Fresh fruits and vegetables.
People with HIV/AIDS need macronutrients and micronutrients. Macronutrients provide calories for energy from proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. They help to maintain the body’s weight. Micronutrients contain vitamins and minerals, which help to keep the cells in the body working correctly. Micronutrients will not prevent loss of weight.
Some of the medications that people living with HIV/AIDS take can upset their stomachs. Some of the opportunistic infections can affect the mouth or throat like Candidas. Their medications and infections can cause diarrhea. If you have diarrhea your body actually retains less of what you eat.
It cannot be said enough about the importance of HIV/AIDS infected individuals to eat. This is one time that overeating could be recommended. One advisement for people living with AIDS is to eat 5 or 6 small meals a day. It may be easier for them, yet they still get their caloric intake in for the day. HIV-Associated Wasting Syndrome is a primary reason for weight loss in people living with AIDS. Whether due to anorexia, or opportunistic infection, this wasting syndrome is a very real problem for those living with AIDS. One university has diagnosed wasting as losing 5% of your body weight within six months without trying.
Also important is the preparation of the food for people living with HIV/AIDS. Food poisoning can be destructive to a person living with AIDS because of their damaged immune system. Bacteria found in some foods that can be eaten with no issues in an HIV negative person can be very problematic in an AIDS infected person. People with HIV/AIDS should avoid:
· Raw meets and fish such as sushi, sashmi, carpaccio, raw oysters and ceviche.
· Unpasteurized milk products, especially aged cheeses that are full of bacteria like blue cheese and Roquefort.
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