Nutrition for HIV
Nutrition for HIV is critical for positive people as they tend to burn, on average, 10% more calories than negative adults with their immune systems working harder to fight the disease, which is usually in the form of burning lean muscle mass- although their weight stays the same they may still be losing muscles.
You’d think this looks like a simple high metabolism problem and patients may control the situation by eating more, but at an advanced stage of the illness– when their CD4 levels go below 200 accompanied by increasing virus count in their blood or AIDS related opportunistic infections taking hold or even a simple upset tummy and diarrhea may make them lose their appetite and they keep losing weight.
If a newly diagnosed patient has a CD4 count of less than 350, their doctor will likely put them on antiretroviral therapy and this will generally contribute to weight gain. Unfortunately the problem is a lot more complicated than it seems, so it is not a matter of them taking their HIV drugs and everything will be fine.
The virus will most likely be suppressed- the CD4 T cells will go back to normal adult levels and HIV RNA will be undetectable perhaps in a few months and although the new drugs in the market come with fewer side effects than those given to patients in the past, they may still increase the triglycerides and LDL cholesterol in blood, decreasing HDL cholesterol, may cause insulin resistance as well, both of which mean increased risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Some drugs even cause a condition called lypodystrophy- fat redistribution in the body which may mean fat on chest area, sunken cheeks, flat buttocks and a big tummy.
Vitamin- A, B12, C, D and mineral- iron, zinc, selenium deficiencies are also observed more in HIV+ adults in different studies, so increasing the intake of these micronutrients through healthy nutrition and perhaps a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement may help prevent AIDS related illnesses and those that occur as a result of those vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
But please be careful to not overdo it, for instance taking too much vitamin A will lead to nausea and too much vitamin C will cause diarrhea, and both will contribute to further weight loss. So remember to do everything in moderation.
Best advice to give to HIV positive people would be the same as that given to healthy adults, that is to be on a balanced and healthy diet but to eat 10-20% more than normal to compensate for those extra burnt calories. Best nutrition for HIV is eating well,more frequently and in larger servings.
If they’ve already lost weight and are trying to gain it back, they are recommended to eat more of proteins, carbohydrates and healthy fats:
All kinds of red meat, chicken, turkey, fish, eggs, nuts, seeds, peanut butter, peas, carrots, lentils, beans and chickpeas, sweet potatoes, rice, bread- wholemeal, multi grain and white bread, potatoes, fruits, avocados, cheese, yogurt, full-cream milk, dried fruits, honey and jam in porridge and cereals to make them more attractive.. so anything healthy you can think of, just increase the daily intake of calories.
Last but not least, HIV positive individuals should be especially careful about food safety to prevent opportunistic infections. Those diagnosed with the virus have weakened immune systems, hence foods that come with germs and bacteria are more likely to affect positive individuals.
They should always check the expiry dates on packaging, rinse vegetables and fruits thoroughly and always wash their hands properly before eating or cooking. They should avoid consuming raw or undercooked meats, fish and chicken to prevent food poisoning and further HIV related complications.
Return from Nutrition for HIV to Glycemic Index home page
Take me back to ‘Why is Nutrition Important’ page
