I like feeling balanced and aware. It beats the hell out of being unbalanced and unaware. Seriously, living with this disease over time I've slowly come to recognize the importance of these two words in my optimal health care strategy vocabulary.

Let's talk about balance. Basically that’s what optimal health is "Homeostasis" which means balance. Our bodies are always trying to maintain it with a very intricate system of checks and balances. Our immune system fights hard to achieve it when faced with the HIV virus by constructing an immune response to the virus. Unfortunately for many the virus slowly starts to win this game. Having said that, I believe it's very important to be proactive at any stage of the disease and as early as possible.

Try to pay more attention to Basic Health Care. I'm talking about nutrition (including supplementation), exercise (including weight resistance training), sleep, stress reduction techniques, emotional support. Often we'll do some of the above, but not all, and guess what happens? It throws us out of balance.

For example, if you get enough sleep on regular basis your body gets to repair and rejuvenate and you wake up feeling more energetic. That means you are more likely to want to exercise and you generally feel better emotionally. If you are less stressed, you also absorb and eliminate the nutritious food that you've eaten leading to more energy. Finally, exercise done in moderation, helps you to sleep better the next night. BALANCE, BALANCE, BALANCE.

However, if you stay up late, are overworked, experience sleep deprivation, the next morning your tired and don't feel like exercising. You are also starting to get a glucose imbalance caused of the lack of sleep, which affects your digestion, your mood and stress levels. It gets real hard to think positively. Actually, you may feel like strangling your partner or coworker when they whine about the weather. IMBALANCE, IMBALANCE, IMBALANCE.

The point is it's all about balance and finding and recognizing the balance is very important.

How important you ask? Well let me illustrate the balance between mind and body. When we are depressed we don't want to look after ourselves and actually it's one of the main reasons, according to research, why people are non-compliant [don't take their meds on time] and that leads to resistance and drug failure See what I mean?

Let's get even more specific and look at only supplementation. More and more HIV dieticians recommend it and early. But all those amino acids and vitamins need to be taken in balance. The magnesium with the calcium, etc. It's unwise and possibly dangerous to take individual therapy without doing research like talking to a qualified dietician or going to a good health food store. They will sell better quality and instruct about the balance needed. One therapy may act synergistically improving the other.

So how do you know when you are in balance. Well for me it's more a feeling of well being and sometimes it's subtle. I use various stress reduction techniques like meditation to quiet the mind and body regularly. I recognize that it is easier when the other stuff is in balance. I try to increase my AWARENESS of the mind and body noticing the subtle changes. I'd be lying if I told you that I can maintain this always. It's a struggle at times and takes constant effort. I don't beat myself up if I stay up late sometimes or eat too much sugar. It takes too much energy. I forgive myself and try again. I do notice that I really like feeling balanced. It feels good. I also believe it has a beneficial effect on immune function.

Finally I feel a sense of control. I am responsible for my health care and I can effect it. Looking after myself, nurturing and supporting my well being is a form of self-love and discovery. I can always use more of that. I also feel a sense of independence because if there is no one around to comfort me, I can do it myself. That increased awareness is a very valuable too in my health care strategy. I'm more aware of subtle changes and in a better position to act early.