I have been enjoying reading “Eat to Beat Disease” by William W. Li, MD.  What a fantastic book on the way our body works within us that is our immune system.  We all have the choice to eat the foods that give us health. But perhaps you didn’t know why and which foods.  How does it all work? 

Our body has 5 defense systems:  Angiogenesis, Regeneration, Microbiome, DNA Protection and Immunity.  Our bodies defense heals from within. But health has to be programmed in.  So it is up to each of us to provide this programming through epigenetic expression (switching genes on and off by what we eat, where we live, and how we exercise).  Diet and environment cause epigenetic change. Epigenetic expression is not fixed. Your DNA responds to external influences from inside and outside of the body, depending on the circumstances such as: sleep, mindfulness, stress and exercise and the food we eat for better or worse.

We are all afraid of aging and disease.  “Eat to Beat Disease” gives us the information to apply food daily as information to help turn off disease and boost our immune system.  I love the study of Epigenetics and having the power of choice to power my body and brain and help it into homeostasis so that it can be in a healing state.  Hippocrates said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” That is and always will be relevant to our longevity and health. “Our health is not simply an absence of disease,” William W. Li, Md. “Health is an active state.”  Our bodies’ defense systems work continuously to help heal us. By knowing how this defense system works we can tap into their healing powers to live a longer, healthier life.

I am completely fascinated by Angiogenesis.  Angiogenesis is the process our bodies use to grow and maintain blood vessels.  This is the defense system that allows our bodies to intercept cancer, keep it in check and not let it grow.  This defense regulates when and where blood vessels should grow and can prevent tumors from growing a private supply of blood and oxygen needed to expand.  We don’t want our bodies to lose this control of blood vessels. We want to maintain Homeostasis which is defined as maintaining stability in the body for normal function while adjusting to constantly changing conditions. As long as the angiogenesis system operates properly, blood vessels grow in the right place at the right time–not too many or too few, but just right.  The foods we eat supports our bodies natural angiogenesis defense system to keep disease turned off. So which foods influence balanced angiogenesis and our health? The power players are: fermented soy (geinstein), tomatoes (lycopene), black raspberries (anthocyanin and ellagic acid), pomegranates (ellagitannins), broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, stone fruit, and apples which are all have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activity–as well as licorice, beer and cheese.  We can use the bioactives in these foods and others as angio prevention to keep us in a state of balance. The ones we are going to go more into detail today is green tea for its (EGCG), catechins, gallic acid and theaflavins, red wine (resveratrol), dark chocolate (theobromine) and coffee (Chlorogenic acid).

TEA

Green tea is one of the best studied for its bioactives called EGCG (Epigallocatechin-3-gallate). It is antiangiogenic, activates the regenerative system, is DNA protective and autoimmune supportive.  EGCG reduces harmful angiogenesis and cancer growth, lowers blood pressure, improves blood lipids, restores homeostasis of immune cells and has antioxidant and anti inflammatory properties. Studies show drinking two to three cups a day reduces the risk of disease.  Chamomile tea contains bioactives like apigenin, caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid that have antiangiogenic activity. Studies show that black tea can mobilize stem cells increasing the health of the vascular system with two cups of black tea a day. The polyphenols in tea help make a more favorable microbiome in our gut.  The tea bioactives influence the microbiome increasing short chain fatty acids. Overall, drinking black, oolong and green teas can increase good bacteria, decrease bad bacteria and contributes to the health of our microbiome. It is a “Grand Slammer” as an all-star food as it influences more than one of the body’s defense systems. 

RED WINE

Red wine is associated with cardiovascular benefits and anticancer activity.  It has several hundred bioactive compounds. The best known is Resveratrol. It also contains other beneficial polyphenols which are known to be antiangiogenic.  Epidemiological research supports the antiangiogenic effect of wine on cancer with just one glass of wine a day. The most potent antiangiogenic wines were identified as Cabernet sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Red wine also improves the gut microbiome and reduces inflammation in the body.  Wine polyphenols feed the gut bacteria in the colon which are then converted into bioactive metabolites which have beneficial anti-inflammatory properties. A drink to enjoy and to relax to now that we know some of the wonderful benefits.

DARK CHOCOLATE

Benefits of dark chocolate (72% and above) are antiangiogenic and stem cell stimulating. Eating dark chocolate has been found to lower the risk of heart disease and diabetes, protect your DNA, improve gut bacteria and improve blood flow.  It is rich in phytonutrients and flavonoids which are antioxidants. Its main bioactive is theobromine. It is a high magnesium food. The fiber found in chocolate feeds the healthy gut bacteria such as Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli, which generate short chain fatty acids.  This increases the anti-inflammatory properties improving blood glucose and lipid metabolism. Dark chocolate’s best overall noticeable benefit we all love is the lower levels of stress and anxiety we feel. Studies show that just two weeks of eating dark chocolate can influence gut bacteria and reduce stress markers cortisol and adrenaline. This food is considered a “Jaw Dropper” and “Grand Slammer” for its multiple healing benefits in the body.

COFFEE

Coffee as a whole food is also angiogenic. Coffee contains polyphenols beneficial to DNA functions.  Coffee polyphenols epigenetically turn on the tumor suppressor gene RARB2. These polyphenols are chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid.  Studies show it lowers your risk of dying. The many coffee bioactives act on the heart leading to a reduced risk of dying. The greatest benefit being digestive-related diseases of the colon.  It increases longevity. Drinking one cup of coffee a day effectively slows aging with 3 to 4 cups showing the best benefit to life extension. Coffee is definitely one of the “Grand Slammers” for health.

There are many more health promoting foods: berries, stone fruit, apples, vegetables, purple potatoes, nuts and seeds, seafood, olive oil, dairy and cheese and foods containing ursolic acid like ginseng, rosemary and peppermint.  The more we add to our daily meals the more our immune system and angiogenic preventive system is turned on and working for us. “Eat to Beat Disease” is a cornucopia of familiar foods we can use for “food as medicine” in our daily lives.  The book comes with invaluable lists to help you increase your knowledge and your body’s defense systems. Adding just 5 disease-fighting foods 5 times a day helps to fight disease and achieve optimal health.

Many studies and the science concerning the above are stated in the book “Eat to Beat Disease” by William W. Li, Md.

This information is being provided to you for educational and informational purposes only. It is being provided to you to educate you about functional health and nutrition and as a self-help tool for your own use. It is not medical advice. This information is to be used at your own risk based on your own judgement. For my full Disclaimer, please go to my website loribalue.com.