A new study published in the Journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, has said that many studies suggest carbohydrates (CARBS) are bad for the waistline. The journal, which unveils this development, also warned that they may also be bad for the lungs.
Specifically, foods with a high glycemic index – such as white bread or bagels, corn flakes and puffed rice – may increase the risk of lung cancer, scientists said.
Besides, non-smokers, who account for 12 per cent of those killed by the disease, appear to be particularly at risk. Cancer is when abnormal cells divide in an uncontrolled way. Some cancers may eventually spread into other tissues. There are more than 200 different types of cancer. Lung cancer on its part is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells that start off in one or both lungs; usually in the cells that line the air passages.
The glycemic index (GI) is a measure of the quality of dietary carbohydrates – and is defined by how quickly blood sugar levels are raised after a meal.
The theory now is that a high-GI diet triggers higher levels of blood glucose and insulin. This, in turn, increases levels of a type of hormone called Insulin-like Growth Factors (IGFs). Elevated levels of IGFs have previously been linked with a higher risk of lung cancer.
