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Nutrition
Guidelines & Diets for AIDS/HIV The
best way for a person to meet his or her nutritional needs is to eat a wide and
balanced variety of foods. When the body’s immune system is weakened, however,
as it is in people with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, maintaining good nutrition and healthful
eating habits may pose a constant challenge. Owing to their susceptibility to
infectious bacteria, people with AIDS/HIV must take special precautions when
purchasing and preparing food, being sure to avoid eating raw fish (sushi) and
raw eggs, to consume only pasteurized dairy products, to wash all fruits and
vegetables thoroughly, and to cook all meat and poultry well. Sometimes the
medical conditions of people with AIDS/HIV -- or the therapies used to address
those conditions -- interfere with the ability or willingness to eat.
Malnutrition is therefore a common complication of AIDS/HIV.
The
following sections, intended for people with AIDS/HIV and for their caregivers,
provide dietary guidelines for managing common AIDS/HIV-related conditions --
including side effects of medications and treatments -- and for meeting general
nutrition requirements safely, effectively, and consistently.
Information about alternative therapy for AIDS/HIV, including specific
herbal/natural remedies and recommended nutritional supplements, is also
provided. Managing
Common AIDS/HIV-Related Conditions & Side Effects Nutrition
Tips for Treatment Days Boosting
Calorie & Protein Intake for People With AIDS/HIV Alternative
Therapy for AIDS/HIV Herbal/Natural
Products for AIDS/HIV Alternative
Dietary Recommendations for AIDS/HIV Nutritional Supplements for AIDS/HIV Managing
Common AIDS/HIV-Related Conditions & Side Effects
If
you are a person with AIDS/HIV, you may experience a range of specific eating
problems, including nausea and vomiting, owing to certain opportunistic
infections and/or to side effects of medications and treatments.
Many dietary and behavioral tips are available to help you maintain a
nutritional diet while lessening the side effects of treatment and the most
common discomforts caused by your illness.
Consult the following links for specific information:
Fatigue
Mouth & Throat Discomfort
Nausea & Vomiting Nutrition
Tips for Treatment Days If
you are a person with AIDS/HIV, you may eventually undergo treatment, such as
surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation, that
will affect your eating habits and possibly the level of your nutritional
intake. At the start of a course of treatment, you may encounter little, if any,
discomfort and may be able to follow a normal pattern of eating. As your
treatment continues, however, some side effects may prevent you from getting the
nutrients that your body needs. The
following guidelines may help you to maintain proper nutritional intake during
the course of your treatment: ·
Instead
of eating three large meals daily, try smaller, more-frequent meals; this will
help to minimize nausea. ·
Avoid
foods that are high in fat, which tend to remain in the stomach longer than
other foods and may cause nausea. Limit your intake of bacon, bologna, butter,
chips, cream, cream sauces, donuts, fried foods, gravies, hot dogs, ice cream,
margarine, mayonnaise, peanuts, sausage, whole milk, and other high-fat foods. ·
On
treatment days, eat a small meal two hours before treatment and take a snack
with you to treatment. Also try to have some of the following food and drink,
which require little or no preparation, available throughout the day:
broth-based soups, canned fruit, crackers, fruit juice, fruit sorbet, gelatin,
popsicles, soda (regular, not diet), and tea. Boosting
Calorie & Protein Intake for People With AIDS/HIV
The
first priority of any diet should be to meet the body’s calorie and protein
needs. If a person does not eat enough food to meet these needs, he or she will
start to lose weight, muscle mass, strength, and physical stamina.
If
you are a person with AIDS/HIV, your illness may make it difficult for you to
follow a regular diet and, in turn, may hinder your body’s ability to fight
infection. You will need to make greater efforts to ensure that you are getting
enough protein and calories
(as well as vitamins and minerals) in your diet. A common problem among people
with AIDS/HIV is wasting syndrome, unintended and progressive weight loss
owing to inadequate dietary intake, malabsorption of nutrients, abnormalities in
metabolism and energy expenditure, and/or HIV-related infections. A fundamental
aim of therapy for wasting syndrome is to boost calorie and protein intake, in
order to increase both body weight and lean body mass. Beware
of fad diets and products that promise to “cure” your illness. Special diets
or fad regimens rarely provide the adequate calories, protein, vitamins, and
minerals required by your body. Even if you are overweight, your primary goal
should be to maintain your weight by improving your dietary habits. Try weighing
yourself weekly, on the same day and at the same time of day, using the same
scale. If you find that you are losing weight, adjust your diet to include more
calories. A first step is to be sure that you eat breakfast every day; because
you may become progressively tired as the day passes (in some cases owing to
medication), a healthful meal at the start of the day will help you to keep your
strength and energy levels up. Once
you are familiar with ways to adjust your diet, you will be better able to
maintain a nutritional balance in your daily eating and, in turn, to promote
overall good health. Many
simple and safe food-preparation strategies are available to help you increase
both your calorie and your protein consumption. Information about recipes and about a specific diet and menu
is available as well. Consult the following links: Guidelines
for Boosting Calorie & Protein Intake High-Calorie/High-Protein
Recipes High-Calorie/High-Protein
Diet Nutritious
Snacks
If
you are a person with AIDS/HIV and are having difficulties eating well at meals,
you may need to eat plenty of snacks between meals.
You should, in fact, consider nutritious snacks an integral part of your
daily diet.
Alternative
Therapy for AIDS/HIV Complementary and alternative therapy comprise a wide variety of
practices and treatments, including the use of herbal preparations and of
vitamin and mineral supplements. Whether you are a patient or a caregiver, you
should be aware that many treatments have not been thoroughly researched and
scrutinized for safety and efficacy and may not be approved by the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA). Although
some complementary therapies (acupuncture for nausea, for example) have been
shown to be safe and efficacious, others (the use of some individual herbs and
supplements, high‑dose vitamin and mineral regimens, and radical diets)
have brought about toxic side effects. If
you prefer alternative therapies, or if you believe that you have exhausted the
available therapies of conventional medicine, the information that follows may
be helpful to you. The therapies presented here, however, are by no means
intended to replace standard, appropriate medical attention and treatment.
Herbal/Natural
Products for AIDS/HIV The
table below provides information about the potential benefits of specific
herbal/natural products that have been used in the treatment of people
with AIDS/HIV. Note:
You should use alternative therapies to treat a specific health condition only
after you have received an accurate diagnosis from a qualified doctor or
other medical professional. Be cautious of anyone called an “herbalist,” an
“herb doctor,” or a “health counselor”; these job titles are not
regulated. Remember that good health depends on proper medical care.
Caution: In
some cases herbal/natural products
may interact negatively with other medications. Such interactions can be
dangerous. Herbal/natural remedies
are not regulated and their quality is not controlled. Moreover, although an
abundant supply of information about alternative treatments and remedies is
currently circulating, little of it has been scientifically validated. Consult
your doctor before using any herbal/natural remedy, and remember always to make your
doctor and pharmacist aware of any therapeutic products you are using. Your
doctor and pharmacist can assist you in determining which herbal/natural
products are safe to use with the drugs you are taking. Do
not use herbal/natural products if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, and do not
treat infants or children with herbal/natural remedies without a qualified
doctor’s approval and guidance. Table
1. Herbal/natural products commonly used in the
treatment of AIDS/HIV.
Alternative
Dietary Recommendations for AIDS/HIV The following recommendations and lists
of foods, intended for people with AIDS/HIV, are shaped by four main dietary
goals: bolstering the immune system; supplying the body with essential
nutrients; ridding the body of potentially harmful substances; and avoiding
harmful substances. Bolster Your Immune System Foods that are known to bolster the
immune system include avocados, Brazil nuts, carrots, garlic, kiwi, omega-3
fatty fish (such as mackerel, salmon, and tuna), pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds,
shellfish, shrimp, and sweet peppers. Note:
Foods and beverages that are high in salt and/or fat (bacon, hot dogs, lunch
meats, pickled products, snack chips), concentrated sugars (bakery goods, candy,
sodas), or caffeine should be avoided; they may hinder the functioning of the
immune system. Supply Your Body With Essential Nutrients
To help supply your body with essential
nutrients and the elements required to turn food into energy effectively and
efficiently, follow these guidelines: ·
Get
Your Vitamins and Minerals Your body requires supplies of more than
40 vitamins and minerals every day. Some, such
as selenium and vitamins A, C, and E, help to keep your immune system strong.
Others, such as thiamin and zinc, provide energy. The following foods are good sources of
nutrients that either enhance the functioning of the immune system or provide
the body with energy: beans, cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli, cabbage,
cauliflower, collard greens, radishes, rutabagas, and turnips), fresh fruits,
lentils, nuts, seeds, yellow and deep-orange vegetables (such as carrots,
pumpkin, squash, and yams), and whole grains (including brown rice and millet). Note:
For help in planning a diet complete with the essential nutrients, consult the
food pyramids. ·
Get Your Protein Your body needs high-quality proteins,
such as whey protein, soy protein isolate, and egg protein. Protein provides the
amino acids that help your body to build, maintain, and repair cells and muscle
tissue, to heal wounds, and to support the immune system. The best protein
sources are beans, cheese, eggs, fish, lean meat, milk, nuts, poultry, tofu, and
yogurt. ·
Get
Your Enzymes Eat unripened papaya and fresh
pineapple frequently. These fruits are good sources of proteolytic enzymes,
which are crucial for proper digestion of foods and assimilation of nutrients.
Without enzymes, the body cannot be supplied with the energy it needs for its
activities. (Eaten as solid foods
or consumed in juice form, these fruits may also be used to soothe an upset
stomach.) ·
Replenish
Your Good Bacteria Acidophilus, which replenishes
“friendly” intestinal bacteria that is destroyed by antibiotic therapy, can
be found in acidophilus milk, kefir
(fermented or cultured cow’s milk), and yogurt that
contains live cultures of Lactobacillus
acidophilus. (Most but not all yogurts
contain live cultures of Lactobacillus
acidophilus; consult food labels to be certain.) Note:
Many people with AIDS/HIV cannot tolerate dairy products. If you have an allergy
or food sensitivity to milk and/or dairy products, try
milk-free acidophilus supplements, which are available in a variety of
forms. Rid
Your Body of Potentially Harmful Substances
Follow the guidelines below for help in
ridding your body of potentially harmful toxins and bacteria: ·
Purify
Your Blood Consume plenty of fresh fruit and
vegetable juices. The chlorophyll provided by "green drinks," made
from leafy greens such as beet greens, kale, and spinach, works to purify the
blood, eliminating toxins produced by invading pathogenic organisms. Carrot and
beet-root juices have also been used to purify the blood, and fresh garlic and
onions have been shown to have effective antiviral qualities. ·
Hydrate
Your Organs Drink steam-distilled water only
(avoid tap water), and lots of it -- eight or more 8-ounce glasses daily -- to
flush toxins from the body. All cells and organ systems need water. Drink
plenty, even if you are not thirsty: Bodily organs -- especially the brain --
can become dehydrated long before thirst develops. Avoid Ingesting Harmful Substances Follow the guidelines below to minimize
your exposure to harmful bacteria and other hazardous substances: ·
Beware
of Bad Bacteria Avoid all foods that carry the risk of
exposure to potentially poisonous pathogens (bacteria, parasites, and viruses).
People with AIDS/HIV may be especially susceptible to contracting an illness
from foodborne pathogens. Once
contracted, such an illness, often causing severe vomiting and diarrhea, can be
difficult to treat and may return repeatedly, further weakening the immune
system and possibly hastening the progression of HIV to AIDS.
For people with AIDS, an illness from a foodborne pathogen can be fatal.
For information about illnesses caused by
specific foodborne pathogens (including salmonella
and escherichia coli bacteria), lists
of foods to avoid, and the necessary precautions to take, see foodborne
pathogens. ·
Beware
of Pesticides Pesticide residues are present at
minimum levels on many of the fruits and vegetables you buy, but the health
benefits of eating plenty of fruits and vegetables far outweigh the potential
harm caused by exposure to such residues. You
can add to your safety by using special care when handling and preparing food.
Be sure to wash produce thoroughly with soap and water and to remove the
outer leaves on leafy greens. Nutritional
Supplements for AIDS/HIV If you are a
person with AIDS/HIV, you may experience a decrease in your appetite.
As a result, you may not be able to provide your body with the necessary
levels of vitamins,
minerals, and trace elements to keep your
immune system functioning optimally. In addition, your illness may hamper your
body’s ability to absorb nutrients effectively. Nutritional therapy is not a cure
for AIDS/HIV, but certain vitamin and mineral supplements may help to bolster
your immune system, preventing further deterioration of your health and possibly
retarding the progression of HIV to AIDS. Medical experts
therefore suggest that, in addition to striving to maintain a healthful
diet of natural foods, you take vitamin and mineral supplements daily.
(Nutritionally complete products, which are available in a variety of
flavors and forms -- bars, beverages, puddings, soups -- may also be helpful;
most provide the calories, protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals that you
normally obtain through a diet of natural foods.) Even if you believe that your
diet is providing you with enough of the essential nutrients, taking supplements
can help you to be certain. The following tables provide
guidelines for daily nutritional supplementation.
Vitamins & Minerals The daily doses provided in the table
below for vitamins and minerals are recommended specifically for people with
AIDS/HIV. For detailed information about a particular vitamin or mineral, simply
click on the vitamin or mineral name in the left-hand column. Note:
Units for nutritional supplements may be given by weight -- generally in
milligrams (mg) or micrograms (mcg) -- or by biological activity, which is
measured in international units (IU). Use
care when comparing products to ensure that the units are identical. Table
2. Vitamins & minerals commonly used in the treatment of AIDS/HIV.
Note:
mg = milligrams, mcg = micrograms, IU = international units Additional
Supplements The table below lists additional
nutritional supplements, with daily doses, that have been recommended in the
treatment of people with AIDS/HIV. For detailed information about a particular
supplement, simply click on the supplement name in the left-hand column. Note:
Units for nutritional supplements may be given by weight -- generally in
milligrams (mg) or micrograms (mcg) -- or by biological activity, which is
measured in international units (IU). Use
care when comparing products to ensure that the units are identical. Table
3. Additional supplements commonly used in the treatment of AIDS/HIV.
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