Angiogenesis and Cancer

Several years ago, I used to fit breast prosthesis for women who had mastectomies. While I absolutely loved what I did, because I got to work with amazing women everyday, I hated seeing so many women suffer at the hand of cancer. This moved me to work with women in a new way, and I found health coaching and nutrition to offer education to help try to increase the odds of a woman avoiding cancer altogether.

Now, we have heard a million times that nutrition can directly affect diseases such as cancer; however, it is often not explained to us how this actually happens. While there is a myriad of different ways nutrition can influence cancer, today I want to discuss angiogenesis.

First of all, what is it? Angiogenesis is the process of making and repairing blood vessels. Sounds like a good thing right? Well it is… and it isn’t. Yes, we need blood vessels. Our tissues rely on them and we would die without them. However, like most good things, more is not always better. While our bodies rely on angiogenesis, it also relies on angiogenesis inhibitors. Angiogenesis inhibitors are just as they sound, they prevent the growth of new blood vessels. Our bodies need balance. We need new blood vessels, but we don’t need too many.

You see, tumors are tissues too, and they require blood vessels just like the rest of our bodies. If our bodies do not limit angiogenesis then blood vessels are created to feed the tumor and the tumor becomes larger and more dangerous. If a tumor does not have a direct blood supply then it simply cannot survive, hence the importance of limiting angiogenesis.

How do we limit angiogenesis? Well, pharmaceutical companies are coming up with drugs that are angiogenesis inhibitors to target the growth and spread of cancers. This is great, but you don’t need to wait on a pharmaceutical, you can influence angiogenesis by the foods you eat.

And what foods naturally inhibit angiogenesis? You guessed it - fruits and vegetables.

Some of the best plants in the anti-angiogenesis game are: berries, cherries, garlic, tomatoes, kale, bok choy, soy, turmeric, and mushrooms. Another important factor in limiting angiogenesis, is keeping your blood sugar stable. When your blood sugar spikes so does your insulin, and insulin spikes lead to angiogenesis. Avoid foods with a high glycemic load such as sugar, pasta, white rice and white breads and eat foods that help balance your blood sugar like beans, and other foods rich in fiber.

I hope this gives you a glimpse into the direct relationship food has on our health, and how fruits and veggies can help give us the power of prevention.

Love,

Rachel