Sugar and Cancer

I figured I would provide some background on my choice to radically alter my diet and lifestyle. There are many scientific studies which show that reducing blood glucose levels has positive effects for cancer patients. It is a complicated topic, made even more complicated by the terminology we use. For example, we hear the term "keto" and we all have a particular impression and they might be very different.

This is precisely the point. The fad and commercial nature of this diet has seriously muddied the waters. There are also multiple diets which categorize themselves as "keto". The Atkins diet being the most well-known. Much of the stuff one sees on websites, infomercials, cookbooks, and other sites earning money from the "keto" craze, tends to err in two big ways. They overemphasize animal products (meat and dairy) and downplay vegetables...as if eating bacon and cream cheese all day will make you healthy. (Hint: it won't) Secondly, they promote the use of alternative and artificial sweeteners...which, shockingly, causes people to eat more thus undermining the very diet they purport to be following.

I would love to say there is consensus in the medical community on the ketogenic diet when conducting research...there isn’t. One of the serious hurdles scientists face when testing the ketogenic diet is compliance. People don't adhere to the diet strictly or simply quit it altogether. This is a common occurrence in the literature. Even when animal studies are done, there is the problem of diet composition and what constitutes a ketogenic diet. The classic ketogenic diet developed for epileptic seizures, is usually extremely low in carbohydrates, moderate amounts of protein, and high in fat. Often the ratio is 2 to 1 for fat to protein but could be 3 to 1. The Adkins diet by contrast is much higher in protein. The reason for the low protein is that the human body will break down protein to make glucose which is what a ketogenic diet is attempting to avoid.

I could talk further about all of the intricacies of these interpretations and their impact on the body of research, but I will make it easier. When a person restricts carbohydrates or they are fasting, their body will begin making ketones. These are an alternative energy source. The degree to which one consistently cuts glucose ( from carbohydrates and protein) will cause ketone production to be higher. Both ketones and glucose can be easily measured in the blood using a simple handheld meter. There is a measurement called the glucose ketone index or GKI. This cuts through all the BS of diets, fads, and disagreements over definitions. More recent studies have shown very strong correlation between the GKI score and cancer improvement. Specifically, the lower the GKI the better the cancer outcomes.

Rather than argue what one should eat or not eat, the proof is in the blood by way of the GKI measurement. The ultimate goal would be a GKI of 1, but anywhere between 1-3 is considered a therapeutic level for cancer and other medical conditions. By way of comparison, the standard American diet would normally generate a GKI of 30+. Some of these diets may get you below 9 and possibly down to 6, but we are still not close to the levels we want for anti-cancer effects.

I purchased one of these meters that tests both blood glucose and ketone levels. If you are familiar with diabetics patients testing their blood with the finger prick and the little test strip, then you know exactly what this is. I did my first real measurement this morning on an empty stomach and I had a GKI of 3 (glucose of 87 and ketones of 1.6). My goal is to stay at 3 or below and if I can, move toward a GKI of 1.

I have now been on this diet for only about 10 days so far without deviation. It is too early to tell, but I think it might already be helping with the pleural effusion (fluid on my lungs). I've needed to have it drained every 5 days in order to be comfortable. I’m already 5 days removed from the last drainage and I’m feeling pretty good with no significant symptoms of pleural effusion such as shortness of breath.

More data and time are needed to know for sure, but I am optimistic the diet is reaping rewards already. I will keep you all updated as we learn more.

-Jeremy