Heart expert: these foods reverse blood vessel damage and help you live longer! | Dr. William Li

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Sixty thousand miles long. That’s the length of the tube system inside us that transports blood, oxygen, and nutrients to the cells throughout our bodies.

If these tubes fail, the result can be fatal. In some cases, it’s a heart attack. In others, it’s a stroke, when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted and brain cells are damaged or killed.

Heart attacks and strokes are a major cause of death in developed countries — but we can take action to reduce the risks.

In this episode, Jonathan talks with a world-renowned physician, scientist, and speaker to gain insights into how looking after this magical pipework could slow aging.

Dr. William Li is a world-leading specialist in blood vessels and preventative health, and the author of countless papers on the topic. He possesses the gift for communicating about this complex subject in terms we can all understand.

If you want to uncover the right foods for your body, head to joinZOE.com/podcast and get 10% off your personalized nutrition program.

Timecodes:
00:00 - Intro
00:09 - Topic introduction
01:34 - Quickfire questions
04:08 - Why do blood vessels matter?
05:22 - How do blood vessels link to heart health?
09:16 - Elasticity of blood vessels
14:11 - Can we reverse the stiffening and blockage of blood vessels?
20:54 - Does food damage the blood vessels?
25:59 - Does high blood pressure affect blood vessels?
31:25 - How do aging and diet affect blood vessels?
36:37 - Data on reversing blood vessel damage
41:42 - How is aging linked to blood vessel health?
44:51 - Summary
46:12 - Goodbyes
46:30 - Outro

📚 Dr. William Li’s books:

📚 Books from our ZOE Scientists:

[CarmelitaTorres-gq]

I’m 79 years olds with Stage 3 Cancer twice in 2007 and 2020.
it hasn’t been easy. Watching and listening closely what Dr. William Li
talks about is so important. My diet was terrible, fast foods, processed foods, Soda,
eating pastries, donuts loved sugar. Thank you Dr Li may God Bless you. Please
continue we need more Drs like you.

[nurseae]

I am 68 a nurse and. usually scared to watch programs about health😊Imade it through this entire program and feel so much better for going forward. Thanks so much

[jpridie]

My dad was an orthopaedic surgeon in Bristol England and he said your only as old as your arteries and I think he was right. Good lecture. Dr. Li you are absolutely right about reversing Heart Disease and people need to get off the North American Diet it’s a disgrace to humanity. I’m a Type ll diabetic so I cannot eat fruits or some vegetables so not being on drugs I’m on the Keto diet very low carbohydrates and with many blockages and needing stents I’ve chosen diet as my physician and we’ll see if it works I’ve made it to 83 3rd year on keto lost 60lbs walk the dogs daily I only wish I’d known about diet 30 or 40 years ago. I hope people listen to this interview and take action before it’s too late.

[olufunmilayofunkedejahang]

I just can't stop listening ing to Dr Li since I fell upon his talks and interviews on You tube! For me, life changing. I am introducing Dr. Li to my friends, family, and work colleagues. He is positive and gentle, and his information is scientifically based and makes me feel I CAN & WILL make the changes I need to.

[frieda]

I agree completely with Lori. Dr. Li is probably the clearest and humble MD I have heard talk about health. He knows his specialization very well and speaks very well too.

[sandrap]

I did alot of damage with lack of sleep, horrible diet, high stress for decades & now living with the consequences. This is the pep talk I needed to hear that maybe I can change my lifestyle to undo the damage. Its never too late.

[minhthunguyen]

Love the way the interviewer gave questions and the doctor gave answers! So briefly, clearly and easy to understand! Thank you so much!

[bikeman]

Dr Li is able to paint pictures with words. He's a gifted speaker, as.well as a subject matter expert. Top man.

[jimcarbone]

I have been absorbing so much information from various sources including looking at many studies, randomized control studies, epidemiologic and meta-analyses. One of the main take-aways that I have arrived upon is that no one has a perfect handle on health, some have a very good handle but the topic requires years to consolidate the information. Another nugget that has risen through the morass is that the subject is so complex that there are very few things that will make a dramatic change in your health in isolation. There must be a composite of changes or interventions to make a significant difference and these can include lifestyle, diet, drug and surgical interventions. With so much variability in the population there is not one approach that can be applied, personalization is necessary where the person and doctors shape a set of strategies to find a suitable path forward. It is up to the person to navigate the options and make choices to best suit them. Please do not be swayed by one person or doggedly attach yourself to 1 belief without overwhelming evidence. It is a process that hopefully leads us to the best possible outcome.

[alexmaiburg]

A very good friend of ours, a renowned professor of vascular surgery, always says, you are as old as your blood vessels. It makes total sense

[wubshetberhanu]

I am in Addis Ababa Ethiopia. I found the video very interesting. The messaging is clear without technical jargons. Thank you so much for elevating the task of the medical profession not just prescribing alternative medicines but aim for natural healing with life style changes that any one can adopt.

[merlinebolan]

Thank you. I am taking medication for high blood pressure and diabetes for almost 20 years. I would like to get off them, so I am encouraged to know that changing my diet can get me nearer to that goal. I am already active at 75.

[rwechunguraissa]

Thank you Doctor for the perfectly useful health tips. In this connection I am regularly taking tumeric with black pepper, black seed oil, olive oil and lemons plus popular spices. I am aged 71 but looking much younger. It is very sad to see young people eating junk foods e.g. industrial sugar beverages and take aways.

[Queenie-the-genie]

I am 78.5 yrs old. I weigh 115 lbs at 5’3.5” - I take NO pharmeceutical drugs - I am a very vigorous healthy woman with normal cholesterol and low triglycerides. I eat a ketogenic diet and if I get sick, which is minor and rare, I use organic herbal remedies I am familiar with which always work. My bone density is great. Both of my parents and 3 of my grandparents died in before 75 - my father at 58. Swimming and walking are my exercises.

I start the day with 2 cups of organic coffee with heavy cream and sweetened with stevia. No way would I switch to eating this diet he is recommending. Most early afternoons I eat low sugar bacon and very high quality eggs with an organic salad and a small slice of gluten free sourdough bread with butter. I also cook my eggs in high quality grass fed butter from Ireland - lots of it. The meats and fish I eat are pasture raised, organically fed meats and wild caught fish - including a lot of sardines as they contain the least amount of mercury. I rarely consume sugar which is poisoning a huge portion of the population. I would say that the proof is not in the pudding but in the NO sugar, NO pesticides and NO grains. I never cook in damaged oils - I use butter.

[bikeyoshiro]

I am a diabetic(68)and enjoy reading the audience’s comments and their experiences as well as Dr.Li’s elucidative English. ❤

[classmate]

One of the best Zoe podcasts that I have listened to.

[VKing-dilo]

Fascinating information. I have just been told I have some calcification in the heart and have had an echocardiogram. I’m now waiting the results. I will definitely use this information on diet and lifestyles to see if I can improve my situation. Thank you so much.

[kathymaclaren]

Good information. The article would be even better if the guy that's interviewing him would be quiet after asking a question so that he can answer it!

[gregpastic]

I noticed that Dr. Li had a copy of his wonderful series "Eat To Beat Disease" on the shelf behind him. I discovered the audio book several years ago and I highly recommend it. It's full of helpful information about the foods we eat and how they affect our bodies both positively and negatively. No matter how well you think you're eating, this series will help you do even better! Thank you Dr. Li!

[leroyblake]

I just come across this teaching on science and health. I rate this discussion as one of the best concerning our blood vessels and our heart. Respect to Dr.William Li. Also the host.