Ellen White wrote that eating too much sugar posed a bigger problem than eating meat.

In 1870, Mrs. White wrote an article published in her Testimonies series number 18 that went into detail about the health risks from eating “large quantities” of sugar.  “From the light I have, a large use of sugar is more injurious than meat.” [T18 24.1].

It is common knowledge that rates of colon cancer have been increasing dramatically in young people, and a recent study found a correlation between blood sugar (glucose) levels and rates of colon cancer in patients under 50 years of age.  The normal range for blood glucose is  70 to 99 milligrams per deciliter and in this study, younger patients with glucose levels that were higher than 126 mg/dl had up to a 65 percent increased risk of early-onset colon and rectal cancer compared to people with normal glucose levels.  Even people who were pre-diabetic were found to be at a somewhat higher risk for developing colorectal cancers than those who were not.

Diets that are high in simple carbohydrates are easy for the body to digest, and people like to eat many of them due to their sweet taste.  Simple carbs that can raise your blood glucose levels include candy, table sugar, sugary syrups, sodas or soft drinks, high fructose corn syrup, and fruit juices.  There are some healthy forms of simple carbs that don’t raise blood sugar and these are the ones found naturally in foods, like whole fruit, milk, and vegetables.

High levels of glucose can damage DNA in our bodies which can lead to the formation of cancerous cells.  Cancer cells appear to use glucose as fuel to help them grow and spread, and the authors of the study recommended that “tighter glucose control should be a priority for younger age groups” to slow the explosive rise in colon cancer that has been occurring in people under 50.

Ellen White’s advice from 150 years ago (when no one knew how harmful too much sugar could be) is proving to be life-saving.