Nutrition & HIV

Good nutrition can help the body deal with and process many medications that are taken by a person who has HIV. Good nutrition can also help a patient keep their immune system strong and help them fight the disease better. A healthy diet will also improve their quality of life and make the individual feel a lot healthier.

There are many medical complications associated with HIV and the medication used such as diarrhoea, fatigue, nausea and high blood sugar, cholesterol and triglycerides due to fat redistribution and abnormal metabolic rates.

Weight loss, malnutrition and wasting are common characteristics in HIV despite the effective antiretroviral medications that are used. This can contribute to the progression of HIV.

“Wasting” is a term used to describe those patients who lose more than 5% of their body weight unintentionally in a period of 6 months. Patients who are suffering wasting often experience considerable changes in their body tissue and a loss in muscle, although there is usually an increase in fat.

Wasting can be a sign of the progression of HIV and is a “red flag” for clinicians. All HIV patients can develop wasting and a person’s appearance is not always a proper or reliable indication that wasting is present. This is due to the fact that patients’ bodies often change shape and the fat is redistributed. Health professionals therefore monitor their patients for changes in their weight and body mass.

A high quality diet can help prevent wasting. Many sufferers lose weight because they do not eat enough or the right kinds of food. To help prevent wasting, Nutritionists calculate the calorific requirements of their patients and translate their number findings into foods. A typical day’s food intake usually breaks down into six smaller or three larger meals plus two snacks. Some patients require more calories or protein, so food supplements might be used as well as food. Multivitamins can be taken for those individuals who are concerned about their diet.

A high quality diets consists of vegetables, whole grains, fruits and legumes with low fat, lean proteins. Foods such as these are nutrient dense and contribute to the overall health compared to the calories from sugar and fat.

• To ensure the maximum benefit of nutrients and vitamins, one should eat 5-6 serving of a variety of coloured fruits and vegetables per day
• Ensure that 50% of your carbohydrates come from whole grains.
• Eat protein sources that are lean such as fish, skinless chicken breast, lean cuts of pork and beef, low fat dairy products.
• Sugar, sweets and soft drinks should be limited as they are also low in nutrient density along with causing peaks in glucose levels.
• Aim to eat a serving of nuts, legumes and seeds every day.

  Generally, a person should consume the recommended daily intake of:

• 50 – 60% carbohydrates
• 15-20* protein
• 25% fat

Recommended Books on Nutrition and HIV…

Built to Survive: A Comprehensive Guide to the Medical Use of Anabolic Steroids, Nutrition and Exercise for HIV (+) men and women
by: Nelson Vergel
publisher: Program for Wellness Restoration, published: 2000-02-07
ASIN: B003E487ZO
sales rank: 150532

With over 330 scientific references, this book provides a comprehensive guide to the medical use of anabolic steroids, growth hormone, supplementation, optimal nutrition, and exercise to prevent and treat the loss of lean body mass and body alterations experienced by people with HIV.

Nelson and Michael have shown great courage and commitment to follow through after 6 years of hard work to publish this book. Hopefully, for those who read and learn and grow from this book, their example will influence these people not to give up and to fight for life. — Dr. Shannon Schrader – Houston, TX

The authors effectively detail how to use nutrition, anabolic hormones and exercise in combination to improve lean body mass and overall health in HIV. This book is a great guide for patients and physicians who want to learn more about these therapies. — Dr. Patricia Salvato- Houston, TX.

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Nutrition & HIV related articles from the blogosphere…

proper nutrition critical for HIV/AIDS patients : The Face of Hunger

Without proper nutrition, HIV/Aids medicines do not work. Food security for thosefortunate enough to be on an anti-retroviral treatment program is as important as the medicines itself. Ending hunger requires a comprehensive approach. …

Publish Date: 07/23/2010 14:46

http://thefaceofhunger.stophungernow.org/?p=679

Eating Positive: A Nutrition Guide and Recipe Book for People with HIV

Proper nutrition is essential to individuals with HIV/AIDS. Yet, it is often difficult to maintain an adequate diet due to a variety of conditions associated with the disease and/or medications used to alleviate symptoms. …

Publish Date: 07/01/2002 0:00

http://www.weightplanet.com/eating-positive-a-nutrition-guide-and-recipe-book-for-people-with-hiv/

Ambassador Garvelink on Food Security, Nutrition and HIV/AIDS …

Thank you for inviting me to join this panel to discuss the inescapable links between food security, nutrition and HIV/AIDS: three of the top development priorities of the United States Government. Our major presidential initiatives …

Publish Date: 12/09/2010 5:37

http://geneva.usmission.gov/2010/12/09/amb-garvelink-food-security/

Nutrition and HIV

This presentation gives a basic overview of nutrition for people living with HIV. This is for Frontline TEACH. For more information, go to www.aidslibrary.org

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