Food for people with HIV

• April 24, 2024

When a person has HIV, it is believed that pharmacological treatment is the only necessary thing, but nutrition is also necessary.

Infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a condition that progressively destroys the immune system . HIV has the characteristic of entering the human organism and staying in a latent state for a prolonged period.

During this time, the virus destroys CD4 cells (a type of immune cells), which causes an increase in susceptibility to opportunistic infections and the development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

An adequate nutritional state can delay the appearance of AIDS in patients infected with HIV . It is known that feeding directly affects the progression of the disease, hence the importance of doing it properly.

Studies have shown that having an adequate intake of antioxidants, specifically selenium and zinc, promotes the proper functioning of the immune system. A deficiency in these minerals could further compromise the immune response, accelerating the progression of AIDS .

Another important aspect to consider in the feeding of patients with HIV is the amount of energy they consume. It is common, especially in cases of AIDS , that patients are inappetent or that the medications they take cause side effects such as: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting or changes in taste.

All this can significantly affect the consumption of food in patients. Therefore, it is essential to consider foods that contain a high nutritional and caloric value (some commercial formulas could help) to avoid malnutrition, a common condition in this type of patients.

In addition to supplementing the diet, it is important to take into account that patients who have the disease sometimes suffer from malabsorption of nutrients, so it is important to avoid the consumption of foods that may interfere with the absorption of calcium, iron and zinc, among others.

It is necessary that a health professional or a specialized nutritionist evaluate the diet of the patient with HIV AIDS , in order to determine the nutritional recommendations of each individual.

It is very common for patients to suffer from low weight or depletion of muscle mass, so constant monitoring is necessary in these patients.

Video Medicine: BEST FOOD DIET FOR HIV/ AIDS POSITIVE PATIENT|WHAT FOOD TO EAT HIV OR AIDS PATIENT| healthy tips. (April 2024).