Angiogenesis: eat fruits and vegs to beat disease

William Li talks about angiogenesis, ie. the growth of new blood vessels, at TED.

"In fact we are probably forming these microscopic cancers all the time in out body... Yet without a blood supply, most of these cancers will never become dangerous."

The main message to take away from this presentation is that you can eat fruits and vegs to keep angiogenesis well balanced, optimal and under control.

Although Li mentions certain foods like red grapes and strawberries, I believe it's important to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables for their synergestic effects rather than hunt for specific substances like resveratrol.

Actually I try to avoid grapes and berries unless they are organic. Red wine is even worse, as one would have to drink about three bottles a day to get enough resveratrol for any positive health effect. What's more, any potential health benefits would be totally negated by alcohol.      

The health benefits of fruits and vegetables are obvious. Simply eat them and watch your health improve. We already know enough to take action into our own hands, so take action now and change your life!



More information from www.angio.org:

Angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels, is a "common denominator" shared by diseases affecting more than one billion people worldwide. This includes all cancers, cardiovascular disease, blindness, arthritis, complications of AIDS, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and more than 70 other major health conditions affecting children and adults in developed and developing nations. Our vision is that angiogenesis-based therapies are a unifying approach to disease and will have the same impact in the 21st century that antibiotics had in the 20th century.

In many serious diseases states the body loses control over angiogenesis. Angiogenesis-dependent diseases result when new blood vessels either grow excessively or insufficiently.

Excessive angiogenesis: Occurs in diseases such as cancer, diabetic blindness, age-related macular degeneration, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and more than 70 other conditions.

Insufficient angiogenesis: Occurs in diseases such as coronary artery disease, stroke, and chronic wounds.