FROM THE EDITOR'S KEYBOARD

Thanks to many of you for correspondence stating that youve missed receiving WEJ. I too have missed my biweekly opportunities to interact with you. Hopefully, after a number of false starts, Im back on target with a biweekly newsletter.

Actually, I e-mailed the following newsletter on July 5, just before leaving for an out of state speaking series. I was using a new e-mail program and new Web access. When I returned back home this week, I realized that none of you had received the newsletter. So here is another try at e-mailing, using my familiar AOL account.

A NEW ERA FOR THE WELLNESSWISE ELECTRONIC JOURNAL

Last night before dusk a festive air pervaded thousands of locations throughout the US. Literally millions of young and old alike were waiting expectantly for a gala display of fireworks commemorating Independence Day.

Although the fireworks are now over, there is a similar air of expectancy here at the Lifestyle Center of America in Oklahoma. Sunday our first guests will check into our state-of-the-art preventive medicine center for a 12 day residential program. I am excited to be a part of this new program as we look toward utilizing innovative non drug strategies for dealing with diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease.

If any of you have been wondering, all of the activity in Oklahoma has kept me from getting back on the biweekly schedule for WEJ. Hopefully todays issue will get us back on that schedule.

Its true, all the busy-ness has interfered with the timely publication of this newsletter. However, I believe what has been happening here in Oklahoma will ultimately help this electronic newsletter to grow and become even more valuable to each of you. Listen to some of the exciting things that have happened in the last two months:

* The Lifestyle Center of America (LCOA) has signed on as a full sponsor of WEJ. The newsletters new preferred e-mail address is handled here at the Center.

* The Center is committed to developing innovative programs to deal with some of the worlds most prevalent diseases without using drugs or surgery. Our professional staff already has a wealth of preventive medicine experience. However, as we continue to work in the area of non drug therapies, and bring research methodology into the equation, we will be gaining insights that will benefit our WEJ readership as well as the guests who come through our programs.

* LCOA has made it clear that they want to use their resources and expertise to help develop preventive medicine educational resources. Already, Ive been involved with a series of 10 TV programs and 65 new radio programs that the Center has helped to underwrite. We are currently working on a series of handouts that deal with a variety of preventive medicine topics.

* The Lifestyle Center is making a firm commitment to cyberspace. In addition to Internet linkages for e-mail and research purposes, our new website will offer details about LCOA and its programs. Even though our site is still under construction, dont hesitate to check us out at http://www.lifestylecenter.com.

In fact, if you want to learn even more about the Lifestyle Center of America, its programs and resources, feel free to call for a packet giving full details about our programs. Our toll free program information line is 1-800-596-5480.

I had the privilege of saying good-bye to our first group of some 16 lifestyle program guests today. Our guests were enthusiastic and grateful. However, there was some disappointment and tears that they were leaving behind new friends and a special place that provided the setting for life changing experiences. We saw individuals stop smoking, get a better handle on arthritis, lose weight, drop insulin requirements, lower cholesterol levels, improve their energy level in the face of Chronic Fatigue (CFIDS), and more. Even though I only got in on the last few days of the program, The Lifestyle Center of America has truly been an exciting place to be!

SECTION II

SCIENCE/HEALTH ABSTRACTS

Mothers sometimes notice that their children have periods when they have to urinate frequently during the day. This symptom may suggest urinary tract infection or other urinary problem, but recently reports have appeared in the medical literature suggesting that this may be due to inadequate water intake. A group of children evaluated for this problem revealed a high urinary specific gravity, which indicates that the urine was not adequately diluted. The researchers also observed a high acid urine, which the researchers felt might be due to the intake of either apple or citrus juices. The researchers who studied this problem successfully treat it by recommending a high water intake and the restriction of fruit juices and milk. (Pediatrics 86(6)1004-1005, December 1990)

SECTION III

TRANSCRIPTS FROM THE WELLNESSWISE RADIO PROGRAM

(All scripts copyright 1995 and 1996 by David J. DeRose, MD, MPH)

FOOD ALLERGIES

Food allergies--do we really need to be concerned? I'm Dr. David DeRose and we'll look at the subject in a moment on WellnessWise.

Many do not feel that food allergies are very important in adults. However, missing a diagnosis of food allergy can have life or death consequences. A recent Mayo Clinic study found that food allergy was the most common cause of the life threatening allergic condition called anaphylaxis.

One would think if a person had a food allergy they would surely know what foods they were allergic to. But actually that is often *not* the case. In one study where food allergies were carefully tested scientifically, the patients were unable to identify the food they were allergic to fully 67% of the time.

Another often unrecognized association occurs between foods and medications. One group of drugs that may increase the risk of food related allergies are the nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents. These popular drugs are commonly used to treat pain and come under dozens of different names including aspirin and ibuprofen. These medications can make the wall of your intestine more leaky. This, in turn, can allow allergy-causing substances in your diet to more easily enter the blood stream.

If you have sudden episodes of itching of your skin, rash, or difficulty breathing without knowing the cause, food allergy may be involved. A professional allergy evaluation may make a difference to your health--and even to your life.

For WellnessWise, Im Dr. David DeRose.

Ref.: Yocum, MW, and Khan, DA, Assessment of Patients who have experienced anaphylaxis: A three year survey; Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 69:16-23, January 1994. and Schwartz, HJ; Anaphylaxis: A Potentially Fatal, Avoidable and Often Ignored Clinical Problem (editorial), Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 69:93, January 1994.

VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS AND CANCER

Will high doses of vitamins really decrease your risk of cancer? I'm Dr. David DeRose: Vitamins and Cancer--in a moment on WellnessWise.

Medical scientists have long recognized that people groups which eat an abundance of fruits and vegetables have low rates of certain types of cancer. These plant products are excellent sources of a group of vitamins called antioxidants. Well known antioxidant vitamins include Vitamin E, Vitamin C and a Vitamin A family compound known as beta carotene. A natural question arose, are these antioxidant vitamins responsible for the anti-cancer properties of fruits and vegetables?

Scandinavian researchers recently made an attempt to discover an answer by studying a group of male smokers. Some of these smokers were taking vitamins; others were not. The male smokers who took vitamin E and beta-carotene supplements showed *no evidence* of lung cancer prevention.

Across the Atlantic, a US study found that individuals who consumed high doses of Vitamin E, beta-carotene, and Vitamin C ended up with just as many pre cancerous growths in their colons and rectums as those not taking any supplements.

The final word is not in, but people who eat lots of plant foods are apparently getting other cancer-protective benefits beside vitamins. In fact, the average American probably would be better off eating more fruits and vegetables than taking more vitamin supplements.

For WellnessWise, I'm Dr. David DeRose.

Reference: Tufts University Diet and Nutrition Letter Vol. 12, No. 7, Sept. 1994

PROTEIN AND KIDNEY DISEASE

Can diet help prevent kidney problems? I'm Dr. David DeRose, in a few moments well look at protein and kidney disease on WellnessWise.

Kidney failure is devastating. Once it occurs, it is fatal unless dialysis or transplantation is provided. Even with such treatments, people with kidney failure live a shorter life span due to complications like increased hardening of the arteries, stroke and high blood pressure.

Researchers recently studied over 150 individuals with indicators of kidney disease. After reviewing their diet and health status for nearly 15 years, they discovered that the more protein the men ate, the greater their risk of death.

For those with evidence of kidney disease, eating an additional 15-grams of protein per day increased the risk of death *from any cause* by 25%. 15 grams is *not* a lot of protein. You'll get almost twice as much protein in a 3 1/2 ounce hamburger, a T-bone steak, or a cup of creamed cottage cheese.

The message is-- if you have any kidney impairment, protein may be more of an enemy than a friend. Even more sobering, nearly 25% of those in the study who were harmed by higher amounts of dietary protein had no knowledge of a kidney problem. However, a simple test showed protein in their urine.

The study raises the concern that it may be wise for all Americans to have that simple urine test for protein. If they consistently show protein in the urine, a lower protein diet may contribute to their quality and length of life.

For WellnessWise, I'm Dr. David DeRose.

SECTION IV

PARTING WORDS

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

We continue to distribute The WellnessWise Electronic Journal free of charge via Internet E-mail to all subscribers. Please address subscription requests and any other correspondence to the address below. *Please note this is a new address.*

BACK ISSUES

Back issues of WEJ are available at several sites in cyberspace. Some of the more popular sites are as follows:

      (1)  http://fermi.jhuapl.edu/wej/
      (2)  http://www.glasscity.net/~tolsda/wej/
      (3)  http://www.tagnet.org/InfoCenter
      (4)  http://www.social.com/health/news.html