Shout Out Health

Pleasure, Passion and "Truvada Whores": Where Do You Stand?

The passions on both sides of the "Truvada whore" debate -- in short, whether PrEP therapy (daily Truvada therapy for HIV negative individuals) is good or bad, right or wrong when it comes to HIV prevention -- continue to simmer.

The New York Times recently chimed in on the debate, and high profile gay scribes like Andrew Sullivan and Larry Kramer have butted heads over the issue. But a story posted on impulsegrp.org  raises an interesting and perhaps significant question: should the issue of sexual pleasure and desire be taken more seriously when it comes to adopting HIV prevention strategies? The story makes this point:

"...it must be recognized that gay men have consistently been told their sexuality is wrong—so they are accustomed to finding ways to ignore messages that simply do not take into account their desires, attractions, and pleasures. Thus, a movement or message that promotes abstinence or limiting sexual pleasure will always be seen as suspect; a way to control a type of sexuality that makes society uncomfortable or afraid."

Throw another log on the fire, because this debate's going to stay red hot for some time.

Which side are you on in the ever-growing "Truvada whore" debate? Is PrEP an important new option in HIV prevention, or a dangerous alternative which will only lead to higher incidence of all STDs, including HIV? Should sexual pleasure be a consideration when it comes to HIV prevention? Sound off in the comments.

Have You Seen This Film Yet?

"How To Survive a Plague" is a must-see film for every generation, and an incredible reminder that together, we really can change the world. Watching this generation stand up amidst unspeakable fear, tragedy and loss and find the courage to fight for visibility, equality and dignity is awe inspiring. Have you seen it yet? It's playing in theatres and on In Demand in selected cities, so check your local listings!

Go here for more information or showtimes.

Elton John: "AIDs epidemic is ... fueled by stigma.”

Singer Elton John called on the public to stop marginalizing individuals with HIV/AIDS.delivered a keynote address at the 19^th annual International AIDS Conference in Washington, D.C., Monday, and his words were packed with power and emotion.

“Everyone deserves compassion, everyone deserves dignity. Everyone, everyone, everyone deserves love,”  said John. “The AIDS disease is caused by a virus but the AIDs epidemic is not. It is fueled by stigma.” Here's a full report.

"M*SHP Minus 36:00" program provides free PEP in New York City

Attention New York City! Now you have access to an innovative, and potentially life-saving new program called “M*SHP minus 36:00” from--you guessed it-- the Men's Sexual Health Project.

"A-list" star and celebrity photographer Mike Ruiz donated his talents to shoot the ad campaign (below) and support was also provided by the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Here's the official announcement:

“PEP has been recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for high risk sexual exposures since 2006, but very few men in NYC are aware of what PEP is or how to get it. PEP is using HIV medications after a potential exposure to prevent HIV infection.

Study after study has demonstrated that PEP works, but if people are unaware of the intervention (or it is hard to get), PEP doesn’t really have a chance to make an impact. Time is of the essence. PEP has to be started within 36 hrs to have maximal effect and continued for 28 days after exposure. Lack of knowledge and medical barriers (like long, unpleasant ER visits, financial concerns, etc) makes PEP nearly inaccessible. M*SHP will introduce its new program dubbed “M*SHP minus 36:00” to provide instant, free access to PEP drugs and connection to follow up services and care.”

Testing Schedule

HIV: Food IS Medicine

If you're HIV-positive, it's essential to work closely with your physician to maintain your best possible health and wellness.

But what can you do outside your doctor's office to help maintain or enhance your overall health? The answers could be found in your grocery and health food stores, says holistic nutritionist Sally Kravich, M.S., C.N.H.P., author of Vibrant Living: Creating Radiant Health and Longevity.

“Food is medicine, there's no doubt about it,” says Kravich, who's worked closely with many clients who are HIV positive.

"An individual can do a lot to support themselves in addition to their medical treatment."

“To support your immune system, arm yourself with the best food containing the highest quality nutrients, along with maintaining a positive attitude. An individual can do a lot to support themselves in addition to their medical treatment."

When it comes to your diet, Kravich suggests four essential tips to enhance your overall health:

Support the Liver

Whether you're on HIV medication, or struggle with drug addictions, or even if you're newly diagnosed and medication-free, you must support your liver, says Kravich. “The liver is the hardest working organ in the body. It processes bacteria, viruses, drugs, medications, environmental toxins, along with being a digestive organ” says Kravich, who points to necessary daily supplements like milk thistle, dandelion and beet root to cleanse and strengthen your liver.

In addition, make sure to have plenty of Vitamin B12 (minimum of 2,000 mcg per day). Grape seed extract is a powerful anti-oxidant to add to this combination and much easier on the colon than large doses of Vitamin C.

Drop the Sugar

Sugar lowers the immune system and feeds unhealthy bacteria, fungus, mold, and parasites, which seriously impair your body's ability to defend itself from HIV. “If you need to sweeten, go natural,” with Sugar in the Raw, Agave nectar, Stevia or raw honey, says Kravich.

Take a Probiotic Acidophilus Combination

To counteract unhealthy bacteria (fungus, mold, parasites, etc.), take a probiotic supplement which will help your body absorb essential nutrients from food and enhance and strengthen your immune system.

"It is absolutely essential to take probiotics if you are on any drugs or medications," says Kravich. Unhealthy bacteria flourishes in the small intestine where nutrients are absorbed, so take a daily dose of this friendly probiotic bacteria for intestinal and immune support.

Make a Shake

To keep your muscle tone strong, you must have plenty of protein with amino acids. Making a daily protein shake is one of the easiest ways to keep protein levels up, says Kravich.

For a simple shake include:

--A simple protein powder, preferably organic whey, rice or hemp

--L. Glutamine (which aids the digestive system)

--A liquid base of rice mik, almond milk, or carrot juice

--A greens powder (which adds essential minerals)

--Natural fruit such as blueberries and banana OR papaya/mango and banana

--Mitch Rustad

PODCAST: Aleta St. James - Relax and Rejuvenate!

Aleta St. James Relax and Rejuvenate

Close your eyes, take a deep breath, relax and be fully in the present moment.

According to a stunning study, meditation may slow the worsening of AIDS in just a few weeks, most likely by affecting the immune system, according to researchers from the University of California Los Angeles. In a statement lead researcher David Creswell said: "This study provides the first indication that mindfulness meditation stress-management training can have a direct impact on slowin HIV disease progression."  

If larger studies back up these findings, researchers say meditation could offer a cheap and pleasant way to help HIV-positive people stay healthier and delay the onset of the disease, according to Reuters.

Researchers tested a stress-lowering program called mindfulness meditation, defined as practicing an open and receptive awareness of the present moment, avoiding thinking of the past or worrying about the future.

The more often the volunteers meditated, the higher their CD4 T-cell counts--a standard measure of how well the immune system is fighting the AIDS virus. The CD4 counts were measured before and after the two-month program.

"It just makes intuitive sense that reducing stress is inherently a good thing," says Dr. Susan Ball, Medical Director of ShoutOutHealth.com. "Relaxing and lowering stress is good for everyone, not just HIV patients."

In an exclusive for ShoutOutHealth.com, renowned energy healer Aleta St. James, author of Life Shift, who has worked with many HIV-positive clients, has created a powerful guided meditation (to listen, use the audio player below) to enhance relaxation and overall wellbeing. Be sure to find a safe, quiet place where you will be undisturbed and can focus solely on your own health and wellness.

Enjoy!

by Mitch Rustad