(NOTE: This talk was given in 2010, and this field of science has developed quickly since then. Enjoy it as a piece of science history but not as the last word on this topic. Read "Corrections & Updates" below for more details.) William Li presents a new way to think about treating cancer and other diseases: anti-angiogenesis, preventing the growth of blood vessels that feed a tumor. The crucial first (and best) step: Eating cancer-fighting foods that cut off the supply lines and beat cancer at its own game.

Can we eat to starve cancer?

Abnormal blood vessel growth fuels over 70 major diseases, including cancer and obesity. By targeting angiogenesis—the process that controls blood vessel formation—the body’s natural defenses can be strengthened. Research shows that certain foods, like tomatoes and berries, contain natural compounds that inhibit unwanted blood vessel growth. Even modest dietary changes have led to striking reductions in cancer risk, such as a 50 percent drop in prostate cancer among men who ate cooked tomatoes regularly.