Eat to Beat Diseases
Be cognizant of what we put into the body — they can build us up or tear us down.
If you wish to see my quick takeaways, scroll toward the end :)
One of the renowned figures on the topic of using food to improve human health conditions is Ted talk speaker Dr. William Li, a medical doctor, and a research scientist. His book of the same title expanded on the thinking and research about foods that we consume which have demonstrated a variety of functions to heal a broken body and prevent diseases. He illustrated this through 4 major mechanisms. Accompanying each of these explanations are suggested foods that Dr. Li found in his research to have both disease preventive and corrective attributes. For details on concepts and recipes, I recommend checking out his book and Youtube talks.
It’s easy to be a skeptic, having been trained in the field of modern medicine for more than 15 years, life has finally taught me to keep an open mind and entertain all possibilities.
Another way to look at it is that the benefits of potential truth in this notion significantly outweigh the required sacrifices, may that be of inconvenience, spending uptick, or giving up unhealthy yet more palatable choices. This is especially a strong motivator for those with chronic ailments seeking permanent solutions or when modern medicine failed to live up to its promises.
One caveat to note, however, is that using food as a treatment strategy doesn’t produce immediate outcomes. It tunes and repairs the body over time, this may be a let-down for many but a necessary requirement in traditional Chinese medicinal practices. It resembles that of a systemic housecleaning and restructuring to rebuild a healthier and better functioning system, a process that takes time and commitment. So, don’t go about expecting a cure for cancer by eating broccoli overnight.
The foods that we consume can benefit through the following 4 vital processes in the body, they are key to its functions and vulnerabilities.
1) Angiogenesis — This process refers to the formation of blood vessels. Under normal operations, our body maintains a good balance of blood vessels created, just enough of them to deliver goods and support our living. Troubles occur when this balance is disrupted, such as excessive blood vessel formation at the insistency of cancer tumors to supply themselves with nourishments for their uprising rebellion. Numerous chemotherapy drugs were in fact developed to just target this supply chain pathway to stop cancer progression.
Some Anti-Angiogenic Foods: Soy, Tomato, Broccoli, Kale, Apples, Berries, Seafood, Tea, Red Wine, etc.
2) Regenerate with Stem Cells — If angiogenesis grows new blood vessels to feed the organs of our body, then stem cells are the crew that grows and maintains the organs. We are literally made from stem cells. The remarkable characteristic about stem cells is that they are pluripotent meaning they have the potential to become any type of cell or tissue in the body. These vital stem cells can become damaged and diminish in numbers with toxic environmental influences such as tobacco or alcohol usage for example.
Stem Cell Boosting Foods: Fish oil, Squid ink, Whole Wheat, Green Beans, Black Chokeberry, Rice Bran, Turmeric, Grapes, etc.
Cancerous Stem Cell Killing Foods: Green Tea, Purple Potatoes, Walnuts, etc.
3) Microbiome Management— An innate bacterial ecosystem in our gastrointestinal tract that works symbiotically for our body’s benefits. Once thought of as the nasty microorganisms that cause illnesses now understood as the roughly 39 trillion hardworking crewmen who defend our health and even influence our behavior. They consume what we eat and help break down our foods, generate vitamins and minerals, and support strong immunity. This is where if junk goes in, it is junk that comes out as the byproduct. Our diet immensely influences the health of our microbiome. And it is the reason why probiotics are such a hyped-up supplement, ever since scientists realize 70% of our immune health is supported by the microbiome.
Foods containing healthy bacteria: Sauerkraut, Kimchi, Cheeses, etc.
Foods that stimulate the immune system: Mushrooms, Garlic, Broccoli Sprouts, Olive oil, Cranberry juices, Grape juices, Chile Peppers, etc.
4) Genomics Protection — Our DNA contains the personal genetic blueprint of life, it’s a set of thorough instructions of what and how the body should function. Surprisingly, our DNAs sustain more than ten thousand naturally occurring damages every single day. Some errors occur by chance due to bumps and bruises of cellular traffic; other errors are the result of side effects from something destructive in the body like inflammation or infection, and more detrimentally, errors from our environment like air pollution, UV radiation, or chemical absorption through the skin. When DNAs are damaged, mutations can occur that lead to disastrous diseases.
Foods that facilitate DNA repairs: Berries, Kiwifruit, Carrots, etc.
All these talks, how about some ways to actualize these concepts? Below are some notes from my own realization and research gathered from sensible sources.
Take-Aways for a healthier lifestyle through diet:
1. Cut out all industrially processed foods.
2. Buy organic produce without pesticides and preservatives.
3. Reduce sugar intake, especially processed white sugar which is devoid of nutrients, and artificial sweeteners — these are trickeries to your own body.
4. Reduce “bad fats” intake, such as trans fats and saturated fats, eat healthy fats from nuts and fish.
5. Reduce meat consumption, especially red meats, charred meats, and processed meats.
6. Poultry and fish are better meat-based protein sources with less harmful digestive wastes, plant proteins are always better. Consume in moderation.
7. Consume more vegetables, especially green-leafed ones, cruciferous vegetables are top-notch selections. Uncooked in their raw form has more nutritional benefits.
8. Consume a variety of fruits. They aid in digestion by facilitating a complete breakdown of hard-to-digest foods. For example, Pineapple, papaya, and kiwifruit have protease enzymes like bromelain that help break down proteins in meat.
9. Eat a variety of different probiotics to introduce diverse beneficial bacterial species into your guts.
10. User Juicer and Blender to ease the unpleasant tastes and flavor of veggies.
11. Exercise to burn off excess calories, and sweat to eliminate bodily wastes.
12. Sleep well, aim to have 7+ hours of good rest.
13. Worry less, forgive more, laugh often, have a purpose, and Be Grateful.
