evidence: Sugar feeds every cell in your body. But does sugar cause cancer, or help it to grow and spread? Our expert says to watch out for added sugars, but not for the reasons you may think. [...] It’s true that sugar feeds every cell in our body — even cancer cells. But, research shows that eating sugar doesn’t necessarily lead to cancer. It’s what sugar does to your waistline that can lead to cancer. [...] "Your body’s cells use sugar to keep your vital organs functioning," says Erma Levy, a research dietitian in Behavioral Science. "But too much daily sugar can cause weight gain. And, unhealthy weight gain and a lack of exercise can increase your cancer risks."