NUTRITION FOR PERSONS LIVING WITH HIV

The importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle in order to keep illness at bay is of utmost importance for HIV persons. With lower immune system functionality, even the slightest microbe can cause major harm. One of the most important ways to keep healthy and treat the disease is through diet. A healthy diet is as important for HIV patients as any of the medications or treatments they are taking.

For persons living with HIV their diet needs to be a high quality diet, which is a diet high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes, with lean, low-fat protein sources. These foods are nutrient-dense, and will contribute much more to your health and well-being than empty calories from sugar and fat.

Tips for a building a high quality diet:

• Whether eating a full meal or snacking, include all 3 macronutrients: protein, carbohydrates, and a little fat.
• Eat 5–6 servings of fruits and vegetables per day, or approximately 3 cups. Eat a variety of colors for a full range of nutrients.
• Aim to have 50% of your carbohydrates. A healthful diet is high in complex carbohydrates (whole grains, whole grain products, and legumes) and low in simple carbohydrates (sugar, candy, soft drinks, cakes, cookies, ice cream). Within the category of complex carbohydrates, legumes and whole grains such as whole wheat flour, oats, barley, and brown rice, are better sources of carbohydrate than white bread and pasta, rice, and potato.
• Choose lean protein sources such as skinless chicken breast, fish and low-fat dairy products and eggs are good sources of protein. You can also get protein from legumes (dried beans and peas), nuts, and seeds.
• Limit added sugar, sweets, and soft drinks; they are low in nutrient density and cause spikes in glucose levels.
• Have a serving or more of nuts, seeds, or legumes/sprouts per day.
• Include zinc rich sources of foods like chicken, cucumber, eggs and all-bran cereal.
• Animal products, seafood and Brazil nuts among others should be included in the diet as they have selenium which is beneficial in HIV.
• It is believed that B vitamins have the potential to slow the growth of the disease. They can be found in milk, whole grains, mustard greens, romaine lettuce, lentils, bell peppers, liver, broccoli and beets.
• Vitamin D is essential nutrient for calcium absorption. It is also important for the health of HIV patients. Fortified milk, cereal, egg, oily fish and shrimps. A great source of Vitamin D is also available from sun exposure, just be sure to take proper sun protection measures before venturing out.
• For an HIV patient, free radical production may be elevated, hence the need for higher levels of antioxidants. Some good food sources of this essential nutrient include herbal tea, small red beans, blueberries, prunes, pinto beans, cranberries and strawberries.
• Fat is the body’s major source of energy storage. The recommended intake of total fat is less than 30% (25% preferred) of daily total calorie intake, but the kind of fat may be as important as the amount. Saturated fat increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. People with HIV may experience medication-related high cholesterol and triglycerides, requiring caution with regard to cardiac problems. Omega-3 fatty acids (a type of polyunsaturated fat), found in heart-healthy fish, almonds, walnuts, linseed and other foods, are protective against CVD.
• Saturated fats should be limited to 7% of the total calories- fatty meat, poultry with skin, butter, whole-milk dairy foods, and coconut and palm oils.
• Monounsaturated fats should be 10% or greater of total calorie intake. Food sources of MUFA nuts, seeds, canola and olive oils, avocado, and fish.
• Polyunsaturated fats should be 10% or less of total calorie intake. Food sources are fish, walnuts, flax seed & oil, and corn, soybean, sunflower, and safflower oil.

Nutrition Supplements- If you are losing weight and do not have adequate food resources, talk to your doctor about adding a nutrition supplement. Whenever possible, we believe the best way to increase weight is to eat a high quality diet that is nutrient-dense.

Food safety- With HIV, it is extremely imperative that you pay attention to all food safety rules. If you think any food is spoiled, don't eat it. Make sure you either wash all fruits and vegetables or, if you are eating out, order ones you can peel. Use different cutting boards for meat and vegetables and wash them with soap and water if you can. Make sure you always wash your hands after using the restroom.