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AIDS Diet |
AIDS Diet Plan
Since there is no known cure for AIDS, it is very important to lower the HIV levels in the blood, provide additional support to the immune system in the body and control the symptoms of AIDS. The HIV levels in the blood can be lowered by prescribed doses of antiviral drug combinations but a healthy AIDS diet is also just as important to provide good nutrition to patients suffering from AIDS. The role of nutrition however depends on various factors like the patient’s age, gender, progression of the disease, drug history, current medications, socioeconomic status and other health problems. However, irrespective of the above factors, a good AIDS diet plan always stresses on increased protein and calorie consumption and adequate intake of fluids. Almost all AIDS patients suffer from nutritional deficiencies and hence it is very important to include foods which are rich in magnesium, zinc, vitamin A, E and B. These deficiencies are always noticed in patients during the first stage of the disease itself. Such deficiencies can further lower the immunity in an AIDS patient and hence it is very important to support these nutritional deficiencies with a healthy diet. An HIV AIDS diet plan should include fruits, vegetables, whole grain cereals and breads, fish, lean meats, beans, nuts and seeds. Fats which are important for added calories and energy can be obtained through foods like peanut butter, nuts, seeds and avocado dips. Once a person is diagnosed with HIV, his diet should include more carbohydrates, proteins and moderate quantities of fats. The main AIDS foods must come from the basic 5 food groups of vegetable, fruit, dairy, bread and meat. Foods containing sugar and fats should be included in the diet sparingly. AIDS patients generally suffer from appetite loss and therefore it is important for them to eat smaller meals through the day instead of the usual 3 big meals. Simple mid meal snack options like a good AIDS diet candy which is low in simple carbohydrates can help provide energy to an AIDS patient and also provide nutrition. A healthy diet for AIDS patients recommends avoiding the consumption of rare meats and undercooked foods which can increase the risk of food borne infections and illnesses.
A proper AIDS diet management plan is very crucial in controlling the symptoms and other ill effects of this disease. People suffering from AIDS require higher calorie consumption as compared to normal people to protect themselves from the risk of AIDS related malnutrition. Many AIDS patients suffer from sever diarrhea which can drastically lower the water content in the body affecting metabolism and the balance of electrolytes in the body. AIDS diet supplement products can help in replacing such electrolytes in the patient’s body. Weight loss is another common symptom of AIDS and hence intake of calories and proteins must be increased to avoid this problem. Fatty and spicy foods, dairy products, caffeinated beverages and alcohol should be completely avoided by AIDS patients. Muscular atrophy is another common complication in AIDS patients and can be either acute or chronic. This kind of muscle wastage could be a result of the HIV infection itself or a result of concurrent diseases and use of medication and drugs. Abnormal fat and protein metabolism is caused by HIV infections and doctors may prescribe steroids or other AIDS diet pills to help the patient. These medications help in the development and maintenance of tissues in the body and need to be taken in combination with a good AIDS diet nutrition plan to achieve the desired results. In addition to weight loss and muscle wasting, malabsorption is another common problem in AIDS patients. Malabsorption occurs when the intestines fail to absorb essential nutrients and this condition is noticed in advanced HIV infection cases. Gastrointestinal diseases like Kaposi's sarcoma, cytomegalovirus, cryptosporidiosis and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma can cause malabsorption in patients suffering from AIDS. Only following a healthy oral diet for HIV AIDS patients may not be sufficient in cases of malabsorption. Other treatment alternatives to oral nutrition become necessary in such cases. Some AIDS patients suffer from oral sores, gum inflammation and oral mucosa and cannot accept food orally. In such cases nutritional needs have to be met through intravenous access. However since this procedure is expensive and also increases the risk of infection, it is not recommended except for short term treatments in acute weight loss cases. A large number of women also suffer from AIDS and in case of pregnant mothers, there is a high risk of the disease being passed on to the unborn child. The best diet aids for women suffering from HIV AIDS would include a higher intake of micronutrients including minerals, vitamins, fats, proteins and carbohydrates. These not only provide adequate nutrition but also help in reducing other symptoms of the disease in women. |
| Submitted on May 20, 2011 |
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