Would it make you feel better to know that doctors and dietitians love sweet treats too? “I’m a dietitian and I eat dessert every single day,” registered dietitian Mackenzie Burgess, RDN, previously told Parade.
Burgess shared how having a daily sweet treat helped keep her overall diet more balanced because restricting foods completely can backfire, making us want them more and leading to overindulging.
Here, three oncologists explain the connection between sugar and cancer risk. Plus, they share what they like to eat when a sweet craving hits.
Parade talked to three oncologists about the connection between sugary foods and cancer risk. All three said it’s a misconception that sugary food creates cancer in the body. “Eating sugar does not directly ‘feed’ tumors in the way that is often suggested. Indeed, ghg cancer cells often metabolize glucose more rapidly than normal cells, but this doesn't mean that eating sugar directly fuels tumor growth,” says Dr. Nathan Handley, MD, the director of the Integrative Cancer Recovery Program at Jefferson Health’s Marcus Institute of Integrative Health.
Dr. Dillon Cason, MD, a hematologist-oncologist at Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute, part of Jefferson Health, explains that when a person is obese, it is in a state of chronic inflammation that can make it easier for cancer cells to grow.
“Beyond the obesity pathway, there is also evidence that diets high in added sugars influence levels of insulin and related hormones in ways that may independently increase cancer risk, Dr. Handley says.
The Sugary Source Oncologists Avoid
All three oncologists say that the greatest concern when it comes to sugar consumption isn’t a food at all: It’s sugar-sweetened drinks like soda, fruit juice, energy drinks, flavored coffee drinks and sweetened iced tea.
Dr. Cason adds to this, saying that there is no specific sweet food that has the highest risk, but those with high-fructose corn syrup and other highly processed sugars are the most concerning. Soda is one example of this.
What food do oncologists eat when a craving for something sweet hits? All three that we talked to had the same answer: fruit. Unlike foods with added sugar, fruit—which contains natural sugar—is associated with a reduced cancer risk.
There are a few reasons why eating fruit regularly can reduce cancer risk. One is that they contain fiber, which foods with added sugar typically don’t have. The fiber helps blunt the sugar’s impact on blood sugar and insulin. Fiber also produces short-chain fatty acids during digestion, which strengthen the colon lining and encourage cell death in damaged or mutated cells.
Dr. Tan opts for another type of fruit when she wants something sweet. “During the summer, one of my favorite snacks is a ripe peach with a handful of pistachios. The peach satisfies my sweet tooth naturally, while the pistachios add protein and healthy fats that make the snack more satisfying. It's simple, delicious and keeps me from reaching for more processed sweets,” she says.
It bears repeating that sugar doesn’t directly cause cancer. Eating a cupcake isn’t creating cancerous cells in your body. What’s more important are overall dietary habits. “Most of us crave something sweet from time to time. I do too. I don't believe anyone has to give up dessert forever to be healthy,” Dr. Tan says.
Dr. Tan sums it up this way: “Healthy eating isn't about depriving yourself. It's about finding a balanced approach that you can enjoy and maintain over the long term.”
Up Next:
Related: ‘I’m an Oncologist—This Is the One Condiment I Never Put on My Food’
Sources
We Have the Most “Food Guilt” After Dinners or Snacks. South Florida Reporter.Dr. Nathan Handley, MD, director of the Integrative Cancer Recovery Program at Jefferson Health’s Marcus Institute of Integrative Health.Sugar, Processed Foods, and Cancer Risk. American Cancer Society.Dr. Dillon Cason, MD, hematologist oncologist at Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute, part of Jefferson Health.Dr. Tingting Tan, MD, PhD, oncologist at City of Hope Newport Beach in California.Survivorship Care for Healthy Living. National Comprehensive Cancer Network Survivorship.Wu, Z. Y., Chen, J. L., Li, H., et al. (2023). Different types of fruit intake and colorectal cancer risk: A meta-analysis of observational studies. World Journal of Gastroenterology. 29(17):2679-2700.Vahid Ahmadi Tabatabaei, S., Akbar Haghdoost, A., Mohammad Alavi, S., et al. (2023). Fruit and Vegetable Intake in Relation to Lung Cancer Risk: A Systematic Review and Dose-response Meta-analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies. Journal of Cancer Prevention. 30(2):75-88.Hu, J., Wang, J., Li, Y., et al. (2023). Use of Dietary Fiber in Reducing the Risk of Several Cancer Types: An Umbrella Review. Nutrients. 15(11):2545.Schmidt, S., Qioa, X. and O Bergӧ. (2025). Effects of antioxidants on cancer progression. EMBO Molecular Medicine. 17(8):1896-1901.Young Hong, M., Nulton, E., Shelechi, M., et al. (2013). Effects of dark chocolate on azoxymethane-induced colonic aberrant crypt foci.Nutrition and Cancer. 65(5):677-85.Hence then, the article about we asked 3 oncologists what they eat when they want something sweet and they all said the same thing was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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