| Are you drinking soda a couple of times a week? | | | | added sugar in the US diet, contributing to both |
| Then you are indulging in one of the possible | | | | high blood sugar and hyperinsulinemia (a higher |
| causes of pancreatic cancer, one of the most | | | | than normal amount of insulin in the blood). |
| rapidly fatal of the cancers, according to new | | | | The pancreas is a gland deep in the abdomen |
| research. | | | | (between the stomach and spine), surrounded by |
| The research involved an analysis of data | | | | other vital organs like the liver and intestines. This |
| collected on 60,524 Chinese adults and looked at | | | | pear-shaped gland is about 6 inches long and |
| the role sweetened carbonated drinks and juices | | | | produces insulin (and other hormones) that help to |
| play in the development in this type of cancer in | | | | regulate blood sugar. |
| Asians. Earlier work has previously looked at the | | | | This organ, like others in the body, can develop |
| effect on Americans and Europeans. | | | | cancer though the causes remain unknown. It's |
| The participants came from the Singapore | | | | most common in smokers and those who are |
| Chinese Health Study that collected data on diet, | | | | obese, with risk increasing as you age. This form |
| physical activity and medical history among other | | | | of cancer is slightly more common in women than |
| things. | | | | in men. |
| Those who drank two or more carbonated sodas | | | | Tragically, 95% of those diagnosed with |
| (diet sodas and sports drinks were not included in | | | | pancreatic cancer won't be alive in 5 years. |
| the work) a week tended to be younger men | | | | When it comes to treatment, the picture is bleak |
| who smoked, drank alcohol, ate calorie laden | | | | - usually by the time this cancer is found, its quite |
| foods and were less active overall. These | | | | advanced and has had time to spread to nearby |
| participants also ate more red meat, causing the | | | | organs. |
| researchers to adjust for dietary factors such as | | | | In about 80% of cases the tumor cannot be |
| this. | | | | removed, leaving chemotherapy and radiation as |
| "But the adjustments did not change the link | | | | the most likely recommendations to shrink the |
| between soda and the risk of pancreas cancer," | | | | size of the growth and prolong survival. |
| explains study author Mark Pereira of the | | | | If the findings of this most recent study are |
| University of Minnesota's division of epidemiology | | | | confirmed by future work, this could provide a |
| and community health. "We suspect sugar is the | | | | solid, sensible way to prevent a dangerous, deadly |
| culprit, but we cannot prove it from this study," | | | | form of cancer. |
| Generally a serving of carbonated soda is 20 | | | | Limiting drinking soda as well as eating lots of |
| ounces and has 65 grams of sugar. As a | | | | fruits, vegetables and whole grains, exercising |
| comparison, a typical serving of a fruit juice, like | | | | regularly and quitting smoking are all changes you |
| orange juice, is 8 ounces and has 21 grams of | | | | can make to reduce your risk. In the case of the |
| sugar. Quite a difference. | | | | causes of pancreatic cancer, prevention is always |
| Carbonated drinks are the leading sources of | | | | the best, safest option. |