WelcomeUser Guide
ToSPrivacyCanary
DonateBugsLicense

©2026 Poal.co

946

Cancer cells need real glucose in order to even survive so someone pls ELI5

Cancer cells need real glucose in order to even survive so someone pls ELI5

(post is archived)

[–] 2 pts

Cancer metabolism is complicated, and to start we need to question the assumption that cancer cells only eat sugar to survive. It's an assumption based the Warburg Effect, which basically says that cancer cells are hypoxic, and metabolizing sugars to survive, producing lactic acid.

The... Causality in this isn't so straightforward. Why are they hypoxic? Because they're using the oxygen faster than they are getting oxygen. Glucose can be metabolized without oxygen, producing lactic acid. Fat and glucose are usually metabolized with oxygen, but only glucose can be metabolized without it. More accurately, the Warburg Effect is that cancer cells are metabolizing faster than their oxygen supply allows.

How can artificial sugars play a role? Mitochondria don't metabolize them correctly, and it messes things up causing them make reactive oxygen species (free radicals) which increase the risk of cancers.

That's the ELI5 version. Don't get me started on the blood sugar crap.

[–] 1 pt

Take us on a bit of a journey of what you think is important to know, why and what we should modify in our diet to improve our lives.

I am finding the conversations on this forum improve dramatically over the last little while. We have all sorts of expertice here sharing information and insight.

Every expert has a summary of things they want to teach others they think is important. Write up yours. We are listening.