South Korean Radiologist Links Sugar, Refined Carbs in Common Foods to Pancreatic Risk
A radiologist in South Korea has singled out several everyday foods as potential threats to pancreatic health, including kimbap, tteok, fruit juice, and mix coffee. He says refined carbohydrates and added sugars can cause rapid blood sugar spikes that place long-term stress on the pancreas, potentially raising the risk of diabetes and pancreatic cancer.
Dr. Lee Won-kyung, a radiology specialist, argued that sugar consumption is linked not only to diabetes but also to pancreatic cancer, and urged people to avoid these four items in daily life. He pointed to a reported 19% rise in diabetes patients over the past five years in Korea and noted that many Korean foods are high in sugar or sweet sauces, including gochujang.
Among the foods, tteok rice cake tops the list as the worst for the pancreas. He described tteok as a refined-carbohydrate staple that triggers blood sugar spikes. If consumption is unavoidable, he suggested brown-rice tteok, which he said has a lower glycemic index by about 20% and higher dietary fiber than white rice versions.
Kimbap, a popular convenience-store staple, was also flagged. Lee noted that the rice in kimbap often contains sweeteners and sugar, compounding refined-carbohydrate effects when combined with seasonings. A single roll typically ranges from 450 to 600 calories, with tuna or cheese additions pushing the total higher.
The official also warned about fruit juice and mix coffee. Mix coffee, containing sugar and creamer, can cause a rapid rise in blood sugar, increasing the risk of high cholesterol and diabetes with daily use. Fruit juice, when blended from whole fruit, can lead to quick sugar absorption into the bloodstream, producing blood sugar spikes.
The pancreas is said to have limited regenerative capacity, and early signs of pancreatic cancer are often absent. Because detection is frequently late, the doctor emphasized dietary changes aimed at boosting fiber intake from leafy green vegetables and reducing added sugars in processed foods as a preventive approach.
Why this matters beyond Korea for U.S. readers: The case underscores a global concern about rising sugar consumption and metabolic diseases such as diabetes, which carry wide-ranging implications for healthcare costs, dietary guidelines, and food industry practices in the United States. As American consumers increasingly encounter Korean and other Asian foods in diverse dining and retail settings, understanding how refined carbohydrates and added sugars affect health can influence product formulation, labeling, and public-health messaging. The story also highlights the cross-border relevance of nutrition science in shaping policies, supply chains, and market demand for healthier ingredients in ethnic and mainstream foods.