HIV Consumer Council Update

Welcome:

The success of this newsletter will depend on the input of consumers and various AIDS Service Organizations (ASOs) to let us know what is going on.

Knowledge = Power, and we hope that this will be one small step to keep everybody informed and up to date.

Nutrition and HIV:
First Things First

by Sharon Dina.

Upcoming Events:

September 14,  Consumer Legislative Training 

The CT Positive Action Coalition
+   and   +
The Greater New Haven HIV Consumer Council

Will conduct a training session to help people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS to talk to their legislators to get the services they need!!!

 1302 Chapel Street, New Haven
3^rd floor
12:00 noon – 2:00pm
Free Lunch:  Please RSVP

(203) 624-2437, ext. 239

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October 11 - 13, 2000
ProVisions VII

The Northeast Regional Multicultural Conference on HIV/AIDS

Hartford Hilton Hotel
Hartford, Connecticut

Sponsored by the Connecticut Positive Action Coalition (CPAC).

Phone: (860) 247-1990

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Know something going on?  Let us know about it.  The more advanced notice the better, we hope to produce this letter quarterly.

Send updates to info@hivcouncil.org

 So you have to outsmart the virus and “sneak” some extra nutrients into your body to feed those immune cells.  What do immune cells like to eat?  Protein, first and foremost.  In fact, with the exception of water (which will be the subject of a future article), protein is the most abundant nutrient in the body.  Protein is the stuff that bodies are made of.  Muscles, organs, hair, blood cells, neurotransmitters (the chemical messenger in the brain) and, yes, immune cells, are made of protein.  Even your bones are part protein.

 Protein comes from the Greek word “proteus,” meaning “of primary importance.”  The ancient Greeks knew what we need to know now: Protein comes first.

 A sound nutrition program which has, as its goal, a healthy immune system (and that should be ALL nutrition programs) will start with protein.  Everyone’s individual protein requirement will vary because everyone’s nutritional status – size, weight, gender, metabolism, and state of immune health – varies.

 The best way to determine your own protein needs is to have a body composition assessment done.  This test, called a BIA (Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis) is a simple, fast, and painless way to find out if your lean body mass (which indicates your muscle status) is up to par.  If your lean mass remains adequate (or even better, above standard for your size and weight) then it’s a good bet that your immune cells are strong as well.  On the other hand, if your lean mass is on the decline, so is your immune system.  Remember, they’re both made from the same stuff –protein.

 Many AIDS service groups, as well as some clinics and private doctors, offer free BIAs periodically.  These are usually performed and interpreted by a nutritionist, who can then determine that all important protein requirement for you.  Check your local area for more information.  In the meantime, to get a ball park figure, take your weight, in pounds, and multiply by .6.  This will give you the minimum amount of protein for your goal.  It’s measured in grams.  It won’t be as individually suited to your needs, but it’s a good place to start.  For example, a 150-lb. man (or woman) would need a minimum of 90 grams of protein daily (150 lbs. x .6 = 90 grams) to maintain his  lean  mass.  (He’d need more if he were trying to gain weight by building muscle.)

 The table that follows lists some common protein foods and their “gram value.”  Set one day aside to write down everything you eat and add up all the protein foods.  See if you meet your goal.  If not, you’ll need to add more protein foods.  Exchanging some of those empty calorie foods like chips and soda might not be a bad idea anyway. 

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How can you tell if a food is a protein?  Here’s the rule: If it moved (walked, flew, or swam) in its former life, it’s a protein.  In other words if it was part of an animal (beef, chicken, fish, pork, lamb, etc) or if it came from an animal (eggs, milk, cheese) it’s a protein.   As is the case with any rule, there are some exceptions.   Dried beans, like kidney, pinto, black and especially soybeans, and products made from soybeans, such as tofu, tempeh, soy milk and soy cheese, contain protein also.  So do nuts, like walnuts, almonds, peanuts and peanut butter.  And, although grains contain a little bit of protein, which can definitely add to your total, they don’t contain enough to use as your primary source.

 In order to make sure that you meet your protein requirements it’s a good idea to plan to eat some form of protein with each meal and throw in a couple of protein snacks for insurance.