Study: Carbs Could Be As Bad For You As Smoking Cigarettes

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – You've heard that carbs can increase your waistline, but according to a new study they could be as bad for you as smoking cigarettes.

The study found carbs can actually raise the risk of lung cancer by some 49-percent.

Scientists found foods with a high glycaemic index, such as white bread, may increase the risks of cancer.

The report says glycaemic index is a measure of the quality of dietary carbohydrates - and is defined by how certain foods affect our blood sugar levels after eating.

The theory behind the study is that high-GI foods trigger higher levels of glucose and insulin in the blood, which in turn increase Insulin-Like Growth Factors (IGFs).

The study was conducted by the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Lead author on the study, Dr. Stephanie Melkonian says:

"We observed a 49 percent increased risk of lung cancer among subjects with the highest daily GI compared to those with the lowest daily GI."

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The study says people should limit their intake of foods and beverages with a high GI.