Eat to Beat Disease

This chapter explores how diet can play a pivotal role in preventing diseases by supporting the body’s angiogenesis defense system. Angiogenesis, the process of forming new blood vessels, is crucial for the growth and spread of tumors and other harmful conditions when it becomes unbalanced. By eating foods that influence angiogenesis, individuals can potentially reduce the risk of diseases such as cancer and heart disease that thrive on dysregulated blood vessel growth.

Li introduces soybeans as a food proven to impact angiogenesis, specifically highlighting the work of Theodore Fotsis, who discovered that a natural substance called genistein found in soy could inhibit cancer cell growth. Li then discusses the broader concept of “angioprevention,” a strategy proposed by researcher Adriana Albini to prevent disease by regulating angiogenesis through safe and tolerable compounds, including foods.

Li emphasizes that balance is essential for maintaining a healthy angiogenesis system, likening it to the “Goldilocks zone” where blood vessels must be regulated to provide nourishment without fostering disease. He also notes that while pharmaceutical drugs often work in a “black-and-white” manner and can disrupt this balance, food-derived compounds act more subtly, helping the body maintain equilibrium.

Li explores the connection between angiogenesis and coronary artery disease, highlighting that controlling blood vessel growth within plaques is crucial for heart health.