• by Sophie Kleber , February 10, 2010

Angiogenesis, the process of generating blood vessels in one's body. Blood vessels adapt to their environment and usage. In adults, blood vessels usually do not grow, but the body can regulate blood vessels at all times (grow, shrink). There's over 70 common diseases in the world  that relate to angiogenesis. One of them is cancer.

All cancers start out as harmless microscopic tumors. Without a blood supply, these cancers will never become dangerous (cancers without disease). If humans could block angiogenesis wherever there's a cancer, we could eliminate cancer.

The approach is to treat cancer by cutting off the blood supply to tumorous cells and with that starve the cancer of it's nutrient flow. Anti-angionetic treatments come as drugs and as cremes.

It has been proven to work in clinical tests on 600 dogs and dolphins and horses became cancer-free. In humans, some cancer types could be treated with anti-angionetic drugs, but once a disease is too far advanced, anti-angiogenesis cannot cure anymore.

So, can Angiogenesis be used to PREVENT cancer? Yes. If 30% of cancer cases are a result of what we eat, there are certain foods that will inhibit abnormal angiogenesis, like strawberries, soy beans, and teas. These dietary factors are as potent, sometimes more potent than known cancer drugs. Angiogenisis inhibitors may also have an application to obesity. Li is creating the first rating system for cancer-preventing and treating foods. Dietary cancer prevention could very likely be the most practical and cheapest option to prevent cancer.

We knew it - you are what you eat!