Doctor’s four ‘simple’ daily rules that ‘could help fight off cancer’

A doctor who is also a “world-renowned” scientist has shared four simple rules which could help fight cancer in the future – and they involve everyday habits many of us can change.

Expert Dr William Li spoke on the Zoe podcast – a pod from the health company founded by Tim Spector. The episode is entitled “The 3 foods you’re eating daily that fuel cancer growth”.

The physician noted that drinks like tea and coffee can help fight cancer. He said: “Coffee and tea both contain polyphenols that actually amplify the body’s cancer-fighting responses.” But as well as these drinks, he said that there are a few rules to live by, and you probably do these on a daily basis.

During the discussion, ZOE co-founder and CEO Jonathan Wolf asked if there is a “simple piece of advice about changing your overall dietary pattern in order to help you fight cancer in the future”. Asking the doctor “what would be your rules of thumb” be, the doctor listed four.

Dr Li said: “Eat more Mediterranean or Asian. Eat less American or ultra-processed food, that is one. Number two, drink more coffee and tea as your beverage and drink less soda.

“Number three, this is not diet, but stay active. You don’t need a trainer, but you want to stay active every single day” as movement boosts our “health defences, immune system, our gut microbiome and lowers inflammation.”

Listing these as “really important” rules, he said that we should also, where possible, “try to avoid toxins.” He urged listeners: “Try to avoid things that are harmful exposure”, even if it means that what you’re doing will take more time.

The doctor further explained: “I would suggest trying to avoid microplastics, try to avoid food in plastic, avoid eating or drinking out of plastic.” In fact, in a message to holidaymakers, he said: “When you’re travelling, you should hydrate yourself but try not to drink water out of that plastic bottle.”

Microplastics and cancer

Experts at the American Cancer Society explain: “Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic measuring less than 5 millimeters. This means they are smaller than a pea or a grain of rice, and many can’t be seen with the naked eye. Some plastics are designed to be that small, like the microbeads in face wash. Other microplastics form when large pieces of plastic break down, such as trash in a landfill.”

They add: “At this time, there isn’t enough evidence to know if microplastics cause cancer, and if so, how. No agency has officially determined that microplastics pose health risks for humans.

“Some research has found that microplastics can damage DNA, injure the lining of organs, cause inflammation, and disrupt gut health. Microplastics may also introduce bacteria, chemicals, and other toxins deeper into the body. These processes are known to promote cancer growth. One study showed that cancerous tumors have a higher level of microplastics than healthy surrounding tissue. Early research has also suggested possible links between microplastics and infertility, dementia, heart attacks, and strokes.”

“Ultimately, we need more research and more data to learn how microplastics affect human health, including their role in cancer,” said Thejus Jayakrishnan, MD, an American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) expert, gastrointestinal medical oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and instructor at Harvard Medical School.

Can plastic bottles and containers cause cancer?

Touching on the issue of plastic, Cancer Research says: “Food and drink that’s stored in plastic bottles and containers doesn’t cause cancer.

“Small amounts of chemicals can get into food and drink from plastic packaging. But this is at low levels that are not considered harmful to our health. This is still true in experiments where plastics are heated for hours at a time.

“There’s no reliable evidence from studies of people that food and drinks stored in plastic cause cancer. Some studies have suggested that some chemicals found in certain plastics have cancer-causing effects. But these experiments are in animals, or use cells in a lab. In these studies they can put lots of chemical directly into one type of cell. This isn’t realistic as to how we meet plastics in our everyday life, so it’s not good evidence for cancer risk in people.

“In the UK, the Food Standards Agency is responsible for making sure that plastic and other materials used for storing food and drink are safe.”

Where to watch the podcast episode

You can watch the whole episode on YouTube here. The description reads: “In this episode, Dr William Li, a world-renowned physician, scientist, speaker, and two-time NYT Bestselling author, explains how everyday foods can fuel cancer growth or help your body keep it under control.

“We explore how cancer starts, why it is part of normal biology, and explain why lifestyle and environment are more important than genetics when managing your cancer risk.”