--- title: Dieting To Treat Cancer description: Certain low sugar diets can help prevent and cure your cancer. image: https://wellness.totalaccessmedical.com/hs-fs/file-2118860842-png/Blog_Images/executive-health-exams.png --- [PATIENT PORTAL](https://totalaccess.healthyhumans.com) [PAY ONLINE](https://www.totalaccessmedical.com/pay-online/) [![Total Access Medical LLC Logo](https://wellness.totalaccessmedical.com/hs-fs/file-2447450201-png/images/tam-logo.png?width=270&name=tam-logo.png "Total Access Medical LLC Logo")](http://www.totalaccessmedical.com/) ≡ - [How We Fit Into Your Life](http://www.totalaccessmedical.com/concierge-healthcare-fit-life/) - [What Is Concierge Medicine?](http://www.totalaccessmedical.com/concierge-healthcare-fit-life/concierge-medicine/) - [Member Stories](http://www.totalaccessmedical.com/concierge-healthcare-fit-life/concierge-medical-care-testimonials/) - [Doctor Stories](http://www.totalaccessmedical.com/concierge-healthcare-fit-life/boutique-medicine/) - [About](http://www.totalaccessmedical.com/about-concierge-health-services/) - [Founder's Story](http://www.totalaccessmedical.com/about-concierge-health-services/concierge-practices-story/) - [Doctors](http://www.totalaccessmedical.com/doctors) - [Specialties](http://www.totalaccessmedical.com/concierge-medicine/) - [Family Medicine](http://www.totalaccessmedical.com/concierge-medicine/main-line-family-medicine/) - [Internal Medicine](http://www.totalaccessmedical.com/concierge-medicine/internal-medicine-philadelphia/) - [Holistic Medicine Integrative Medicine](http://www.totalaccessmedical.com/concierge-medicine/holistic-medicine-philadelphia/) - [Geriatric Medicine](http://www.totalaccessmedical.com/concierge-medicine/geriatric-doctors/) - [Getting Started](http://www.totalaccessmedical.com/getting-started-concierge-care/) - [How TAM Works with Insurance](http://www.totalaccessmedical.com/concierge-healthcare-fit-life/concierge-medicine-and-insurance/) - [HSA & FSA](https://wellness.totalaccessmedical.com/blog/explained-fsa-and-hsa-for-concierge-medicine) - [FAQ](http://www.totalaccessmedical.com/getting-started-concierge-care/faq/) - [Plans & Programs](http://www.totalaccessmedical.com/medical-concierge-services-cater-needs/) - [Individual Programs](http://www.totalaccessmedical.com/medical-concierge-services-cater-needs/use-personal-wellness-program-take-care/) - [Family Programs](http://www.totalaccessmedical.com/medical-concierge-services-cater-needs/concierge-family-medicine-programs/) - [Corporate Programs](http://www.totalaccessmedical.com/medical-concierge-services-cater-needs/corporate-health-programs/) - [Senior Programs](http://www.totalaccessmedical.com/medical-concierge-services-cater-needs/boutique-medicine-seniors/) - [Blog](https://wellness.totalaccessmedical.com/blog) - [Living Well](https://wellness.totalaccessmedical.com/blog) - [TRANSITIONING TO DPC](https://wellness.totalaccessmedical.com/en/blog-transition) - Shop [About](http://totalaccessmedical.com/about/) [Blog](https://wellness.totalaccessmedical.com/blog/) # Total Access Medical - Direct Primary Care Blog # Dieting To Treat Cancer Posted by [William Kirkpatrick](https://wellness.totalaccessmedical.com/blog/author/william-kirkpatrick) on Sep 21, 2016 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![executive-health-exams.png](https://wellness.totalaccessmedical.com/hs-fs/file-2118860842-png/Blog_Images/executive-health-exams.png?width=320&name=executive-health-exams.png)In 2016, an estimated [1,685,210 new cases](http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/statistics) of cancer will be diagnosed in the United States and [595,690 people](http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/statistics) will die from the disease. Although a few patients diagnosed with cancer can attribute their illness to a hereditary abnormal gene, most people believe their cancer was a result of a DNA mutation possibly caused by a handful of external factors such as environmental radiation, toxins, and poor diet. However, this may not be the case, as some bouts of cancer may be linked to the manner in which cancer cells produce energy. Cellular respiration is the process in which healthy cells produce energy to function and survive. The thousands of mitochondria, which are called the cell's "power house" because they're responsible for energy production, rely on oxygen to help break down sugar into energy and store it.    Related article: [These Foods Can Help Save Your Memory](https://wellness.totalaccessmedical.com/blog/these-foods-can-help-save-your-memory)   However, there is one defect common to all cancer cells, which is that the mitochondria do not work properly. This causes cancer cells to find an alternative method of converting the energy in sugar. This process is called glycolysis and it is a metabolic activity that converts sugar into a usable form of energy. And while glycolysis is inefficient for healthy cells, the mutations in cancer cells dramatically increase the ability of cancer cells to use sugar to make the energy needed to continue rapidly growing. The science behind cancer cells and glycolysis is very complex but it stands to reason that if you have cancer, you will fare better if you deprive your tumor cells their primary fuel source – sugar.  The Ketogenic diet may be the cure to cancer recovery. To some, a ketogenic diet amounts to nothing less than a drug-free cancer treatment. The diet calls for eliminating carbohydrates, replacing them with healthy fats and protein.    Related article: [How To Prevent Unhealthy Food Cravings ](https://wellness.totalaccessmedical.com/blog/how-to-prevent-unhealthy-food-cravings)   The premise is that since cancer cells need glucose to thrive, and carbohydrates turn into glucose in your body, then cutting out carbs literally starves the cancer cells.  This type of diet, in which you replace carbs with moderate amounts of high quality protein and high amounts of beneficial fat, is actually recommended for everyone, whether you have cancer or not. It's simply a diet that will help optimize your weight and health overall, as eating this way will help you convert from carb burning mode to fat burning. --- If you have trouble scheduling times with your doctor to talk about cancer treatment alternatives than consider becoming a member of a direct primary care practice. 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