Indian diet plan for HIV positive patients (Diet and nutrition for Aids)

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It’s a virus that breaks down certain cells in your immune system. When HIV damages your immune system, it’s easier to fall prey to infections that your body could normally fight off. Once you have HIV, the virus stays in your body for life. There’s no cure for HIV as yet, but correct medicines can help you stay healthy. Read on to know about Indian diet plan for HIV positive patients (Aids Infection nutrition).

Good nutrition is very important for long-term health as well as for the well-being of HIV positive individuals. Studies show that healthy eating helps better tolerance for medication. Adequate nutrition not only maintains a healthy weight but also gives a mental state of calmness.

HIV And Nutrition:

Nutrition is particularly important for an HIV positive Individual. Good nutrition can help in delaying infections as well as faster recoveries during infection.

Good nutritional status of HIV positive individual depends on:

• Type and amount of food you eat.
• How your body breaks down and absorbs the nutrients.
• How the body utilizes these nutrients.

Poor Nutrition Can Lead To:

HIV can affect your nutritional status over time, it can lead to-

• Weight loss due to lack of adequate nutrition.
• Muscle wasting (loss of muscle) due to inadequate care and medication.
• High levels of fats and sugars in the blood as side effects of certain HIV drugs.
• Not enough vitamins and minerals due to a nutrient deficient diet.

Indian diet plan for HIV positive patients (Diet and nutrition for Aids):

Before we see the Indian diet plan for HIV positive patients, Let us explore some facts about nutrition and HIV.

Points To consider while planning a diet plan for an HIV positive person:

• Aim towards maintaining a healthy weight along with fighting weight as well as muscle loss.
• Keep energy levels high throughout the day.
• Diet should not interfere with the working of the medication.
• Minimize the negative health effects of HIV drugs.
• Having HIV doesn’t necessarily mean an individual should be underweight. There can be an individual who can be HIV positive and bit overweight or obese.
• HIV drugs greatly reduce AIDS-related illnesses and help them live longer. But weight gain is a common side effect of some HIV drugs. Studies show weight gain can increase the risk of diabetes. Thus, it is important to keep a check on weight and diet along with other blood parameters.

Nutrition and HIV:

If you are underweight and have advanced HIV disease you need extra calories. High viral loads or opportunistic infections call for more protein as well as extra calories from carbohydrates and fats. Here are some points that we have considered in planning an Indian diet plan for HIV positive patients.

• Maintain a Healthy Weight:

It is important to make the immune system work very hard to fight off infections. This drains lots of energy. It is associated with wasting of muscles, malnutrition and weight loss. Hunger is not always a reliable guide as you can feel nauseous by food even if you are hungry. This Indian diet plan for HIV positive patients will take care of food aversions, stimulate appetite as well as provide required nutrition. You need at least 40 – 50 kcal per kg of body weight to reach the requirement.

• Eat More Complex Carbohydrates:

Carbohydrates are a good source of energy but can be a problem if you are overweight or have diabetes. Avoid simple carbohydrates like sugar, white rice, and white flour. Instead, you can replace it with complex carbohydrates.

Complex carbohydrates often contain more fiber and other nutrients than simple carbohydrates. It maintains blood sugar levels, weight and provides adequate nutrition. Include whole grains and cereals, millets, dals, pulses, vegetables, and whole fruits.

Read – Indian Foods rich in complex carbs, And Indian low carb Recipes.

• Eat More Protein to Fight Muscle Loss:

Protein helps your body build and maintain muscles. During infection, there is a lot of muscle wasting leading to weight loss. It is important to consume at least three servings of protein every day. Include:

• Lean meats, eggs, chicken, as well as fish.
• Cottage cheese and yogurt.
• Beans, chickpeas, soybeans, as well as nuts.
• Low-fat dairy and dairy products.

• Fats provide more energy:

Loss of appetite is common in such cases. You need foods that are less bulky but at the same time, nutritious and have sufficient calories. Fat is a concentrated source of energy. Include good quality fats like groundnut, rice bran oil or omega 3 rich olive oil. You can also include nuts and oilseeds like walnuts, almonds, and flaxseeds. Other options are chia seeds, sunflower seeds as well as pumpkin seeds.

• Water is the most avoided nutrient source:

Drinking more water can help you reduce the side effects of medications. Hence, water, fresh juicy fruits, infused water, green tea or concoctions are good options to increase water intake. Including sugary beverage can worsen the condition. Thus, we need to avoid aerated and sugary drinks. Read – Detoxification water / infused water recipe.

• Antioxidant-rich foods to reduce inflammation caused by the infection:

The immune system is always struggling to get rid of the HIV virus. An activated immune system produces inflammation. Ongoing inflammation appears to be related to many conditions, including heart disease and cancer. Antioxidant-rich foods avoid such situations. These foods also provide the required vitamin and mineral to the body. Include anti-inflammatory foods like:

• Green leafy vegetables, broccoli, and celery.
• Colored fruits and vegetables.
• Nuts like almonds and walnuts.
• Seeds like chia seeds and flax seeds.
• Certain spices like turmeric, cinnamon, and ginger.
• Some more delicious sources of Antioxidants.

Indian diet plan for HIV positive patients; Sample diet plan:

This sample Indian diet plan for HIV positive patients is planned considering no major comorbidities or severe deficiencies exists in the patient.

• Energy: 2000 – 2500 kcals (40 – 50 kcal/ kg body weight)
• Proteins: 80 – 90 gms (1.5 – 1.8 gms per kg body weight)

The Diet plan is as follows:

Note:

• Use dates, jaggery or honey instead of sugar wherever possible.
• Try to use healthy cooking methods to avoid any other comorbidities.
• Wash and cook food thoroughly to prevent any further infections.
• Light exercising like a walk or swimming might help in maintaining muscle mass.

Endnote:

Exercising regularly, eating well, getting enough rest and quality sleep are all vital to maintaining good health. Be regular with your check up and follow up with the professionals regarding diet and medicines. Hope this diet plan helps you. All the best! Please do Subscribe to our YouTube channel for your daily dose of health and wellness. Subscribe now.