HIV & diet- Healthy nutrition is crucial in treatment
May 03, 2009
THE HIV/AIDS epidemic contributes to factors that create malnutrition. Therefore there is need for the integration of nutrition into the essential package of care, treatment and support for people living with HIV/AIDS. <br><br>
By Rachel Bahika
THE HIV/AIDS epidemic contributes to factors that create malnutrition. Therefore there is need for the integration of nutrition into the essential package of care, treatment and support for people living with HIV/AIDS.
Adequate nutrition cannot cure HIV infection, but is necessary to ensure optimal benefits from the use of antiretroviral treatment, which is essential to prolong the lives of people living with HIV and prevent transmission of HIV from mother to child.
The basic principles of healthy eating also apply to individuals who are HIV-positive.
Eating a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, grains and legumes.
Choosing lean, low-fat sources of protein like poultry, lean meats, fish, beans and groundnuts.
Limiting sweets, soft drinks (sodas), and foods with added sugar like biscuits, cookies, cakes and other confectionaries.
Including proteins, carbohydrates, and a little fat in all meals and snacks.
Drinking eight to 10 glasses of water everyday.
Good nutrition improves one’s overall quality of life because it provides nutrients for the body and improves the body’s absorption of medication.
Here are tips for dealing with some of the most common problems.
Nausea and vomiting
Try bland, low-fat food, such as plain rice or spaghetti, fruit, or plain soup
Eat regular, small meals every two hours.
Avoid greasy or spicy foods, or foods with strong odours.
Avoid going long periods without food
Drink ginger tea or a ginger flavoured drink like Stoney.
Drink fluids between, but not with meals
Rest between meals, but do not lie flat.
Diarrhoea
Diet should be soft, bland (less spices) and low in fibre. Try well-cooked vegetables instead of raw ones.
Drink more fluids than usual. Try diluted fresh juices as well.
Limit milk and sugary or caffeinated drinks like coffee or soda.
Eat slowly and more frequently. It is advised to eat six to eight meals a day as the patient may not be able to eat very large meals at one time.
Avoid greasy foods.
Eat yoghurt for its pro-biotic properties.
Lack of appetite
Exercise to help stimulate your appetite.
Do not drink too much right before meals.
Eat with family or friends.
Try smaller, more frequent meals.
Include a variety of textures, shapes, and colours to make meals as attractive as possible.
Too much weight loss
Include more protein, carbohydrates and fats in your diet.
Eat groundnuts for snacks.
Talk to your doctor about adding a nutrition supplement, such as Boost or Ensure to your diet.
Mouth and swallowing problems
Eat soft foods such as yogurt or mashed potatoes.
Avoid raw vegetables, cook them instead.
Choose softer fruits, such as bananas or pawpaws.
Stay away from acidic foods such as oranges, lemon and tomatoes.
Lipodystrophy (fat redistribution syndrome)
Limit fat, especially saturated and trans fats. Prepare lean sources of protein like lean meat, poultry without skin, fish, beans, low-fat or nonfat dairy products, eggs, nuts and seeds.
Choose unsaturated fats and sources of omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish oils and vegetable oils.
Limit alcohol and refined sugars.
Eat more fibre-rich grains, fruits, and vegetables.
Essential Food Groups
Proteins
To get enough of the right types of protein:
Choose extra-lean pork or beef, skinless chicken breast, fish, groundnuts, beans and low-fat dairy products.
To get extra protein; eat groundnuts or yoghurt as a snack, spread peanut butter on bread, add cheese to sauces, soups, potatoes or steamed vegetables.
Add canned fish to salads.
However too much extra protein can put stress on the kidneys. Aim for 100-150g a day, if you are an HIV-positive man and 80-100g a day if you are an HIV-positive woman.
Carbohydrates
These are energy giving foods.
Eat five to six servings (about three cups) of fruits and vegetables each day.
Choose foods with a variety of colours to get the widest range of nutrients.
Choose legumes (beans and peas) and whole grains (millet, sorghum, amaranth grain, popcorn, whole wheat, oatmeal, whole oats, wild rice and brown rice )
Limit simple sugars, such as sweets, cake, biscuits, doughnuts, cookies, or ice-cream.
Fat
Fats help nutrient absorption, nerve transmission and maintain cell membrane integrity.
Healthy sources of fats include nuts, seeds, avocado, fish, olive oil, sunflower oil and soybean oil.
Vitamins and minerals
HIV-positive people need extra vitamins and minerals to help repair and heal damaged cells.
Vitamin A and beta-carotene: Dark green, yellow, orange, or red vegetables and fruit, liver, eggs and milk.
B vitamins: meat, fish, chicken, grains, nuts, white beans, avocado, broccoli and green leafy vegetables.
Vitamin C: citrus fruits.
Vitamin E: green leafy vegetables, groundnuts, vegetable oils like soya and olive oil.
Selenium: whole grains, nuts, poultry, fish, eggs and peanut butter.
Zinc: meat, poultry, fish, beans, groundnuts and milk and other dairy products.
If you do not eat at least three servings of high-calcium foods each day like mukene, sardines, broccoli, milk or yoghurt, add a calcium supplement to your diet.
Water
Water gives cells their shape and can reduce fatigue, dehydration, constipation and side-effects of medications. Drink the right kinds of fluids:
Drink eight to 10 glasses of water each day.
Avoid caffeinated beverages and alcohol.
Drink 100% fruit juice.
Your body may have a variety of responses to HIV and you may also experience side-effects from medications.
The writer is a nutritionist
THE HIV/AIDS epidemic contributes to factors that create malnutrition. Therefore there is need for the integration of nutrition into the essential package of care, treatment and support for people living with HIV/AIDS.
Adequate nutrition cannot cure HIV infection, but is necessary to ensure optimal benefits from the use of antiretroviral treatment, which is essential to prolong the lives of people living with HIV and prevent transmission of HIV from mother to child.
The basic principles of healthy eating also apply to individuals who are HIV-positive.
Eating a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, grains and legumes.
Choosing lean, low-fat sources of protein like poultry, lean meats, fish, beans and groundnuts.
Limiting sweets, soft drinks (sodas), and foods with added sugar like biscuits, cookies, cakes and other confectionaries.
Including proteins, carbohydrates, and a little fat in all meals and snacks.
Drinking eight to 10 glasses of water everyday.
Good nutrition improves one’s overall quality of life because it provides nutrients for the body and improves the body’s absorption of medication.
Here are tips for dealing with some of the most common problems.
Nausea and vomiting
Try bland, low-fat food, such as plain rice or spaghetti, fruit, or plain soup
Eat regular, small meals every two hours.
Avoid greasy or spicy foods, or foods with strong odours.
Avoid going long periods without food
Drink ginger tea or a ginger flavoured drink like Stoney.
Drink fluids between, but not with meals
Rest between meals, but do not lie flat.
Diarrhoea
Diet should be soft, bland (less spices) and low in fibre. Try well-cooked vegetables instead of raw ones.
Drink more fluids than usual. Try diluted fresh juices as well.
Limit milk and sugary or caffeinated drinks like coffee or soda.
Eat slowly and more frequently. It is advised to eat six to eight meals a day as the patient may not be able to eat very large meals at one time.
Avoid greasy foods.
Eat yoghurt for its pro-biotic properties.
Lack of appetite
Exercise to help stimulate your appetite.
Do not drink too much right before meals.
Eat with family or friends.
Try smaller, more frequent meals.
Include a variety of textures, shapes, and colours to make meals as attractive as possible.
Too much weight loss
Include more protein, carbohydrates and fats in your diet.
Eat groundnuts for snacks.
Talk to your doctor about adding a nutrition supplement, such as Boost or Ensure to your diet.
Mouth and swallowing problems
Eat soft foods such as yogurt or mashed potatoes.
Avoid raw vegetables, cook them instead.
Choose softer fruits, such as bananas or pawpaws.
Stay away from acidic foods such as oranges, lemon and tomatoes.
Lipodystrophy (fat redistribution syndrome)
Limit fat, especially saturated and trans fats. Prepare lean sources of protein like lean meat, poultry without skin, fish, beans, low-fat or nonfat dairy products, eggs, nuts and seeds.
Choose unsaturated fats and sources of omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish oils and vegetable oils.
Limit alcohol and refined sugars.
Eat more fibre-rich grains, fruits, and vegetables.
Essential Food Groups
Proteins
To get enough of the right types of protein:
Choose extra-lean pork or beef, skinless chicken breast, fish, groundnuts, beans and low-fat dairy products.
To get extra protein; eat groundnuts or yoghurt as a snack, spread peanut butter on bread, add cheese to sauces, soups, potatoes or steamed vegetables.
Add canned fish to salads.
However too much extra protein can put stress on the kidneys. Aim for 100-150g a day, if you are an HIV-positive man and 80-100g a day if you are an HIV-positive woman.
Carbohydrates
These are energy giving foods.
Eat five to six servings (about three cups) of fruits and vegetables each day.
Choose foods with a variety of colours to get the widest range of nutrients.
Choose legumes (beans and peas) and whole grains (millet, sorghum, amaranth grain, popcorn, whole wheat, oatmeal, whole oats, wild rice and brown rice )
Limit simple sugars, such as sweets, cake, biscuits, doughnuts, cookies, or ice-cream.
Fat
Fats help nutrient absorption, nerve transmission and maintain cell membrane integrity.
Healthy sources of fats include nuts, seeds, avocado, fish, olive oil, sunflower oil and soybean oil.
Vitamins and minerals
HIV-positive people need extra vitamins and minerals to help repair and heal damaged cells.
Vitamin A and beta-carotene: Dark green, yellow, orange, or red vegetables and fruit, liver, eggs and milk.
B vitamins: meat, fish, chicken, grains, nuts, white beans, avocado, broccoli and green leafy vegetables.
Vitamin C: citrus fruits.
Vitamin E: green leafy vegetables, groundnuts, vegetable oils like soya and olive oil.
Selenium: whole grains, nuts, poultry, fish, eggs and peanut butter.
Zinc: meat, poultry, fish, beans, groundnuts and milk and other dairy products.
If you do not eat at least three servings of high-calcium foods each day like mukene, sardines, broccoli, milk or yoghurt, add a calcium supplement to your diet.
Water
Water gives cells their shape and can reduce fatigue, dehydration, constipation and side-effects of medications. Drink the right kinds of fluids:
Drink eight to 10 glasses of water each day.
Avoid caffeinated beverages and alcohol.
Drink 100% fruit juice.
Your body may have a variety of responses to HIV and you may also experience side-effects from medications.
The writer is a nutritionist