The Angiogenesis Foundation’s research demonstrates unique health-supporting activities in tea and cruciferous vegetables that may help protect against cancer and vision loss
CAMBRIDGE, MA — The Angiogenesis Foundation announced today it presented two pivotal food studies at the American Society for Nutrition’s Annual Meeting Nutrition 2018 in Boston. The first study examined the antiangiogenic activity of broccoli florets and stems, and carrot tops and taproot. Foundation researchers discovered the often-discarded stems and tops were more potent by two-fold than the florets and taproot. This is a critical finding as these valuable parts are often thrown away. This is the first known angiogenesis study to specifically examine potential differences in the health-promoting activity of food anatomy. The second study examined the cancer-fighting potency of green and black teas to determine which tea had the most antiangiogenic activity that can suppress cancer growth.
“The Angiogenesis Foundation is applying its research expertise to study foods using the same assay systems used in modern drug discovery,” said Dr. William W. Li, President and Medical Director of the Angiogenesis Foundation. “This convergent approach is powerful because it brings together life science and food science research, and we believe it has huge implications for generating new insights about our food that could help efforts in worldwide disease prevention.”
The Angiogenesis Foundation’s research is one component of a new global initiative called HealthXpedition™, first announced by Dr. Li in April at the Vatican’s Unite to Cure conference. The HealthXpedition™ builds upon the data presented in Dr. Li’s popular TED Talk.
“People know that tea can be healthy, but our study shows not all teas are the same, and blending them together can potentially improve health benefits,” said Dr. Vincent W. Li, Scientific Director of the Angiogenesis Foundation. “And we have identified a sustainability opportunity for food parts like carrot tops and broccoli stems that are thrown away by many home cooks and food companies. This comes at both a financial and environmental cost. Our data suggests there may be beneficial uses for these parts, based on their antiangiogenic activity, that could be useful for the healthcare, food products, and even pharmaceutical industries.”
The Angiogenesis Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) scientific organization that drives innovations in health promotion, disease prevention, and disease treatment through research, education, and advocacy. For more than a decade, the Foundation has conducted innovative research on the cancer-fighting and health protective benefits of food. To learn more about the Angiogenesis Foundation visit www.angio.org.
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Established in 1994, the Angiogenesis Foundation’s mission is to improve global health through angiogenesis-based treatment and prevention. For more information, visit angio.org.