Cancer Can't Stand This Diet: Dr. William Li's Anti-Cancer Nutrition Breakthroughs
May 1, 2024
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Dr. William Li, a physician and author who explores the intersection of food and health, shares groundbreaking insights on how nutrition can combat cancer. He explains the difference between eating for health versus eating to beat disease. Listeners will learn about the five defense systems for optimal health and the role of gut health in cancer survival. Dr. Li also tackles the debates around dairy and soy, offering evidence-based perspectives. Plus, discover essential foods and habits that can empower your health journey!
Eating whole soy products like edamame and tofu can provide protein and unique polyphenols for health benefits.
Quality dairy from grass-fed cows offers probiotic benefits and essential nutrients, while processed dairy products should be avoided.
Opting for organic and minimally processed foods ensures higher nutrient density and well-being.
Inflammatory ultra-processed snacks can provoke inflammation and should be minimized for overall health support.
Deep dives
The Importance of Omega-3s and Quality Dairy for Optimal Health
Omega-3s are crucial for gut, brain, and immune health, and can be found in fish like salmon, sea bass, and also in cod and other fatty fish. Quality dairy sourced from grass-fed pastured cows can be beneficial, offering probiotic benefits and essential nutrients, but low-fat and processed dairy products with additives should be avoided.
Nuanced View on Soy Consumption and its Health Benefits
Eating whole soy products like edamame, tofu, tempeh, and traditional fermented soy foods like miso and natto can provide protein, fiber, and unique polyphenols that offer various health benefits. Soy myths associating it with negative effects on women's health are debunked, emphasizing the importance of consuming unprocessed soy products.
Sourcing and Preparation of Soy Products for Maximum Health Benefits
Choosing natural, fermented, and minimally processed soy products like edamame, tofu, and tempeh is crucial for maximizing their health benefits. Traditional soy foods from Asian cuisine contribute beneficial compounds that can support metabolism, circulation, and even combat cancer growth through their diverse phytochemical content.
The Significance of Quality Sourcing and Preparation in Food Choices
Opting for organic and regeneratively sourced foods, such as organic dairy, grass-fed meat, and non-GMO soy products, ensures higher nutrient density and fewer harmful additives. Prioritizing whole, minimally processed foods over ultra-processed options is key for optimal health and well-being.
Consuming Soy for Breast Cancer Prevention
Consuming soy, particularly in amounts equivalent to 10 grams or more per day, has been linked to a 30% decrease in the risk of mortality among women at high risk for breast cancer. Additionally, those who consumed the most soy showed a nearly 30% decrease in cancer recurrence after treatment, based on findings from the Shanghai Women's Breast Cancer Study.
Avoiding Inflammatory Foods and Ultra-processed Snacks
Inflammatory foods, particularly ultra-processed snacks like chips and neon-colored processed foods, can have detrimental effects on health by provoking inflammation in the body. These foods, commonly found in the snack aisle or Halloween candies, can lead to increased inflammation and should be minimized in the diet to support overall health.
Leveraging Food as Medicine and Supplements for Health Defense Systems
Food can be considered a form of medicine, with specific nutrients and supplements playing a role in enhancing the body's health defense systems. Key elements such as omega-3 supplements, vitamin D, and probiotics can help in boosting the body's healing, repair, and regeneration mechanisms. Understanding the importance of diversity in food choices and the appropriate dosage of supplements contributes to optimizing health and potentially reversing disease processes.
Each bite of food we eat has the potential to modulate our genetics and impact every cell of the body—don’t you want those levers to be moving in the right direction? Eating for health is one thing, but eating to beat disease is an even more intentional step toward prevention and longevity. I was so excited to sit down with internationally renowned physician, scientist, and author Dr. William Li to discuss how we can leverage food to optimize every system of the body.
We dig into:
How Dr. Li got interested in “Food As Medicine” while developing cancer treatments
Why eating to beat disease is not the same as eating for health
What food would Dr. Li bring with him if he was going to be stuck on an island?
One thing Dr. Li knows everyone needs to do better
Is dairy good or bad?
What’s the deal with soy?
The 5 defense systems to support optimal health and Dr. Li’s 5 x 5 x 5 plan
We talk about this and so much more. I know you’ll love this conversation as much as I did!
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