Complex Carbohydrates

Question:

Quite a number of cancer-related newsletters I receive suggest eliminating grains because they convert to sugar so quickly. You are a big advocate of whole grains on a daily basis. Why are you not concerned about the insulin effect of grains?

Thank you 

Our Response:

Eating whole grains is not the same as eating refined sugar, white bread, cookies, crackers, potato chips, and pastries. The latter contain empty calories that raise insulin and blood sugar.  Whole grains such as brown rice, buckwheat, whole- grain bread, wild rice, rye, quinoa, whole- wheat pasta, and barley, on the other hand, are rich sources of complex carbohydrates, phytochemicals, amino acids, essential fats, and fiber. That is why complex carbohydrates play a starring role in the Life Over Cancer nutrition program. Their fiber dilutes, binds, inactivates, and removes carcinogens, cholesterol, bile acids, and various toxic substances.  Fiber also smoothes out levels of glucose and insulin, keeping these tumor feeders in check.

At the Block Center, we recommend avoiding refined carbohydrates: white sugar, honey, high fructose corn syrup, cookies, cakes, pastries, white bread, crackers, potato chips, french fries, commercial waffles, candy, donuts, and many dry breakfast cereals (juice- sweetened cereals listing whole grains as a primary ingredient are okay, but those with added sugar, evaporated cane juice, or honey are likely to raise your levels of tumor-fueling blood sugar and insulin). 

Instead, emphasize whole grains such as those above, as well as complex carbs such as vegetables, legumes, beans, and fresh fruit. If you crave something sweet, try dried fruit (in limited quantities.  They’re more calorically dense and higher in sugar than fresh fruit because the moisture has been removed), barley malt, agave, stevia, FruitSource, or, occasionally, maple syrup, or a sugar alcohol such as sorbitol.

For more information on The Block Center for Integrative Cancer Treatment, call (847) 230-9107 or visit BlockMD.com.