Diet Guide for HIV / AIDS Patients

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Medical Video: BEST FOOD DIET FOR HIV/ AIDS POSITIVE PATIENT|WHAT FOOD TO EAT HIV OR AIDS PATIENT| healthy tips.

Someone who is infected with HIV / AIDS requires healthy and balanced food intake. Diets for people with HIV are both done as an effort to maintain nutritional status and also improve the immune system. The HIV virus can weaken the immune system so that people with HIV / AIDS need lots of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals to help fight disease.

In addition, a diet for people with HIV / AIDS is also intended to help cure symptoms and complications of HIV. Usually people with HIV have a continually decreasing weight problem, infection problems, and diarrhea.

READ ALSO: What Happens to the Body When Affected by HIV?

The following are the basic principles of a diet for people with HIV / AIDS.

Calories

You can get calories from every meal you eat. These calories will be converted into energy that will be used to carry out various activities. To maintain your weight, you need a lot of calories. Your calorie needs per day are around.

  • 17 calories x 0.5 kg body weight, if you are maintaining your weight
  • 20 calories x 0.5 kg body weight, if you have an infection
  • 25 calories x 0.5 kg body weight, if you experience weight loss

The more you experience weight loss or complications, the more calories you need.

Protein

Protein is needed to help build muscle, organs, and the immune system. You can get protein from animals and plants, such as chicken, meat, fish, milk, eggs, nuts, and seeds. Choose lean meat, skinless chicken, and low-fat milk.

The protein requirements needed for people with HIV / AIDS are:

  • 100-150 grams per day for men who are HIV positive
  • 80-100 grams per day for HIV-positive women
  • No more than 15-20% of calorie needs per day if you also have kidney disease. Protein intake is limited because too much protein intake can make kidney work harder.

Carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are the main energy source for the body. Carbohydrate requirements for you per day are around 60%. To get enough quantities and types of carbohydrates, you can get them from:

  • Eat fruits and vegetables as much as 5-6 servings per day
  • Choose different types of vegetables and fruits in different colors, so you can get all the nutrients your body needs
  • Choose high-fiber carbohydrates, such as brown rice and quinoa, wheat, oats, and much more
  • Limit consumption of simple sugar, which you can get from sweets, cake, biscuits, or ice cream

READ ALSO: Tips for Increasing Immunity for People with HIV

Fat

Fat provides additional energy for you to move. Choose foods that contain good fat compared to bad fats. To get good fat, you can eat nuts, seeds, avocados, fatty fish, canola oil, olive oil, walnut oil, corn oil, sunflower seed oil, and others. Limit consumption of fatty meat, chicken with skin, butter, and palm oil. Fat requirements for people with HIV / AIDS are 30% of the total caloric needs per day, try to meet 10% of your fat requirements from monounsaturated or good fats.

Vitamins and minerals

Vitamins and minerals your body needs to help regulate the processes in your body. People with HIV / AIDS need more vitamins and minerals to help repair damaged body cells and tissues. In addition, vitamins and minerals are also needed to help improve your immune system. Some of the vitamins and minerals that are needed by people with HIV / AIDS are:

  • Vitamin A and beta-carotene, which you can get from dark green, yellow, orange and red vegetables and fruits, and from the liver, eggs, and milk
  • Vitamin B, can be obtained from meat, fish, chicken, nuts, seeds, avocados, and green vegetables
  • Vitamin C, you can get from oranges, kiwi, guava
  • Vitamin EYou can get it from green vegetables, nuts and vegetable oils
  • Iron, you can get from green leafy vegetables, red meat, liver, fish, eggs, seafood, wheat
  • Selenium, can be obtained from nuts, seeds, poultry (chicken, duck), fish, eggs, and peanut butter
  • Zinccan be obtained from meat, poultry, fish, milk and milk products, and nuts

If you find it difficult to get all the vitamins and minerals your body needs, your doctor may recommend you take vitamin and mineral supplements to meet your nutritional needs. It is best to consult with your doctor before you take supplements.

If you take supplements, you should pay attention to the following:

  • Take supplements when you have eaten or when the stomach is filled
  • Take supplements regularly
  • Talk to your doctor before you take supplements in high doses. Some high-dose vitamin or mineral supplements can endanger your health.
  • Iron supplements can cause you to experience constipation. For this reason, you should add your fluid consumption and increase your fiber intake to help reduce constipation.

Water

Not to miss is water. Yes, water is also needed by your body to help metabolize nutrients from the food that enters your body. In addition, additional water consumption is also needed to:

  • Reducing drug side effects
  • Helps the body in removing remnants of drugs that have been used by the body or removing toxins in your body
  • Prevent you from dehydration, dry mouth, and constipation
  • Helps reduce the fatigue you feel

At least, you should drink as much as 8-10 glasses per day. However, sometimes you need more fluids than this. It's best to remember to always drink and not to feel thirsty. If you experience diarrhea or vomiting, you need to drink more than usual.

READ ALSO: Medications Used for HIV Patients

Diet Guide for HIV / AIDS Patients
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