Sugar and soft drinks increase risk for pancreatic cancer

Yet another lesson on the importance of moderation: Swedish researchers have recently completed a study that ties high-sugar diets with an increased risk for one of the deadliest types of cancer: pancreatic. As a result of following over 77,000 patients for an average of 7 years, the researchers found that people who added five or more servings of sugar to their diet daily (sugar in coffee or tea, cereal, etc) had a 69% increase in their risk for developing the deadly disease. And people who drank 2 or more soft drinks a day increased their risk by 93%, compared to those who didn't drink soda at all.

The connection seems to be that high-sugar diets can lead to increased insulin resistance and an increased workload for the pancreas itself. I think the data about soft drinks specifically is pretty scary, not to mention the fact that I like sugar in my tea! And with pancreatic cancer most often fatal within 5 years of diagnosis, seems like a good reason to try and develop some new habits.