In 2012, 6 percent of cancer in the world (800,000 cases) was due to the harmful effects of obesity or type 2 diabetes. This is according to a study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.

In the study, 12 types of cancer were evaluated. Interestingly, cancer stemming from type 2 diabetes and obesity combined was almost twice as common in women than men. The metabolic disturbance caused by obesity and type 2 diabetes is far riskier in women than it is in men. Being overweight has the potential to do more harm in a woman’s body. Being overweight and having type 2 diabetes often go together, but obesity was found to be a greater risk factor than diabetes.

The researchers have warned that based on current trends, cancer resulting from these two conditions will likely rise 30 percent in women and 20 percent in men in less than 20 years. Due to recent medical advances, people diagnosed with cancer are usually living longer, but an increasing number of people are developing cancer.

In the past, cigarettes were the greatest lifestyle factor responsible for cancer. Now obesity has taken over; largely driven by the consumption of sugar, refined carbohydrates and processed vegetable oil. In men, obesity and type 2 diabetes were responsible for more than 40 percent of liver cancer, while in women they were responsible for a third of uterine cancers, and almost as many cases of breast cancer.

Not enough people realise that being overweight creates enormous hormonal and metabolic problems in the body. Fat cells secrete hormones and inflammatory chemicals that create havoc in the body. In women, fat cells produce higher levels of estrogen, and this is associated with a higher risk of breast and endometrial cancer. Overweight people typically have higher blood levels of the hormones insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1. These are both growth promoting hormones and if a tumor is present in the body, these hormones act as fertilizer.

Berberine is a plant extract that helps to reverse the metabolic disturbance caused by being overweight. This is because it works to reverse insulin resistance. It helps with weight loss (particularly from the torso) and improves blood sugar control in type 2 diabetics. If you are having difficulties losing weight, there is a detailed easy to follow guide in my book I Can’t Lose Weight and I Don’t Know Why.

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