Now, a doctor has stepped in to debunk such claims.
Dr Vartika Vishwani, a Gurugram-based consultant surgical oncologist, recently shared a video on Instagram addressing a viral claim in which a woman confidently states that sugar causes cancer.
Refuting the myth, the doctor said, “I am a cancer specialist, and scientifically, there is no proven evidence that eating chocolate, cake, or pastries will lead to cancer in the future.”
She added, “The human body does not function based on claims circulating on social media. Instead of following random health gurus on Instagram, people should rely on scientific studies.”
In the video, the doctor also referred to PET scan images often misinterpreted online. She explained that self-proclaimed health experts sometimes claim that highlighted areas in such scans represent cancer cells feeding on sugar.
“Every living cell that is actively dividing uses glucose. If you don’t consume sugar, how will your organs get energy?” she said.
However, she cautioned that excessive consumption of sugar and obesity can be harmful.
“One must understand that metabolic diseases can increase the risk of cancer in the future. Everything depends on lifestyle,” she said.
She further advised against daily consumption of sugary desserts such as gulab jamun or rasmalai, while expressing concern that people are increasingly avoiding even fruits, whole grains, and homemade meals due to misinformation spread on social media.