Food As Medicine: Use Food To Heal The Body & STARVE Cancer | Dr. William Li

Summary

This insightful discussion explores the powerful role of food in cancer prevention and treatment. Highlighting key research from the 1970s to present, the conversation covers how specific foods like green tea, soy, and pomegranates can reduce cancer risk and enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy. The panel explains how foods impact gut health and immune system function, with a focus on beneficial bacteria like *Akkermansia muciniphila*. The future of cancer care involves combining diet with medical treatments, offering patients a holistic approach to fighting cancer while promoting resilience and health.

Takeaways

• 😀 Cancer prevention research has evolved since the 1970s, moving from chemical prevention to focusing on foods that reduce cancer risk.
• 🍅 Certain foods, such as green tea, soy, tomatoes, and stone fruits (like peaches and plums), are associated with a reduced risk of cancer.
• 🍽️ During cancer treatment, many patients ask what they should eat, but doctors often struggle to provide clear answers.
• ⚖️ Cutting caloric intake during cancer treatment, such as through intermittent fasting, can help reboot health defenses and support cancer-fighting efforts.
• 🛡️ Immunotherapy is a groundbreaking cancer treatment that uses the body’s own immune system to fight cancer, with some patients experiencing complete remission.
• 🌟 President Jimmy Carter’s recovery from metastatic melanoma using immunotherapy illustrates the power of the immune system in fighting cancer.
• 👩‍⚕️ The speaker’s mother also benefited from immunotherapy, achieving complete cancer remission without chemotherapy.
• 🦠 Gut bacteria play a critical role in how patients respond to immunotherapy, with the presence of certain bacteria linked to better outcomes.
• 🍇 Consuming foods like pomegranates, cranberries, and grapes can promote the growth of *Akkermansia mucinophila*, a bacteria that boosts immune therapy response.
• 🥦 Dietary fiber is also key to improving immunotherapy outcomes, with studies showing that for every 5 grams of fiber consumed, cancer mortality can decrease by 30%.
• 🥗 Food can act as a powerful complement to medical treatment, supporting health defenses and improving overall outcomes for cancer patients.
• 📚 The speaker’s book, which includes over 200 foods that activate health defenses, emphasizes the importance of a diverse diet in cancer prevention and treatment.

Q & A

What is the concept of cancer prevention mentioned in the transcript?

The concept of cancer prevention was introduced in the 1970s by Michael Sporn, focusing on intercepting cancer before it becomes a clinical problem. Initially, it involved using chemicals to prevent cancer, then expanded to angio prevention (interfering with blood supply to tumors), and now includes foods that have been shown to reduce cancer risk.

Which foods are mentioned as having a potential role in reducing cancer risk?

The transcript mentions several foods associated with reduced cancer risk, including green tea, soy, tomatoes, and stone fruits like peaches and plums.

How can food be used during cancer treatment, according to the speaker?

Food can be used during cancer treatment to support the body's health defenses. Certain foods can enhance the immune system's ability to fight cancer, particularly when combined with modern treatments like immunotherapy.

Why do cancer patients often ask doctors about diet during treatment?

Cancer patients frequently ask their doctors for dietary advice because they intuitively believe that food plays a role in their health, particularly in relation to treatment effectiveness. However, many doctors are unable to provide guidance due to lack of knowledge on the topic.

What are the common responses doctors give when cancer patients ask about diet?

Doctors often respond with frustration or uncertainty. Some may say there's no evidence that food can help with cancer treatment, while others may suggest eating whatever is appealing, even junk food, to maintain weight.

What recent findings have demonstrated that food can affect cancer treatment outcomes?

Recent research has shown that certain foods can influence the effectiveness of immunotherapy. Specifically, the presence of certain gut bacteria, such as *Akkermansia muciniphila*, has been linked to better responses to immunotherapy.

What role does *Akkermansia muciniphila* play in cancer treatment?

*Akkermansia muciniphila* is a bacterium found in the gut that, when present in patients, has been shown to enhance responses to immunotherapy, helping the immune system fight cancer more effectively.

How can *Akkermansia muciniphila* be encouraged to grow in the gut?

To encourage the growth of *Akkermansia muciniphila*, individuals should eat foods that help the gut secrete mucus, such as pomegranates, cranberries, and grapes. These foods promote the growth of the beneficial bacteria in the gut.

What other bacteria, besides *Akkermansia muciniphila*, was linked to improved outcomes in immunotherapy?

Another bacterium, *Ruminococcus*, has been linked to better outcomes in patients undergoing immunotherapy, particularly those with melanoma. A diet high in dietary fiber was found to promote the growth of *Ruminococcus*.

What is the significance of fiber in cancer treatment outcomes?

Dietary fiber has been shown to improve outcomes in cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy. For every additional 5 grams of fiber consumed daily, patients experienced a 30% decrease in mortality. This highlights the importance of fiber in supporting gut health and immune function during treatment.