There is no certain nutrition-eating plan for HIV positive patients. However, a healthy diet can be of great aid.
Good nutrition plays a major role for HIV/AIDS patients, since their bodies goes through many changes from medications to the disease itself.
Good nutrition boosts overall health and helps maintain the immune system. It also aids people with HIV maintain a healthy weight and absorb HIV medicines. HIV attacks and destroys the immune system, which makes it harder for the body to fight off infections.as much as you will take medicines that will help prevent HIV from destroying the immune system. If you are HIV/AIDS positive you will have ensure healthy eating diet.
Healthy diet for people who are HIV positive
- Selection of low- fat sources of proteins
- Avoiding sweets ,soft drinks, and foods with added sugar
- Including high amounts of vegetables ,fruits, whole grains and legumes in your daily diet
- You meals should contain carbohydrates, proteins and little good fat.
Complications that may arise from HIV and how some foods will help
- Nausea if food makes you feel nauseous, you are advised to take smaller amounts more often rather than heavy three meals a day. Also pairing them with protein such as peanut butter could help greatly.
- Appetite loss
Here are some of the tips that will help you counteract this
- Do smaller frequent meals
- Eat socially with family or friend ,this would help to make the meals attractive
- Exercise is another factor which will impact your appetite positively
- Avoid drinking too much right before meals
- Too much weight loss
This is the tips that will help;
- Take dried fruits or nuts for snacks
- Make sure,carbohydrates,proteins,and fats are present in your meals
- Talk to a specialists on introduction to nutrition supplements.
- Add ice creams to desert
- Diarrhea
- Eat slowly and frequently
- Avoid milky, sugary and caffeinated drinks
- Limit greasy foods
- Try well cooked vegetables instead of fresh produce
This are the foods and drinks not take when HIV positive
- Unpasteurized milk or dairy products and fruit juices
- Raw or undercooked meat and sea food
- Raw eggs and food with raw eggs such as homemade cookie dough
Another important factor for you if you are suffering from HIV and AIDS is to practice food safety measures
This is basically;
- Washing your hands, cooking utensils often while preparing foods
- Separating foods to avoid transfer of germs from one food to the other.
- Making sure foods are cooked to the right temperatures.
In conclusion, what diet is best for you depends on your weight, and nutritional status that is; blood sugar level, cholesterol and vitamin levels.
You should keep close contact with a dietician to help you figure out what type of diet will help you the most.
As earlier mentioned, there is no specific eating plan for a person suffering from HIV/AIDS, The main nutritional advice is taking a balanced diet and avoiding too much processed fat, sugar or salt.
