Table of contents:
- What is the link between nutrition and HIV?
- What nutrients should be consumed by people with HIV?
- Starchy food
- Fruits and vegetables
- Fat
- Dairy products
- Foods high in fat and salty
Good nutrition is essential for everyone's health, especially for people who have HIV because it plays an important role in immune health and its ability to fight infection. Healthy eating habits also help you maintain a healthy weight, and can reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and osteoporosis.
What is the link between nutrition and HIV?
Good nutrition in a healthy diet can provide several benefits. It can help improve your overall quality of life by providing the nutrients your body needs. In addition, good nutrition helps control the symptoms of HIV complications and helps control the side effects of the drug process.
What nutrients should be consumed by people with HIV?
A good diet will consist of a balance of the following types of food:
Starchy food
You should eat more bread, cassava, cereals, green bananas, corn foods, potatoes, pasta, rice and sweet potatoes. Starchy foods should form the basis of your diet — about one-third of your daily dietary intake. Starchy foods provide carbohydrates for energy, as well as minerals, vitamins, and fiber. Whole grain versions of rice, pasta and bread contain more fiber and often more vitamins and minerals.
Fruits and vegetables
Fruits and vegetables provide vitamins, minerals and fiber. Try to eat five or more servings of fruits or vegetables each day. Fruits and vegetables can help protect against cancer and certain heart diseases. Fruits and vegetables are low in fat, so increasing the proportion of a diet made up of these foods is helpful if you are trying to lose weight.
Fat
Fat is found in cooking oil, butter and margarine, meat and other protein-based foods that provide energy, essential fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K). Try to eat unsaturated fats, such as those found in fish oils, nuts and seeds, avocados, olive oil and vegetable oils. Saturated fats, found in meat, cheese, butter and other processed foods, can raise cholesterol, so they should be eaten only in small amounts.
Dairy products
Dairy products include milk, cheese and yogurt, which provide vitamins, minerals and especially calcium. Some dairy products are high in saturated fat, so they should be eaten only in small amounts, or you can eat low-fat versions of milk, cheese and yogurt. If you can't tolerate milk, fortified soy, rice or wheat milk, dark green leafy vegetables, dried figs, apricots, and nuts are all good sources of calcium.
Foods high in fat and salty
Not only is something high in fat, but also sugar should be a small part of your diet. Too much fat and sugar can result in an unhealthy weight. Foods that are high in salt and salty can cause high blood pressure if consumed in large amounts, and this can increase the chances of having a stroke or heart disease. Adults and children over the age of 11 should eat no more than 6g of salt per day, and less for younger children.
Maintaining a healthy diet helps you fight HIV and boosts your immune system. Don't forget to combine your diet with an exercise program to make it work as effectively as possible.
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