Living with HIV can be a challenging journey, but one thing that can significantly impact your health and well-being is your diet. By nourishing your body with the right foods, you can boost your immune system, improve your energy levels, and manage any symptoms or side effects of HIV treatment.
Key Points
- Maintaining a healthy diet can help patients control the symptoms of HIV and the side effects of their medications.
- Fruits and vegetables could strengthen the immune system in HIV patients.
- Protein is essential to maintaining muscle mass as HIV-positive individuals are more susceptible to the long-term effects of inflammation on muscle tissue.
- A high intake of fibre helps HIV patients absorb nutrients.
- A dietitian can modify a diet based on an HIV patient’s specific nutritional needs.
Here is the diet plan for HIV patients to enhance energy levels, improve general health, manage weight, and build immune system.
1. Fruits and Vegetables to Boost the Immune System
One of the finest things HIV-positive persons can do is to eat veggies and fruits. These are;
- Kale
- Spinach
- Broccoli
And red, orange, and yellow vegetables such as;
- Beets
- Yellow peppers
- Carrots
Beans, peas, legumes, and starchy vegetables like potatoes and corn are all suggested as part of the “rainbow” of foods in HIV patients’ diets.
When consuming raw, make sure you wash it to get rid of any bacteria or other germs that could be hazardous.
According to the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, people with HIV should pay extra attention to food safety because their immune systems may be compromised, making them more susceptible to foodborne infections.
You may book an appointment with a nutritionist in order to get a customized diet plan for someone with HIV.
2. Include Protein in an HIV Patient’s Diet
Lean beef, organic chicken, turkey, oily fish, eggs, fat-free and low-fat dairy products, nut butter, beans, and seeds are just a few examples of the protein-rich foods that the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics advises people with HIV to eat at every meal.
Edamame and tofu are two more protein-rich options made from soybeans that Johns Hopkins Medicine suggests.
Why is Protein Important?
Protein is crucial to preserving muscle mass because HIV-positive is more vulnerable to the long-term effects of inflammation on muscle tissue.
Experts claim that protein can help you stay healthy, keep you strong, and increase your energy.
Physicians suggest getting 1 to 1.4 grams of lean protein per kilogram of body weight per day. Depending on the individual’s choices and access to food, it can be a combination of plant and animal sources of protein.
The American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics advises patients with HIV to do the following things in order to make prevent foodborne diseases.
- Avoid eating raw or undercooked meat, fish, and eggs.
- Only consume pasteurized dairy products.
- Use separate knives and cutting boards for raw meats.
3. Vitamins and Nutrients may Support your Immune System
Most vitamin, mineral, lipid, and carbohydrate requirements should be satisfied through meals that emphasize vegetables, proteins, and fibre.
People who consume a special diet to treat HIV should also concentrate on certain nutrients to prevent some of the negative effects of antiretroviral medications, such as bone demineralization (weakening of the bones) and elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
The following foods are part of a healthy diet for people with HIV:
- Vitamin D – According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), vitamin D, which may be found in fortified milk and fatty fish and is produced by the body through sun exposure, helps strengthen bones.
- Calcium – The health of the bones depends on calcium. It can be found in fatty fish, dairy products, calcium-fortified non-dairy milk, and orange juice.
- Iron – Hemoglobin, a blood protein that aids in oxygen transport, can be produced by the body with the help of red meat. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration claims that leafy greens, shellfish, whole-grain bread and pasta, eggs, liver, and even dark chocolate all help to raise iron levels (FDA).
- Healthy Fats – According to the experts, high-quality olive oil, almonds, avocados, and oily fish like salmon, tuna, and other fish are all good sources of energy for cell growth.
4. Drink Water as Much as Possible
Water boosts metabolic processes, transports medications through the body, facilitates better digestion and disposal, and maintains the health of cells. Moreover, it controls body temperature too.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, water can assist in weight management and calorie consumption reduction (if that is a goal for your health being an HIV patient).
Getting enough liquids reduces the muscle pain and fatigue that are usually linked to HIV. The greatest thing you can drink, is clear, clean, nutritious water, but unsweetened carbonated and flavored drinks are also OK.
Taking 2 to 3 liters, of liquid, every day may aid digestion, support metabolic functions, transport medications through the body, and maintain the health of cells.
5. High Intake of Fiber Help in Nutrient Absorption
Raw vegetables, fruit, beans, nuts, and whole grains that are high in fibre reduce cholesterol levels, regulate blood sugar, and help maintain a healthy digestive system.
A surprising nutritional punch may be found in some starchy foods, which are also affordable to prepare.
Given the potential for poor nutrient absorption caused by HIV-related inflammation, a simple meal like brown rice and beans can offer sufficient protein, fiber, and other nutrients at a reasonable price, according to experts.
Other Recommendations for HIV Patients
The experts offer the following recommendations for HIV patients.
- Wash hands before preparing food and then eating.
- Countertops and utensils should also be kept tidy.
- After the expiration date on a package has passed, avoid consuming it.
- Use a microwave or refrigerator to thaw food instead of letting it sit out at room temperature.
- When it comes to fish, poultry, and meat, the preferable temperature is 165-212°F (74-100°C). The temperature should be checked with a meat thermometer.
- Never consume sushi or unpasteurized dairy products.
- Eggs that are not fully cooked should not be consumed.
Final Notes
Immunity is not compromised in all HIV patients. The same infection-related symptoms are not always experienced by people with this illness.
A healthy diet can benefit some people with HIV who may also have additional illnesses. Depending on a person’s unique nutritional requirements, a dietitian can modify a diet.
FAQs
1 – How can you help your body fight HIV?
Antiretroviral therapy, sometimes known as ART, is the recommended course of treatment for HIV. These medications limit the virus’s rate of replication. By using these medications, you can lessen the number of viruses in your body and maintain your health.
2 – What not to do when HIV positive?
Avoid isolating yourself, especially in the weeks right after your diagnosis. Ask your pharmacist before beginning any new medications. A resistant type of HIV may infect you through unprotected intercourse, which could lead to the failure of your antiretroviral therapy.
3 – Is yogurt good for HIV?
Yogurt consumption has been shown to have many advantages for those with AIDS. Consumption of probiotic yogurt is associated with an increase in CD4 cell count in people with HIV/AIDS.