AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), which is the result of being affected by HIV that is, human immunodeficiency virus, is thought to have existed in our world since 1959.
In 1982, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) named the disease AIDS, and it was later found to be caused by a retrovirus called HIV. If you are HIV-positive, nutrition may be an issue that you would like to pay particular attention to. This is because your body may experience changes, both from the drugs and from the disease itself. E.g; You may experience extreme weight loss, exposure to infections, or diarrhea.
Keep your immune system stronger to better fight HIV.
Managing HIV symptoms and complications can be one of the most important aspects here.
In general, keeping your body weight within reference ranges is very valuable.
Increasing the amount or size of fat cells will force the immune system.
If you do not have any other systemic disease, make sure that 15-20% of your daily energy comes from protein.
When choosing protein products, choose lean animal products and legumes.
Fats play a very important role for our immune system at this point. While fats constitute 30% of the daily energy, take care to complete the majority with Omega-3, which is one of the polyunsaturated fats. For these, you can consume avocados, walnuts, almonds, peanuts and seafood. Take care to avoid saturated and especially trans fats.
Consume carbohydrates in their complex whole grain form as the greater majority of your daily energy.
Complete the calcium deficiency by consuming 3 servings of green leafy vegetables and 2-3 servings of dairy products per day.
Let's support our immunity with antioxidants by adding fruits to our pattern on a daily basis.
Let's stay away from smelly foods for nausea and vomiting that HIV can cause.
Let's try to consume foods that are simpler without sauce and without added fat.
Ginger and mint; we can consume it as tea, spice or directly.
We can consume food without heating it too much.
Consume food in smaller intervals and in smaller quantities.
For anorexia, tiny body and breathing exercises can help.
Let's try to consume meals on crowded tables as much as possible.
Let's eat small amounts of food often.
Add dried fruits and nuts.
Colorful and elaborate plates will make us hungry.
If we encounter problems with swallowing:
We can start with foods like yogurt and mashed potatoes.
We can prefer more cooked and pureed food instead of raw.
Let's eat softer fruits like bananas.
Stay away from acidic fruits and vegetables.
In case of development of lipodystrophy
Let's limit saturated and trans fats.
Let's add unsaturated fats like salmon and vegetable sources of omega-3 fatty acids to our pattern.
Let's not consume alcohol, refined sugar and packaged ready-to-eat foods.
We can consume more fiber-rich whole grains, fruits and vegetables with a low glycemic index.
Pay attention to the directives of the World Health Organization to protect yourself from HIV.
Prejudices are more contagious than HIV.
I graduated from Hacettepe University in as a dietitian in two thousand nineteen. During university, I spent my summer months together with young people whose target audience is between the ages of seven - seventeen, in out-of-school educational institutions and camps, and strengthened my communication skills with them. Together, we found our nutrition routine and formed the basis of healthy eating.
