Angiogenesis is defined as "the physiological process through which new blood vessels form from pre-existing vessels." Angiogenesis occurs normally in embryo development and wound healing. In addition, women in their reproductive years go through normal angiogenesis each month. These new blood vessels are the key to forming the uterine lining that is shed during menstruation. The healthy body maintains its blood vessels in a continued state of balance.

However, in certain diseases, angiogenesis can occur too often or not enough. In most forms of heart disease there is a decrease in the chemicals that would stimulate new blood vessels to grow. On the other hand, an abnormal and rapid growth of blood vessels has been implicated in many diseases, including cancer.

These new blood vessels grow to feed cancers. If we could stop the formation of these vessels, could we actually cut off a tumor’s blood supply? Could we actually starve a tumor by cutting off its oxygen and nutrients? William Li, head of the nonprofit Angiogenesis Foundation thinks so. He suggests that the first step in anti-angiogenesis is "eating foods that cut off the supply lines and beat cancer at its own game" (video can be seen below).

Eat to Beat Cancer (http://www.eattobeat.org) is studying the potency of certain foods to determine their anti-angiogenesis capabilities in hopes of establishing a new cancer preventative diet. Dr. Li says that "once a food has been established as antiangiogenic, the next step is determining which strain or varietal of that food is the most potent."

If we can concentrate on eating a diet that is full of foods that have antiangiogenic properties, we will be more likely to "starve" tiny microscopic cancer cells--preventing them from developing into full grown tumors. These foods can actually boost our body's ability to produce angiogenesis inhibitors naturally.
 
I'm sure you're wondering what foods are included in this list! In discussing beneficial foods, Dr. Li points out that "We need red grapes. If you’re not crazy about red grapes, red wine will do the trick. Not a big drinker? Green tea works. If you like curry, you'll be glad to hear that turmeric can help; if you're a baker, ready that cinnamon shaker. Strawberries, blackberries, raspberries and blueberries; oranges, grapefruit and lemons; apples and pineapples; soy beans, kale and bok choy; garlic, tomatoes and olive oil—all these common foods are also weapons against the development of cancer. (Oh, and don't forget dark chocolate. I know I won't.)"

Thermography is a test of physiology that has the ability to detect angiogenesis. By "eating to starve cancer" and incorporating thermography into your yearly wellness evaluation, inhibiting cancer can truly become a reality.

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The lymphatic system is a part of the circulatory system and vital to the body's immune system. It works with the immune system to remove and destroy waste, debris, dead blood cells, pathogens, toxins, and cancer cells from the body.

The vessels of the lymphatic system spread through all parts of the body (see image to the right), similar to blood circulation in the arteries and veins, and carries colorless liquid called lymph. Hundreds of small kidney-shaped organs, called lymph nodes, carry lymph fluid, nutrients, and waste material between the body tissue and the bloodstream. While the lymph nodes act as a filter of debris, they also contain specialized white blood cells called lymphocytes that destroy harmful bacteria and viruses. This filtering process helps the body to fight infection.

The body works to fight disease in several ways:

• The body temperature begins to rise out of its normal range – speeding up the body's response to fight infection
• and the inflammatory process is initiated – allowing increased blood flow to battle the infection

These are just some of the ways that the lymphatic system works at maintaining homeostasis of the body. That's why optimum flow of the lymphatic system is crucial to our health. Since the lymphatic system has no pump of its own, external forces are essential in helping to pump the fluid throughout the body.

 Three ways to help activate the lymphatic system are:

• Deep breathing
• Rebounding (trampoline)
• Lymphatic drainage massage

Keeping the lymph fluid free-flowing in the axillary (underarm) lymph vessels is crucial in maintaining good breast health. Breast thermography (thermal imaging) provides evaluation of the axillary lymph system in addition to the breast and upper chest.

Thermography measures the heat being emitted from the body's surface showing temperature increases when there is congestion or inflammation. These temperature differentials provide a glance into the body's physiology, suggesting that lymphatic activity needs to be increased or that, hopefully, it is functioning as it should. Monitoring lymphatic system functioning with this radiation free health screening provides important information that can help your body function at maximum ability.