Try This – Is Fructose Fueling Cancer Growth + LA Wild Fire Update

Before we get into today’s newsletter I want to take a moment to acknowledge what’s been happening in Los Angeles, my home city.

Last week my wife and I made the decision to evacuate our home after hearing news of the fires spreading. Luckily, we had a place to stay, and our place is still standing.

Unfortunately, some of my closest friends lost their entire homes in the fire. My heart is so heavy for them. These are homes where children took their first steps, memories were made, and communities gathered.

I’m going to highlight a couple of these folks at the bottom of today's newsletter, and if you feel inspired to support their work to help them rebuild their lives, that would be amazing.

Now, on to today’s newsletter…

Everyone wants to know why diseases like colon, breast, and cervical cancer are on the rise, especially in young people.

What changes have occurred in the last 50 years that are causing a huge spike in these extremely frightening diseases? If we can pinpoint the cause, we can take action to protect ourselves. 

This week, we finally have some answers. 

A study by researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis uncovered new evidence about how a common sugar used in processed foods could be contributing to tumor growth. 

If you’re interested in prevention, you’ll want to keep reading. 

Let’s get into it…

The Fructose Factor

I’ve talked to so many experts about the dangers of excessive fructose in our diet. And no, I’m not talking about fructose from fruit (the fiber in fruit is protective). I’m talking about things like high fructose corn syrup, added fructose in so many packaged and processed foods people eat today, and fruit juice. 

Too much fructose is so dangerous because not only does it increase excess fat production in the body, but it also damages our mitochondria and fuels oxidative stress. 

Now, research published in Nature is shedding new light on another dangerous way that fructose may be contributing to cancer.

It turns out that how our bodies metabolize fructose might be playing a unique role in fueling cancer cells. Unlike glucose, which is readily used by all cells for energy, fructose is primarily processed in the liver. This study found that in mice with colorectal cancer, consuming fructose seemed to "supercharge" a particular enzyme called KHK (ketohexokinase). Think of KHK as a gatekeeper that controls how much fructose gets converted into a form that can accelerate tumor growth.

The researchers discovered that when KHK activity was increased in the presence of fructose, it promoted two key things:

1. Increased Fatty Acid Synthesis - When met with high-fructose corn syrup, the liver produces lipids that can turn into building blocks for tumors. 

2. Enhanced Glucose Metabolism in Cancer Cells - Fructose also seemed to make it easier for cancer cells to utilize glucose for energy, further fueling their growth.

In this breakdown on X from Nick Norwitz, he explains that what is particularly concerning about this research is the fact that fructose is potentially acting directly on cancer growth. The authors of the study note that they found fructose contributed to tumor growth without changing body weight.

Fructose wasn’t causing some sort of change in weight or metabolic health…it was literally feeding cancer cells!

What Does This Mean for Us?

Before you start clearing out anything with a hint of fructose from your pantry, let's put this into perspective. This study was conducted on mice, and we can't directly translate these findings to humans without further research. However, it does add another layer to our understanding of how dietary choices might influence cancer risk.

Here's the key takeaway for me, and maybe something for you to "try" this week:

• Be mindful of added fructose: This research reinforces the importance of being mindful of our intake of added fructose, especially high fructose corn syrup, which is in so many processed foods and sugary drinks. It may be helpful to limit the consumption of processed foods and drinks that include fructose or even just fruit juice (which doesn’t contain fiber and all of the other beneficial parts of the fruit).
  

• Focus on whole foods: Prioritizing whole, unprocessed foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats is a great way to naturally limit your intake of added sugars, including fructose. Again, while fruits do contain fructose naturally, they also contain other nutrients like fiber that may help to limit the negative effects of fructose.
  

• Send this to your parents, elders, and anyone with kids: So many people are still consuming products with fructose. If you know of anyone who consumes a lot of ultra-processed food or drinks or people with kids, send them this article. It’s wild to me how many people still drink a ton of soda or juice—sugar-sweetened beverages are still the biggest offenders. 

The evidence is clear to me: we as a species need to dramatically reduce our consumption of fructose to prevent some of the biggest diseases of our time. 

Here’s to your health, 

Dhru Purohit 

P.S. Here are two amazing friends whose lives have been turned upside down by the fires. If you feel inspired, please check out their work:

Antonio Neves: My dear friend Antonio, his wife, and their kids lost their home in the fires. If you feel inspired, Antonio has a fantastic planner for highly productive people called The 1-Day Planner. I’ve been using it recently to help me stay organized and prioritize what truly matters, highly recommended.

Ronit Menashe: My long-time friend and co-worker Ronit also lost her home in the fires. Ronit is the co-founder of an amazing company called WeNatal, the best prenatal on the market. If you know anyone trying to conceive or looking for a high-quality prenatal, please tell them about WeNatal.