar is sugar


Forget about then sugar in fruit. It's good for your energy levels and fruit is the best way to consume a number of different vitamins and minerals and is a good source of fiber.

Processed sugars in things like coke, sweets, etc, doesn't give you anything other than sugar.

The ratio of fruits to veg in your diet should be about 1/2, so you get the vitamins and minerals you need and the short term energy from the sugar.

The main thing here is getting all the vitamins and minerals your body needs and maintaining a healthy body weight - the best way to do this is a diet full of fruit & veg and also a lot of exercise.

You can obviously have other unhealthy foods in moderation but they should be in moderation as they don't give your body what it needs and you're effectively starving it of nutrients.
Original post by Guren
The 2 sugars are very different, sugar from fruit are much "better" so to speak.
The first difference between sucrose and high-fructose corn syrup is sucrose contains a 1-to-1 ratio of glucose-to-fructose molecules, whereas high fructose corn syrup has a greater percentage of fructose than glucose. The second difference is a disaccharide takes longer for your body to digest, absorb and process than a mixture of unbound fructose and glucose molecules.
Secondly eating fruits enables you to control your blood sugar better than eating refined sugar and sweeteners containing fructose. The glycemic index indicates how quickly glucose enters the blood and increases blood sugar after you eat a particular carbohydrate-containing food. The higher the glycemic index, the more likely the food will spike blood sugar levels and increase your risk of insulin resistance and diabetes. Grapefruit, peaches, pears and apples have a lower glycemic index than pure fructose, which, in turn, has a lower glycemic index than sucrose.


Firstly, glycemic index means jack ****. It's a measure of glucose response in a completely fasted state when only a single CHO source is taken in. In practice, it is completely useless and the difference in GI between foods is basically non existant

Secondly, if glycemic index is, for whatever reason, what you're worried about, fructose has the lowest GI of any sugar

Original post by Steezy
Forget about then sugar in fruit. It's good for your energy levels and fruit is the best way to consume a number of different vitamins and minerals and is a good source of fiber.

Processed sugars in things like coke, sweets, etc, doesn't give you anything other than sugar.

The ratio of fruits to veg in your diet should be about 1/2, so you get the vitamins and minerals you need and the short term energy from the sugar.

The main thing here is getting all the vitamins and minerals your body needs and maintaining a healthy body weight - the best way to do this is a diet full of fruit & veg and also a lot of exercise.

You can obviously have other unhealthy foods in moderation but they should be in moderation as they don't give your body what it needs and you're effectively starving it of nutrients.


You are correct generally but this idea that you need to eat a stupid amount of fruit every day to be healthy is ridiculous, fruit like anything else is full of calories and the last thing anyone needs is an extra 1000 calories added onto a regular diet
Reply 25
Original post by bertstare
Firstly, glycemic index means jack ****. It's a measure of glucose response in a completely fasted state when only a single CHO source is taken in. In practice, it is completely useless and the difference in GI between foods is basically non existant

Secondly, if glycemic index is, for whatever reason, what you're worried about, fructose has the lowest GI of any sugar



You are correct generally but this idea that you need to eat a stupid amount of fruit every day to be healthy is ridiculous, fruit like anything else is full of calories and the last thing anyone needs is an extra 1000 calories added onto a regular diet


No the point is that it replaces other, unhealthy foods. Veg is more important, granted but a diet high in fruit & veg, coupled with exercise will shield you from a large number of illnesses.
Original post by Steezy
No the point is that it replaces other, unhealthy foods. Veg is more important, granted but a diet high in fruit & veg, coupled with exercise will shield you from a large number of illnesses.


But who was protein and healthy fats
Reply 27
Original post by bertstare
But who was protein and healthy fats


Beans, legumes, lentils, avocado, walnuts, brown rice.

Granted I should have specified. By fruit and veg I incorrectly encompassed all these things.
Original post by bertstare
But who was protein and healthy fats


Original post by Steezy
Beans, legumes, lentils, avocado, walnuts, brown rice.

Granted I should have specified. By fruit and veg I incorrectly encompassed all these things.


This so many people assume vegetarians can't get protein from other sources and that everyone is deficient in something.
Original post by Guren
This so many people assume vegetarians can't get protein from other sources and that everyone is deficient in something.


No one's posts ITT had anything to do with vegetarians
Original post by ihateocr
Does anyone have any idea what are the chances of getting cancer at the age of ~21 years old?
Is it something like 1:40000, or more like 1:200?


Original post by Neuth
It's estimated that 1/3 people will be diagnosed with some form of cancer during their lifetime.

The likeliness of having cancer probably stays roughly the same from when you are born until when you die, because whilst some cancers are more likely at a certain age, some are also less likely.

1 in 3 is a high statistic, yes, but 4 in 10 cancer cases could be prevented by lifestyle changes (e.g. smoking, being a healthy weight and avoiding excessive sun exposure.

At the end of the day, being diagnosed with cancer is something that is affected by many factors. You would also have an increased risk due to certain genetics.
So that 1/3 could actually be 1/7 for you, you don't really know :smile:


This page gives incidence of cancer by age in the UK, along with the most common cancers in each age group.

Original post by Damien_Dalgaard
If cancer has spread all over the body - is there any chance of a cure


It depends on the cancer, but yes potentially.
A friend in my class from school has lung cancer got diagnosed at the age of 20 he's had one half of his lung removed, and my cousin has a brain tumour at the age of 23 he previously had cancer at the age of 3 though. can happen at any age don't take good health for granted.
The huge number of people who smoke somewhat distorts the accuracy of the 1/3 people stat I feel. It's still very common and like someone said already, you can greatly reduce your chances of some cancers by making lifestyle choices such as a balanced diet, active lifestyle, proper protection from sun UV radiation etc etc.

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