We all have to eat, but it can be hard to tell just how diet might be related to health issues. If you’ve been diagnosed with lung cancer, you may wonder if eating certain carbohydrates — carbs for short — could be connected to your cancer.

People often think about carbs when trying to judge how healthy their diet is. Carbs are a major part of most diets and can be found in many foods. Although it’s important to get enough carbs, consuming too many can have negative effects on some people’s health.

This article will discuss what the research shows about the link between carbs and lung cancer. By understanding how your diet might relate to your cancer, you can start working with your health care provider to make healthy changes.

What Are Carbohydrates?

Carbs, also called ”dietary carbohydrates,” are a type of nutrient found in foods. When you digest food, your body breaks down carbs into smaller molecules called simple sugars. These simple sugars can then enter your bloodstream, raising blood glucose (sugar) levels and causing your body to produce insulin. This hormone takes glucose out of blood and brings it into cells, which gives your body energy.

Carbohydrates can be simple or complex, depending on how easily they’re broken down by the body.

Complex Carbohydrates

Complex carbs — which include fiber and starch — take longer to break down. Eating foods that contain complex carbs will increase your blood glucose levels gradually, giving your body more energy over time. Complex carbs can be found in many types of foods, including:

• Beans and other legumes (chickpeas, lentils, peas)
• Brown rice and whole-grain pasta
• Whole-wheat bread
• Fruits and vegetables

Foods like rice and wheat are considered whole grains and are naturally high in fiber. However, foods such as white rice, corn grits, and white bread undergo processing, which removes much of the fiber. These are called “refined grains,” and they’re less nutritious than whole grains.

Simple Carbohydrates

Unlike fiber and starch, simple carbohydrates are broken down into simple sugars quickly, causing your blood glucose level to rapidly increase. Simple carbs include:

• Honey
• Table sugar
• Soda
• Processed foods with added sugars
• Fruit juice
• White rice and pasta
• Cereals

Health Effects of Too Many Carbohydrates

Although carbs are an important and necessary part of our diet, getting the right type makes a difference. The standard American diet typically contains a lot of added sugar and refined carbs like white bread and pasta. These foods are high on the glycemic index, which is a measure of how quickly certain foods can cause your blood glucose level to go up. The more you eat foods with a high glycemic index, the more your blood glucose level will rise — known as your glycemic load.

Eating a lot of foods with a high glycemic index is linked to health problems such as:

• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Gallbladder disease

Researchers have also looked into the connection between glycemic index and cancer. Although the results have been mixed, some cancer research findings have suggested that a diet high in simple carbs can increase the risk of cancer.

Carbohydrates and Lung Cancer Risk

A diet high in simple and refined carbs can cause health issues, but what about the connection between carbs and lung cancer? Current research suggests that a diet with a high glycemic index can potentially increase the risk of lung cancer. High carb intake might contribute to lung cancer risk in different ways.

A high-carb diet can raise levels of insulin in the bloodstream, which can increase amounts of a protein called insulinlike growth factor 1 (IGF-1). High levels of IGF-1 can cause cells to divide faster and potentially lead to cancer. Recent studies have shown that people with lung cancer have higher-than-normal levels of IGF-1. This suggests that a high-carb diet can possibly lead to a greater risk of lung cancer by increasing IGF-1 levels.

Additionally, carbs may affect lung cancer risk through other health conditions. According to some research studies, people with diabetes may have an increased lung cancer risk.

Although carbs with a high glycemic index may raise cancer risk, the opposite may be true for complex carbs. A 2021 study found that eating more complex carbs like fiber may lower the risk of lung cancer. Therefore, the risk of having lung cancer may depend on the type and amount of carbs you’re getting in your diet.

Risk Factors for Lung Cancer

While it’s possible that a high-carb diet may lead to an increased risk of lung cancer, more research is needed to fully understand the connection. Many other lifestyle and environmental factors have a known connection to lung cancer risk.

Smoking cigarettes, even occasionally, is the main risk factor. Lung cancer is also more common in people who are exposed to:

• Industrial substances such as asbestos and arsenic
• Secondhand cigarette smoke
• Air pollution
• Radon, a natural gas
• Radiation, such as during treatment for a previous cancer

If you have questions or concerns about what may have caused your cancer, talk to your health care provider about your diet as well as any previous exposure to harmful substances. The more information your doctor has, the better they can understand the possible causes of your cancer.

Diet and Quality of Life With Lung Cancer

Researchers are still working to understand any links between diet and lung cancer, though studies have found that carbs may play a role. Even if you’ve already been diagnosed with lung cancer, it’s not too late to make changes to help improve your quality of life. Some studies have found links between diet and lung cancer outcomes, and researchers emphasized the importance of a supportive diet along with lung cancer treatment.

Talk to a health care provider if you’re living with lung cancer and interested in changing your diet. They’ll make suggestions based on your personal health status and treatment plan, and they can connect you with other professionals like dietitians who also can help.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyLungCancerTeam is the social support network for people with lung cancer and their loved ones. On MyLungCancerTeam, more than 12,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand.

Do you have more questions about the relationship between carbs and lung cancer? Which carbs are part of your diet with lung cancer? Share your insights in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.