Eating vegetables may be a life saver Vegetable verification Sure it is important to eat your vegetables, but did you know that it can be a life saver for some people? Researchers at the International Agency for Cancer Research have found that some people with a particular genetic makeup can reduce their risk of lung cancer simply by eating cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts at least once a week.  Researchers recruited about 2,000 lung cancer patients and compared them against about 2,000 age- and sex-matched subjects from six countries in eastern and central Europe. Each filled out a food questionnaire and gave a blood sample to assess their genetic status.  The study found that eating cruciferous vegetables weekly had a 33 percent protective effect against lung cancer in people who had an inactive form of a gene called GSTM1, and a 37 percent protective effect for those with an inactive GSTT1 gene. For those who had both genes inactivated, the vegetable consumption provided a 72 percent protective effect. No such effect was found in people who had active forms of both genes.  The genes produce glutathione-S-transferase enzymes, which eliminate chemopreventive compounds called isothiocyanates. Cruciferous vegetables have a high concentration of this cancer-fighting compound.  Since testing to determine which form of the gene one carries is not available to the average patient, your best bet is to heed the good advice of mothers everywhere and eat your vegetables.  ****************************************************  Patch it up  Q: Can you provide me with some information on histamine patches for multiple sclerosis?  JVW: There is a theory that MS is a manifestation of an allergy, and that histamine can be used with considerable success (especially if given early) to reverse blood vessel spasm associated with the disease and restore normal blood flow to affected tissue to promote healing. Generally, people with MS either don't make enough histamine in their own bodies or just need more of it (or both). No one is certain.  While it is not a cure, many individuals with MS have had remarkable relief of their symptoms when they are treated with histamine patches called Procarin. Procarin is made up entirely of a natural amino-acid derivative histamine and other natural substances that slow the breakdown and release of the histamine. The patches must be used continuously and indefinitely to maintain relief and instructions for use must be followed very carefully. Procarin is also costly, although as more compounding pharmacies offer it, the price will hopefully go down somewhat. Presently, the cost of one month's supply of the patches is about $250.  ****************************************************  What is...multiple sclerosis? Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that most often is diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50. More women than men are affected by this disease. Symptoms range from mild to severe and include numbness or a pins and needles sensation in the arms and legs, pain, fatigue, bowel and bladder problems, loss of vision, dizziness, and difficulty with balance and walking. Patients also can experience changes in cognitive function such as memory, attention, and problem-solving issues, and depression. In MS, the myelin sheath covering nerve fibers is eventually destroyed, disrupting the nerve impulses along the central nervous system. This impairment of the transmission of nerve impulses results in the disease's symptoms. Yours in good health, Amanda Ross Editorial Director Nutrition & Healing Sources: "Effect of cruciferous vegetables on lung cancer in patients stratified by genetic status: a mendelian randomisation approach," The Lancet 2005; 366(9,496): 1,558-1,560

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