Let Food Be Thy Medicine: EAT THIS To Heal The Body & STARVE CANCER! | Dr. William Li

Dr Rangan Chatterjee・2 minutes read

Biological systems maintain our health and fitness, with food playing a vital role in protecting DNA and preventing illness. Research shows the importance of food as medicine, with foods like green tea and kiwi fruit having significant health benefits and aiding in disease prevention.

Insights

  • Neglecting biological systems weakens their ability to protect us, leading to illness.
  • Food plays a crucial role in protecting DNA, with kiwi fruit highlighted for its repair properties.
  • Research shows foods like green tea can inhibit cancer growth comparable to drugs.
  • Consuming foods that support defense systems boosts resilience against health insults.
  • Empowering individuals with knowledge about using food as medicine can shift their perspective on health and agency.

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Recent questions

  • How does food impact DNA repair?

    Food plays a crucial role in protecting DNA, with certain foods like kiwi fruit highlighted for their ability to neutralize DNA damage and aid in repair. Antioxidants found in food act as shields against incoming damage, similar to neutralizing missiles in a video game. Repairing damaged DNA is likened to patching potholes on a road. Therefore, consuming a diet rich in antioxidants and nutrients can support the body's natural DNA repair mechanisms, helping to maintain overall health and prevent diseases.

  • What are the benefits of green tea?

    Research shows that green tea can have effects comparable to drugs in inhibiting cancer growth by cutting off blood supply to tumors. Green tea, particularly black tea, has been found to stimulate stem cell production from bone marrow, potentially aiding in health and disease prevention. Comparative studies between different types of tea reveal surprising findings on their health benefits, emphasizing the importance of scientific exploration in understanding food's healing properties. Therefore, incorporating green tea into one's diet can offer various health benefits, from cancer prevention to overall well-being.

  • How can olive oil benefit health?

    Olive oil, especially extra virgin olive oil, is recommended for its monounsaturated fatty acids and polyphenols, which are beneficial for cardiovascular health. The process of pressing olives to extract olive oil results in the presence of polyphenols like hydroxytyrosol, contributing to its health benefits. Consuming whole olives and using extra virgin olive oil for cooking or as a food topping can provide additional health benefits. Selecting mono-varietal olive oils from specific olives like Picual, Koroneiki, or Moraiolo ensures higher polyphenol content, enhancing the quality and health benefits of the oil. Therefore, incorporating olive oil into one's diet can support heart health and overall well-being.

  • What is the role of gut microbiome in health?

    The gut microbiome, consisting of roughly 39 trillion bacteria and 380 trillion viruses in our bodies, plays a crucial role in overall health. Beneficial gut bacteria can impact responses to immune therapy, a groundbreaking cancer treatment, highlighting the importance of a healthy gut microbiome. Foods like pomegranates, cranberries, and dietary fiber can promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, enhancing the effectiveness of immune therapy. Therefore, maintaining a balanced and diverse gut microbiome through dietary choices can support immune function, digestion, and overall well-being.

  • How does intermittent fasting benefit health defenses?

    Intermittent fasting has shown positive effects on various bodily systems, including angiogenesis, stem cell production, gut microbiome health, DNA repair, and immune system strength. Dr. Lee personally practices intermittent fasting and believes it can be beneficial for overall health, even with occasional meal skipping. Fasting can help improve health defenses by promoting various physiological processes that support the body's resilience and ability to heal. Therefore, incorporating intermittent fasting into one's lifestyle can enhance health defenses and contribute to overall well-being.

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Summary

00:00

Food as Medicine: Harnessing Nature's Healing Power

  • Biological systems maintain our health and fitness, but neglecting them weakens their ability to protect us, leading to illness.
  • An analogy of a bath overflowing with water symbolizes disease, where blockages in the drain prevent water from receding, causing disease to manifest.
  • The balance between water inflow and outflow in the bath represents the body's health maintenance, with blockages hindering repair mechanisms.
  • Food plays a crucial role in protecting DNA, with kiwi fruit being highlighted for its ability to neutralize DNA damage and aid in repair.
  • Antioxidants in food act like shields against incoming damage, akin to neutralizing missiles in a video game, while repairing damaged DNA is likened to patching potholes on a road.
  • The concept of food as medicine is a growing field, utilizing scientific methodologies to study the impact of food on health and prevention.
  • Research shows that foods like green tea can have effects comparable to drugs in inhibiting cancer growth by cutting off blood supply to tumors.
  • Food as medicine research involves studying real populations to understand the long-term benefits of food on health, from preventing cancer to enhancing overall well-being.
  • Green tea, particularly black tea, has been found to stimulate stem cell production from bone marrow, potentially aiding in health and disease prevention.
  • Comparative studies between different types of tea, like green and black tea, reveal surprising findings on their health benefits, emphasizing the importance of scientific exploration in understanding food's healing properties.

15:12

"Stem cells, angiogenesis, and health benefits"

  • Stem cells circulate in the body to repair organs, activated by black tea.
  • Foods often have multiple health benefits, activating various defense systems.
  • Angiogenesis is crucial for health, regulating blood vessel growth.
  • Proper angiogenesis ensures adequate blood vessels for organ function.
  • Inadequate angiogenesis leads to diseases like heart failure, stroke, and diabetes complications.
  • Excessive angiogenesis can fuel cancer growth by providing blood supply.
  • Inflammation and angiogenesis are interconnected, with inflammation triggering blood vessel growth.
  • Chronic inflammation can lead to various diseases and support cancer growth.
  • Consuming foods that support defense systems boosts resilience against health insults.
  • Listening to patients' food preferences and joys is crucial for effective healthcare.

30:35

"Healthy Choices: Self-awareness, Food, and Oils"

  • Bruce Lee emphasized the importance of self-awareness for success in life, including in martial arts, through knowing oneself and finding joy in simple choices like food preferences.
  • Dr. Hyman suggests starting a healthier diet by identifying and circling foods you already love in his book, "Food: What the Heck Should I Eat," using a permanent marker to commit to healthier choices.
  • He recommends whole food supplements like Athletic Greens for busy individuals to support energy, focus, digestion, and immune health, offering a special deal for listeners.
  • Dr. Hyman advises against excessive oil consumption and reusing oil due to potential health risks, especially from deep-frying, which alters the chemical structure of oils and food.
  • He highlights the importance of choosing healthier oils and limiting their intake, suggesting extra virgin olive oil for its monounsaturated fatty acids and polyphenols, beneficial for cardiovascular health.
  • Dr. Hyman explains the process of pressing olives to extract olive oil, emphasizing the presence of polyphenols like hydroxytyrosol that contribute to its health benefits.
  • He recommends consuming whole olives for additional health benefits and using extra virgin olive oil for cooking, sautéing, or spraying on food, limiting daily intake to about three tablespoons.
  • Dr. Hyman advises selecting mono-varietal olive oils from specific olives like Picual, Koroneiki, or Moraiolo for higher polyphenol content, ensuring quality and health benefits.
  • He compares the pride and knowledge farmers have in their produce to the importance of understanding and appreciating the origins and processing of food for better health choices.
  • Dr. Hyman discusses the role of olive oil in enhancing nutrient absorption from vegetables, citing the example of lycopene in tomatoes, which benefits from the presence of healthy fats for better absorption and health benefits.

44:43

Enhancing Nutrient Absorption for Better Health

  • Heating tomatoes in a pan changes lycopene's structure, increasing absorption from 20% to 80%.
  • Adding olive oil to tomatoes aids lycopene absorption due to its fat-soluble nature.
  • Combining guacamole (avocado) with tomatoes boosts lycopene intake, aiding in shrinking waistlines.
  • Fresh cracked black pepper enhances curcumin absorption from turmeric, offering health benefits.
  • Mixing milk with tea forms soap bubbles that trap polyphenols, reducing their absorption.
  • Nut milks like almond or soy are better tea additives as they don't hinder polyphenol absorption.
  • Milk tea from Taiwan mimics dairy flavor without compromising polyphenol absorption.
  • Whole foods are preferred over supplements for comprehensive nutrient intake.
  • Omega-3 supplements are crucial for those lacking oily fish in their diet.
  • Vitamin D3 supplements are recommended for individuals in regions with limited sunlight exposure.

58:57

"Prevention key to health, disease defense"

  • Daily vitamin D can be obtained through D3 supplements.
  • Soy consumption does not increase breast cancer risk; it may lower chances of death for high-risk women.
  • Tomatoes, despite being part of the nightshade family, do not contain toxic lectins; they can reduce prostate cancer risk.
  • Traditional medical training focuses on diagnosing and treating diseases, neglecting prevention.
  • Research led to the development of 42 FDA-approved treatments for various diseases.
  • Preventing diseases is more effective than treating them after they occur.
  • A doctor's experience at a veterans hospital sparked an interest in disease prevention.
  • The human body's resilience and ability to heal are crucial for maintaining health.
  • Health defenses, including angiogenesis and stem cells, are developed in the womb to protect the body.
  • Maintaining a balance in blood vessels and stem cells is crucial for overall health and disease prevention.

01:14:27

"Body's Defense Systems: DNA, Microbiome, Immune"

  • Our body has five health defense systems: angiogenesis, stem cells, gut microbiome, DNA, and the immune system.
  • The gut microbiome is crucial, with roughly 39 trillion bacteria and 380 trillion viruses in our bodies.
  • DNA is hardwired to protect against environmental damage like UV radiation and chemicals.
  • DNA silently fixes around 10,000 mistakes daily, crucial for our health.
  • Ultraviolet radiation from the sun can mutate DNA, but our body repairs it naturally.
  • Antioxidant foods shield DNA from damage caused by reactive chemicals.
  • Supplements were developed to improve global nutrition and provide essential micronutrients.
  • Folate supplements are vital for pregnant women to prevent neural tube defects.
  • Organic foods can have higher levels of beneficial substances like ellagic acid due to plant responses to pests.
  • Plants produce more bioactives like ellagic acid in response to insect nibbling, leading to higher levels in organic produce.

01:29:39

"Organic Plants' Bioactives, Fruit Peel Benefits"

  • Research indicates higher bioactives in organically grown plants, altering perceptions of organics to having more beneficial components.
  • Peeling fruits and vegetables may remove valuable phytonutrients and compounds present in the skin, such as ursolic acid in apples, pears, and peaches.
  • Eating fruit peel can be achieved through consuming dried fruits, which condense the fruit and skin into a smaller, more manageable form.
  • Organic produce is preferable due to the difficulty of washing off pesticides from thin-skinned fruits and vegetables like carrots.
  • Washing fruits and vegetables under cold running water for 60 seconds is recommended to remove potential pathogens, even for organic produce.
  • Autoimmune diseases, a group of conditions where the immune system attacks the body, may be influenced by food triggers like gluten in celiac disease.
  • Whole plant-based diets can help alleviate autoimmune disease symptoms by reducing inflammation and calming the immune system.
  • Kiwifruit and tomatoes are highlighted for their beneficial properties, such as repairing DNA and containing lycopene, but alternatives like red bell peppers and guava can provide similar benefits for those with intolerances or preferences.
  • Swapping out kiwi or tomato for other fruits rich in vitamin C and fiber can still offer similar health benefits, even if the specific research was conducted on kiwi.
  • The focus should be on how the body responds to food and finding suitable alternatives to incorporate essential nutrients, rather than fixating on specific foods that may not be well-tolerated.

01:44:16

"Food swaps lower cancer risk and enhance treatment"

  • Lycopene in watermelon lowers breast cancer risk by 20% and prostate cancer risk by almost 30%.
  • Watermelon contains lycopene, offering an alternative to tomatoes for those who dislike or cannot access them.
  • A variety of food swaps can be beneficial, emphasizing the importance of finding nutritious alternatives that suit personal preferences.
  • Cancer rates have increased significantly, with statistics showing alarming probabilities of developing cancer in one's lifetime.
  • Research on cancer prevention has led to the identification of foods like green tea, soy, tomatoes, peaches, and plums that reduce cancer risk.
  • Immune therapy, a groundbreaking cancer treatment, utilizes the body's immune system to combat cancer effectively.
  • Examples like President Jimmy Carter and the speaker's mother showcase the remarkable success of immune therapy in eradicating cancer.
  • The presence of specific gut bacteria, like Akkermansia muciniphila and Ruminococcus, significantly impacts responses to immune therapy.
  • Foods like pomegranates, cranberries, and dietary fiber can promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, enhancing the effectiveness of immune therapy.
  • Incorporating dietary changes alongside medical treatments can significantly improve outcomes for cancer patients, highlighting the synergy between food and medicine in promoting health.

01:59:29

"Activating Health Defenses Through Diverse Foods"

  • Dr. Lee's book "Eats Big Disease" details over 200 foods that activate health defenses, emphasizing the importance of diverse food choices.
  • Traditional foods from various cultures, like Mediterranean and Asian, can activate health defenses and taste great.
  • Dr. Lee encourages people to identify foods they enjoy from his book to start activating their health defenses.
  • Empowering people with knowledge about using food as medicine can shift their perspective on health and agency.
  • The relationship between sugar and cancer is complex, with added sugars posing more risk than natural sugars found in fruits and vegetables.
  • Fasting can be beneficial for health defenses, with intermittent fasting showing positive effects on various bodily systems.
  • Intermittent fasting can help with angiogenesis, stem cell production, gut microbiome health, DNA repair, and immune system strength.
  • Dr. Lee personally practices intermittent fasting and believes it can be beneficial even with occasional meal skipping.
  • Dr. Lee's upcoming book will delve into the connection between health defenses and metabolism, focusing on managing body fat for health.
  • Dr. Lee recommends foods like green tea, coffee, Swiss chard, kale, and mushrooms for their health benefits, emphasizing the importance of whole plant consumption.

02:14:10

"Healthy Food Choices Impact Health Defenses"

  • Porcini mushrooms are recommended for stews, risottos, and pasta dishes for their amazing flavor.
  • A variety of spices and herbs like rosemary, basil, turmeric, and cinnamon are favored for enhancing food flavors.
  • Sardines are praised for their healthy omega-3 fatty acids, with a simple recipe involving whole grain pasta, olive oil, sardines, pepper, and lemon.
  • Squid ink is mentioned for its health benefits, including cutting off blood supply to cancer cells and preserving stem cells.
  • The importance of food choices in impacting health defenses like circulation, stem cells, gut microbiome, DNA protection, and immune system is highlighted.
  • Added sugar, especially in sodas, is cautioned against due to its negative effects on metabolism and health defenses.
  • Diet sodas, despite being low in sugar, can still lead to weight gain due to artificial sweeteners harming the gut microbiome.
  • Metabolism is explained as a complex process beyond just energy conversion, involving immune system, inflammation, and overall health maintenance.
  • Soft drinks' history, from carbonated fruit juices to chemical-laden beverages, is discussed, emphasizing the importance of reading labels for ingredients.
  • The impact of marketing, sponsorships, and commercial deals on promoting unhealthy products like sodas is acknowledged, with a call to prioritize personal health choices over external influences.

02:28:38

Prioritize self-care, avoid harmful substances.

  • People often neglect their own needs and prioritize other responsibilities in their daily lives.
  • It is crucial to teach children, young parents, and educators the importance of being in tune with their bodies to make informed decisions.
  • Vigilance is necessary to prevent predatory marketing practices targeting vulnerable individuals, especially children.
  • Artificial sweeteners, like those in diet drinks, are a divisive topic, with some experts advocating for their avoidance due to potential negative impacts on gut health.
  • Industrial interests may downplay the harm of sugars and artificial sweeteners, but it is essential to differentiate between natural and chemically synthesized sweeteners.
  • Consumers should be aware of the various types of artificial sweeteners and carefully read labels to make informed choices.
  • Ultra-processed foods, alcohol, and processed meats are items to be cautious of due to their potential negative health impacts.
  • Alcohol, while a cherished tradition, should be consumed in moderation due to its potential negative effects on brain health and overall well-being.
  • Processed meats, particularly those heavily processed and containing preservatives, are classified as carcinogens and should be consumed sparingly.
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