If you're avoiding refined carbs, you probably already know that you should be. Whether it's because you fear thier effect on glycogen stores and subsequent weight gain, and/or if is more for the purpose of merely trying to eat healthier, avoiding starches such as white bread, rice, and simple sugars such as sweets and juices is a smart move.

New evidence has surfaced connecting excessive refined carb consumption with an increased risk of kidney cancer. According to a study published in the International Journal of Cancer, when the diets of 767 kidney cancer patients and 1,534 healthy people were compared, it was discovered that patients who ate the most white bread (7 ounces or more daily) were almost twice as likely to have kidney cancer than those who ate 3.5 ounces or less.

Moreover, people who ate 2 or more cups of foods containing refined carbs were one-third more likely to have kidney cancer than those who ate half that much.