Challenging the common wisdon that all sugars are the same, new research out of UCLA shows that our bodies use fructose and glucose in very different ways.

Americans take in large amounts of fructose, mainly in high fructose corn syrup, a mix of fructose and glucose that is used in soft drinks, bread and a range of other foods. Politicians, regulators, health experts and the industry have debated whether high fructose corn syrup and other ingredients have been helping make Americans fatter and less healthy.Too much sugar of any kind not only adds pounds, but is also a key culprit in diabetes, heart disease and stroke, according to the American Heart Association.Several states, including New York and California, have weighed a tax on sweetened soft drinks to defray the cost of treating obesity-related diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

The UCLA study indicated that tumor cells thrive on sugar, but they used the fructose to proliferate.

My suggestion: Any efforts to reduce or cease the intake of High Fructose Corn Syrup may disrupt cancer growth. Keep your eyes out for it when shopping in the supermarket or grocery store. You’ll be surprised at all the products its in..some not even sweet such as bread and/or mustard. Your best bet is to shop at places like Whole Foods or Trader Joes which specialize in more organic and healthy types of foods.