A German physician was awarded a Nobel prize in 1931 for determining that sugar feeds cancer. Now contemporary researchers have determined some of the molecular mechanisms for this.

Harvard University researchers have discovered a new pathway that shows how obesity causes stress in a system of cellular membranes called endoplasmic reticulum (ER), which in turn causes the endoplasmic reticulum to suppress the signals of insulin receptors, which then leads to insulin resistance.

The endoplasmic reticulum is a network of membranes found inside cells. When one eats sugars and grains regularly this membrane wsays, Enough, already; you’re bombing us with nutrients. When there’s too much going on, the cell knows that insulin is out there, but doesn’t want insulin receptors signaling for more insulin because there’s already enough on board. This has a downside, because insulin soon loses its ability to help clear sugar from the body. Besides suppressing normal responses to insulin, ER stress also triggers inflammation in cells.

The major key is insulin production though. So by limiting grains, avoiding sugar and optimizing your cardiovascular exercise to increase insulin receptor sensitivity one can keep insulin levels low and correspondingly also minimize your risk for all cancers.