The Hiv+ Survival Guide

"We are what we eat," reminds Steve Frankel, the HIV-positive host of this excellent nutritional guide to maintaining a healthy immune system. After briefly outlining the way the body's immune system fights infectious diseases, The HIV+ Survival Guide surveys the many foods (such as red meat and tropical fruits) which have a negative impact on the immune system, and the many foods in a macrobiotic diet (brown rice, millet, bok choy, etc.) that boost immunity. The connection with HIV/AIDS is supported by interviews with noted physicians' Joan Priestley, Center for 21st Century Medicine and Neal Barnard, President of The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Frankel also visits the local grocery store and points out the dos and don'ts of health-conscious shopping. In the second half of the program, Frankel is joined by actor Dirk Benedict (who successfully fought prostate cancer through nutrition) in the kitchen where the pair demonstrate how to make a variety of appetizing dishes, including Miso soup, lentils, Kabocha squash, and steamed vegetables. Emphasizing positive attitudes and healthy eating habits, The HIV+ Survival Guide is an excellent guide to macrobiotic eating, and while the relationship between diet and AIDS still contains many unknowns, this tape would still benefit anyone who suffers from an immune deficiency-related illness, or anyone interested in improving his or her general health, period. Highly recommended. (R. Pitman)