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Diet for AIDS

While a healthy diet is considered important for anyone, individuals who are HIV positive or who have developed AIDS have an even greater need for good nutrition. Weight loss and wasting can become major issues as HIV infection progresses, and a balanced diet can help to combat these serious health problems. When combined with proper management of the infection itself, proper nutrition can help to ensure a normal lifespan with a high quality of life.

  1. Understanding the Importance of Diet with HIV

    • Eat a balanced and nutritious diet, as this is essential to living with HIV and AIDS. Having proper nutrition can help to keep the immune system healthy and can play a large part in combating the opportunistic infections that plague AIDS patients. Diet can help HIV-positive individuals fight some of the more common side effects of their disease, and can ease the nausea that is often associated with antiretroviral medications. Having a diet that meets the nutritional needs of an AIDS patient can also aid in avoiding HIV wasting syndrome, a condition in which rapid weight loss occurs which is comprised largely of the loss of muscle mass. A proper diet can also aid in a faster recovery from fatigue and lethargy.

    Monitor Caloric Intake

    • Keep an eye on the amount of calories that are eaten per day. While most dietary recommendations are based upon a 2000 calorie diet, many HIV patients require a higher amount of calories in order to stay healthy. Guidelines set forth by the National Institutes of Health's AIDS info panel suggest that HIV and AIDS patients consume between 17 and 20 calories per pound of body weight so long as their weight remains stable. Should weight loss start to become an issue, this caloric intake should be increased to 25 calories per pound of body weight instead.

    Make Healthy Diet Choices

    • Choose nutritious foods when making diet choices, avoiding empty calories when possible. Since the immune system of HIV and AIDS patients is constantly under attack, larger amounts of essential nutrients are recommended in order to maintain the body's ability to fight off infection and repair the damage that is done to the body on a day-to-day basis. It is recommended that HIV and AIDS patients eat a wide range of fruits and vegetables in order to receive the vitamins and minerals that they need in sufficient amounts. Meats and other high-protein items are also recommended, as the protein that they provide helps to promote muscle growth and aids in bodily repair functions. Complex carbohydrates should comprise the bulk of an HIV-positive individual's daily calories, as these carbohydrates can provide energy over a long period of time in order to combat fatigue without being stored as fat.

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