➡️5. Matcha Green Tea
Matcha green tea is easy to find. When I drink it, I feel like I’m fighting off all the bad stuff trying to hurt my DNA. It used to be super bitter for me, but I found that adding it to warm soy milk really cuts the bitterness. Now I actually look forward to drinking it. In the US, coffee is popular, even for soldiers to stay awake. But tea is the most popular drink worldwide, especially in Asia, where it’s seen as a longevity food. Matcha green tea was even drunk by Samurai warriors for focus and calmness during battle. You don’t hear that about coffee!
I drink green tea because I believe it protects my DNA. The FDA has said there’s not enough proof that green tea reduces cancer risk, but there aren’t many studies on cheap foods like green tea because no one wants to pay for them. However, countries that drink a lot of green tea, like Japan and China, have lower cancer rates and live longer. While association doesn’t mean causation, some small studies have shown positive effects.
For example, one study found that green tea extract helped improve pre-cancerous lesions and reduced DNA damage. Another study in Japan found fewer colon polyps in people who drank green tea. Since it’s hard to get funding for these studies, I’ll just keep doing what ancient cultures do: eat longevity foods like green tea.
➡️6. Walnuts
Ancient Greeks called walnuts “food for the gods” because of their health benefits. In medieval Europe, they were used to draw out toxins from wounds. Today, walnuts are known as a superfood for the brain; they even look like one! Studies show walnuts can lower cholesterol, inflammation, and stress hormones. All of these things help reduce inflammation, support stem cells, and fight cancer cells. Lab studies have shown walnuts can help against liver, esophageal, prostate, and colon cancer because they contain ellagic acid, just like berries.
To get ellagic acid from walnuts, you need the right gut bacteria. Walnuts have something called ellagitannins, which your gut microbes turn into ellagic acid, and then into urolithins. Urolithins are very active and easily absorbed. There are different kinds of urolithins, and they have anti-inflammatory effects, which can help with conditions like arthritis and heart disease. They also have anti-cancer properties, stopping cancer cells from growing and causing them to die. Their ability to help your gut bacteria and reduce inflammation might also help prevent cancer.
Urolithins can also improve how your mitochondria (the powerhouses of your cells) work, a process called mitophagy, where damaged mitochondria are removed and replaced. This is key for energy and cell health as we get older. Better mitochondrial health means better endurance and muscle function. One specific urolithin might even slow down cell aging and boost overall energy. Walnuts are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which brings us to our next food.
➡️7. Flaxseeds
Can you believe ancient Egyptians buried flaxseed oil in tombs, thinking it could keep the soul going in the afterlife? It’s a bit ironic because flaxseeds are high in alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fat that can go bad easily. That’s why I keep mine in a tight jar. Whole flaxseeds are rich in lignans, which can attach to estrogen receptors, helping to reduce hormone-driven cancers like breast cancer. Women who eat flaxseeds regularly can lower their breast cancer risk by 20 to 30%. My mother-in-law, who is in her 90s, eats flaxseeds every day.
Your body makes something called IL-1, which can promote cancer. But it also makes IL-1 receptor antagonists to stop cancer growth. Both cancer drugs like tamoxifen and natural flaxseeds (about 25 grams) can increase your body’s ability to stop cancer growth by making these IL-1 receptor antagonists. This is another ancient food that can help.