RE: [pronut-hiv] Nutrition no HIV/Aids cure (5)

["Bradford McIntyre" <bradmcin@telus.net>]

 Nutrition no AIDS cure...BUT
Bradford McIntyre, HIV+ since 1984
----------------------------------

The fact the emphasis on treatment is placed predominantly on medical and
pharmaceutical while other methods are not given the same deserving
recognition, is in direct conflict with the way in which millions of people
infected with HIV have managed their infection!

The fact that an individual is infected with HIV does not necessarily mean
that they will go on to develop opportunistic infections or progress to
AIDS.

People living with HIV have affirmed this realization. They demonstrate the
fact that there are ways to manage and treat HIV that do not involve the use of pharmaceuticals! There are infected people throughout the world, who live without HIV medications and who have continually fought to bring attention to this fact.

There are no shortages of scientists and physicians as well as individuals
living with HIV, who have realized another understanding of how HIV and
other diseases can be affected.

We are not properly addressing the obvious. We have the opportunity to help
prevent HIV and AIDS illness and death by using proper food, nutritional
support and micronutrient supplementation.

Since the beginning, living with HIV has prompted many to learn about their
bodies, to gain understanding of its needs. Large numbers of people have
incorporated the knowledge of HIV/AIDS medications, how they work, what they do, dosages to take with or without food, side effects and benefits!

Antiretroviral medications deplete many of the micronutrients necessary to
keep the body healthy. Without proper nutrition how can anyone be expected
to combat HIV or combat the side effects of the HIV/AIDS treatments? Without proper nutrition, patients are at a greater risk of failing drug treatments because they can't tolerate the side effects. They may decide to discontinue a treatment, which could have proved beneficial, had they been able to overcome the initial side effects. 

Providing proper nutrition and micronutrient supplementation can address the immune system and many of the side effects of HIV treatments.

Many who have been living with HIV (some for a quarter of a century) have no need for antiretroviral treatment because their immune system is strong.
Others, who are on HIV medications, have included nutrition and replacement
therapy (micronutrient supplementation). Successfully boosting the immune
system and positively addressing the efficacy of drugs and there many side
effects. Whether it is being able to avoid treatment entirely, prolong
treatment or in conjunction with medical and pharmaceutical treatment, we
must recognize the importance of using every available means in the
treatment of HIV/AIDS.

Pharmaceuticals have played an important part in the evolution of how we
understand disease and treatment. With the uncertainty of long-term
effectiveness of experimental approaches and deaths associated with
pharmaceuticals, it is time we validate the successes of people using proper nutrition and micronutrient supplementation ( addressing nutritional
deficiencies) in the fight against HIV and all illness and disease. These
can have a major impact on health and can add years to one's life.

Bradford McIntyre, HIV+ since 1984






-----George M. Carter wrote:

----Labadarios Demetre, Prof wrote:
[>Hi with thanks and in FULL agreement, hence the paragraph in the text:
>>{ Sound nutrition can, however, alter the course of disease in the 
>>long
>run * but only in as much as "buying us time" and allowing the 
>medicinal therapy to cure the disease, Labadarios says. That is if the 
>disease is curable, of course.}

>Regards and best wishes, Thanks]

What bothered me was this outrageous nonsense at the end--which I hope you
do NOT agree with. To wit:

"However, this practice is not supported by clinical research. And, in
certain circumstances, high dosages of vitamins and minerals could be
harmful. In view of these facts, NICUS recommends the following: 
Micronutrient supplementation is only useful in combination with an adequate
and well-balanced diet and can never replace the need for adequate food
intake. There is no documented evidence that any specific food of any
description, on its own, can alter the course of the disease or for that
matter be effective in the treatment of malnutrition. 

Multivitamin
supplements should not exceed two to three times the recommended daily
allowance (RDA) until such time that more data and experience becomes
available."

This contains outright lies in it that are just as evil and stupid as Rath.

Most all vitamins and minerals at MUCH higher doses than 2-3 x RDA are
perfectly safe. Multivitamin/minerals have been proven to SLOW HIV disease
progression and reduce morbidity and mortality among those with AIDS.

To make these viciously stupid claims would be as stupid as to say that one
need not eat, just take ARV. Or one need not eat, just take a multi. Duh. 
We ALL have to eat.

The FACT is that HIV disease, for very clear reasons, results in severe
micronutrient deficiencies, which have been very well documented.

What we SHOULD be recommending is that we exert pressure to:

1) Assure access to sufficient food and clean water;
2) Reduce US tarriffs and overthrow wicked trade agreements that block
access to the wealthier markets;
3) Assure adequate stores of food to offset famines;
4) And assure access to ARV  as well as a multivitamin/mineral to people
with HIV.

In addition, interventions like whey protein can be very inexpensive and
extremely helpful.

By contrast, it appears to me that some ARV are being given at higher than
necessary doses, which results in increased toxicity with very little or no
additional benefit (except to the pocketbooks of pharma slugs). For example,
300 mg of AZT or 40 mg of d4T per day are probably adequate according to
some data. Yet there is no concern for blithely stuffing as much drug as
possible--at least into those who can afford it or where the state will pay
the killingly absurd prices.

I look forward to people's thoughts on the matter.
George M. Carter