AIDS is the scientifically accepted result of infection with HIV.
It's much harder to fight off diseases like tuberculosis, pneumonia and cancer due to the fact that the virus progressively destroys the body's immune system.
It is possible to slow down the progression of HIV disease to AIDS, and reduce the number and severity of opportunistic infections studies have shown.
Good nutrition cannot however be seen as a substitute or alternative for medical treatment.
Eventually everyone infected with HIV disease will need to take antiretroviral medicines to deal with the effects of the disease.
Good nutrition is needed, in combination with appropriate medical treatment, to maintain good health for as long as possible.
People with HIV disease can quickly become malnourished and start to lose weight because the disease has the following effects: o It makes people lose their appetites so they don't eat as much as they did before they were infected o It speeds up the body's metabolism which means that additional food is needed to stop the person from losing weight o It reduces the amount of nutrients the body can absorb from food because the gut becomes damaged by the virus and other types of infections o It increases the occurrence of thrush infections in the mouth and throat.
The resulting sores can make it very painful for people to eat and swallow HOW TO MAINTAIN A GOOD NUTRITIONAL STATUS: To make sure someone with HIV disease maintains a good nutritional status it is therefore important to do the following: o Increase overall food intake to provide more energy and prevent wasting.
This is best done by eating more high-protein foods such as all types of dried beans, fish, chicken, meat, eggs and dairy products with extra helpings of high-energy foods such as pap, samp, bread, potato, rice, pasta, oats, sorghum, millet and dried beans.
Fats and oils are high in energy and can be eaten in moderation o Increase the consumption of foods rich in vitamins and minerals as these protect against infections.
Good vitamin-rich foods include all types of fruit and vegetables, especially green leafy vegetables and all types of red, orange and yellow fruits and vegetables.
Whole grains, dried beans, fish and meat are also rich in the B vitamins and minerals that are important for maintaining a good immune system.
TIPS ON HOW TO INCREASE FOOD INTAKE: One of the biggest problems is getting people with advanced disease to eat enough.
They have not only lost their appetites but also may not have the energy to shop or prepare food.
The following tips can help: o Eat the foods you enjoy and don't rush the meal.
Take your time o Eat with family or friends so that mealtimes are pleasant social occasions o Eat small amounts often if eating big meals is a problem o Eat with your fingers if it is easier o Eat liquid or soft foods if you have difficulty swallowing.
Soft pre-cooked fortified porridges and sour milk are good if you have sores in the throat and mouth o Mix vegetable oil, butter, margarine or peanut butter into porridge to increase the energy value o Visit the clinic for treatment if you have a problem such as diarrhea or sores in the mouth WHAT ARE THE MOST PROTECTIVE VITAMINS AND MINERALS? Research suggests that the following nutrients are especially important in supporting immune function and therefore delaying the progress of HIV disease to AIDS: o Selenium.
It appears that one of the most important nutrients in HIV disease is this antioxidant mineral.
An infected person who is selenium-deficient is 20 times more likely to die from opportunistic infections compared with an HIV-positive person who has a good selenium status.
Selenium-deficient HIV-positive people also progress much faster to AIDS.
There is some evidence that selenium deficiency may be a widespread problem in sub-Saharan Africa and therefore making the epidemic worse.
The best food sources of this nutrient are offal (kidneys, liver), fish and Brazil nuts (3-4 nuts per day will provide a person's daily requirements).
For people with HIV disease it is recommended that selenium intake should be around 200mcg/day.
It should not exceed 400mcg/day o Vitamin B complex vitamins, including folic acid.
Deficiency of vitamin B12 is associated with an eight-fold increase in the risk of dying from an opportunistic infection, such as pneumonia.
HIV-positive people who have the highest intake of the full range of B complex vitamins show significantly improved survival rates over an eight-year period.
Good food sources include: dried beans, whole grains (whole-wheat bread, oats, coarse maize meal, sorghum), chicken, fish, meat, liver, eggs, dairy products (milk, cheese, yoghurt, sour milk), nuts, bananas and avocados o Vitamin A (including plant-based sources of vitamin A such as beta-carotene).
A three-fold increased mortality risk due to opportunistic infections is associated with a deficiency of vitamin A.
Transmission rates of HIV disease from the mother to her baby are also reduced in those mothers with a good vitamin A status.
Good food sources include: dairy products, margarine, green leafy vegetables (spinach, kale), broccoli, cabbage, carrots, pumpkin, butternut, sweet potatoes and mangoes o Zinc.
Deficiency of this mineral is associated with a two-fold increase in mortality risk.
Good food sources include: meat, eggs, leafy green vegetables, nuts, seeds and whole grains o Vitamin E.
HIV-positive people with the highest blood levels of vitamin E show a decreased risk of disease progression compared with those patients with the lowest vitamin E levels.
Good food sources include: whole grains (especially wheat and oats), nuts and seeds (including peanuts and healthy vegetable oils like olive and canola oils) and leafy green vegetables