Antiangiogenic Foods

20 November 2015

ANGIOGENESIS

Angiogenesis, the growth of new capillary blood vessels in the body, is an important natural process in the body used for healing and reproduction. The body controls angiogenesis by producing a precise balance of growth and inhibitory factors in healthy tissues. 

When this balance is disturbed, the result is either too much or too little angiogenesis. Abnormal blood vessel growth, either excessive or insufficient, is now recognized as a “common denominator” underlying many deadly and debilitating conditions, including cancer, skin diseases, age-related blindness, diabetic ulcers, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and many others.

 "Blood vessels are critical to the health of every cell, every organ, and for every function in the body," said Dr. Li. "Research is now showing it's possible to promote health and wellness using foods and beverages that influence angiogenesis." 

For over a decade, the Angiogenesis Foundation has been applying the scientific principles used in drug discovery to analyze foods for angiogenesis-modifying properties. Working with internationally renowned researchers, the Foundation has created new methods to study foods and beverages ranging from berries to tea to soy and wine. They have identified a growing number of foods possessing antiangiogenic activity, which can prevent the abnormal growth of blood vessels from taking place. Such abnormal vessels grow in obesity, cancers, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, and common causes of blindness, among other conditions.  

"The best way to conquer society's runaway health problems," remarked Dr. Li, "is to get in front of them by preventing them in the first place. Dietary antiangiogenesis presents an opportunity for improving health at a time that is ripe for innovation.

ANGIOGENESIS-BASED MEDICINE

Angiogenesis-based Medicine — restoring the body’s natural control of angiogenesis — is a new, comprehensive approach to fighting disease. By using new medical treatments that either inhibit or stimulate angiogenesis, doctors are prolonging the lives of cancer patients, preventing limb amputations, reversing vision loss, and improving general health.  

All cancerous tumors, for example, release angiogenic growth factor proteins that stimulate blood vessels to grow into the tumor, providing it with oxygen and nutrients. Antiangiogenic therapies literally starve the tumor of its blood supply by interfering with this process. A new class of cancer treatments that block angiogenesis are now approved and available to treat cancers of the colon, kidney, lung, breast, liver, brain, and thyroid, as well as multiple myeloma, bone gastrointestinal stromal tumors, soft tissue sarcoma, and SEGA tumors. 

Some older drugs have been rediscovered to block angiogenesis, as well. These are being used to treatment angiogenesis-dependent conditions, such as hemangiomas, colon polyps, and precancerous skin lesions.

Therapeutic angiogenesis, in contrast, stimulates angiogenesis where it is required but lacking. This technique is used to replenish the blood supply to chronic wounds to speed healing, and it prevents unnecessary amputations. New research suggests this approach can be also used to save limbs afflicted with poor circulation, and even oxygen-starved hearts. Therapeutic angiogenesis may even help to regenerate damaged or lost tissues in ways that were previously considered impossible, such as with nerves and brain tissue. 

 THE BODY'S CONTROL OF ANGIOGENESIS

Angiogenesis occurs in the healthy body for healing wounds and for restoring blood flow to tissues after injury or insult. In females, angiogenesis also occurs during the monthly reproductive cycle (to rebuild the uterus lining, to mature the egg during ovulation) and during pregnancy (to build the placenta, the circulation between mother and fetus).

The healthy body controls angiogenesis through a series of "on" and "off" switches:

• The main "on" switches are known as angiogenesis-stimulating growth factors

• The main "off switches" are known as angiogenesis inhibitors

When angiogenic growth factors are produced in excess of angiogenesis inhibitors, the balance is tipped in favor of blood vessel growth. When inhibitors are present in excess of stimulators, angiogenesis is stopped. The normal, healthy body maintains a perfect balance of angiogenesis modulators. In general, angiogenesis is "turned off" by the production of more inhibitors than stimulators. 

ANGIOGENESIS IN DISEASE: The Big Picture

In many serious diseases states the body loses control over angiogenesis. Angiogenesis-dependent diseases result when new blood vessels either grow excessively or insufficiently.

 Excessive angiogenesis:

• Occurs in diseases such as cancer, diabetic blindness, age-related macular degeneration, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and more than 70 other conditions.

• In these conditions, new blood vessels feed diseased tissues, destroy normal tissues, and in the case of cancer, the new vessels allow tumor cells to escape into the circulation and lodge in other organs (tumor metastases).

• Excessive angiogenesis occurs when diseased cells produce abnormal amounts of angiogenic growth factors, overwhelming the effects of natural angiogenesis inhibitors.

• Antiangiogenic therapies, aimed at halting new blood vessel growth, are used to treat these conditions.

 

Insufficient angiogenesis:

• Occurs in diseases such as coronary artery disease, stroke, and chronic wounds.
• In these conditions, blood vessel growth is inadequate, and circulation is not properly restored, leading to the risk of tissue death.
• Insufficient angiogenesis occurs when tissues cannot produce adequate amounts of angiogenic growth factors.
• Therapeutic angiogenesis, aimed at stimulating new blood vessel growth with growth factors, is being developed to treat these conditions. 

 

DIET, LIFESTYLE & ANGIOGENESIS

Angiogenesis in the body is not only affected by drugs, but also can be influenced by diet and lifestyle. Here are some of the ways:

Diet

We all know eating well is important for health. Now we know that how we eat can impact on angiogenesis. Many foods contain naturally occurring inhibitors of angiogenesis. When these foods are consumed and absorbed into the bloodstream, the inhibitors act to boost the body’s existing system that suppresses undesirable angiogenesis that can promote or accompany disease. To find out about anti-angiogenic foods and how you can eat to defeat cancer.

       Fruit

• Apple  
• Black Berries
• Blue Berries
• Cherries
• Clementine
• Cranberries
• Grapefruits
• Lemon 
• Nectarines
• Orange
•  Peaches
• Raspberries
• Red Grapes
• Pomegranates
• Strawberries 
• Tomato

     Vegetables

   

• Bok Choy    
• Artichokes
• Broccoli
• Brussel Sprout
• Red Cabbages
• Carrot
• Cauliflowers
• Chard
• Endives
• Fennel
• Garlic
• Kale
• Mustard Green
• Olive
• Onions
• Peas
• Parsnips
• Raddishes
• Pepper
• Shallots
• Soya bean sprouts
• Spinachs
• String beans
• Sweet Potatoes
• Turnips and tops
• Watercress
• Salsify

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