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URL: http://www.hiv.va.gov/vahiv?page=diet-print&pp=pf | ![](images/global/clr_pxl.gif) | ![](images/transparent.gif) | Why is nutrition important? | ![](images/transparent.gif) | ![](images/transparent.gif) | | ![](images/transparent.gif) | Nutrition is important for everyone because food gives our bodies the nutrients
they need to stay healthy, grow, and work properly. Foods are made up of six
classes of nutrients, each with its own special role in the body: - Protein builds muscles and a strong immune system.
- Carbohydrates (including starches and sugars) give you energy.
- Fat gives you extra energy.
- Vitamins regulate body processes.
- Minerals regulate body processes and also make up body tissues.
- Water gives cells shape and acts as a medium where body processes can
occur.
Having good nutrition means eating the right types of foods in the right amounts
so you get these important nutrients. |
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![](images/transparent.gif) | Do I need a special diet? | ![](images/transparent.gif) | ![](images/transparent.gif) | | ![](images/transparent.gif) | There are no special diets, or particular foods, that will boost your immune system. But there are things you can do to keep your immunity up. When you are infected with HIV, your immune system has to work very hard to fight off infections--and this takes energy (measured in calories). This means you may need to eat more food than you used to. If you are underweight--or you have advanced HIV disease, high viral loads, or opportunistic infections--you should include more protein as well as extra calories (in the form of carbohydrates and fats). You'll find tips for doing this in the next section. If you are overweight, you should follow a well-balanced meal plan such as the U.S. Government's Food Pyramid guide (http://www.mypyramid.gov/ (http://www.mypyramid.gov)
). Keep in mind, you may need to eat more food to meet your extra needs. |
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![](images/transparent.gif) | How do I keep from losing weight? | ![](images/transparent.gif) | ![](images/transparent.gif) | | ![](images/transparent.gif) | Weight loss is a common problem for people infected with HIV, and it should be
taken very seriously. Losing weight can be dangerous because it makes it harder
for your body to fight infections and to get well after you're sick. People with HIV often do not eat enough because: - HIV and HIV medicines may reduce your appetite, make food taste bad, and
prevent the body from absorbing food in the right way
- symptoms like a sore mouth, nausea, and vomiting make it difficult to eat
- fatigue from HIV or the medicines may make it hard to prepare food and eat
regularly
To keep your weight up, you will need to take in more protein and calories. What
follows are ways to do that. |
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![](images/transparent.gif) | To add protein to your diet | ![](images/transparent.gif) | ![](images/transparent.gif) | | ![](images/transparent.gif) | Protein-rich foods include meats, fish, beans, dairy products, and nuts. To boost
the protein in your meals: - Spread nut butter on toast, crackers, fruit, or vegetables.
- Add cottage cheese to fruit and tomatoes.
- Add canned tuna to casseroles and salads.
- Add shredded cheese to sauces, soups, omelets, baked potatoes, and steamed
vegetables.
- Eat yogurt on your cereal or fruit.
- Eat hard-boiled (hard-cooked) eggs. Use them in egg-salad sandwiches or
slice and dice them for tossed salads.
- Add diced or chopped meats to soups, salads, and sauces.
- Add dried milk powder or egg white powder to foods (like scrambled eggs,
casseroles, and milkshakes).
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![](images/transparent.gif) | To add calories to your diet | ![](images/transparent.gif) | ![](images/transparent.gif) | | ![](images/transparent.gif) | The best way to increase calories is to add carbohydrates and some extra fat to your meals.
Carbohydrates include both starches and simple sugars. Starches are in: - breads, muffins, biscuits, crackers
- oatmeal and cold cereals
- pasta
- potatoes
- rice
Simple sugars are in: - fresh or dried fruit (raisins, dates, apricots, etc)
- jelly, honey, and maple syrup added to cereal, pancakes, and waffles
Fats are more concentrated sources of calories. Add moderate amounts of the following to your meals: - butter, margarine, sour cream, cream cheese, peanut butter
- gravy, sour cream, cream cheese, grated cheese
- avocados, olives, salad dressing
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![](images/transparent.gif) | How can I maintain my appetite? | ![](images/transparent.gif) | ![](images/transparent.gif) | | ![](images/transparent.gif) | When you become ill, you often lose your appetite. This can lead to weight loss,
which can make it harder for your body to fight infection. Here are some tips for increasing your appetite: - Try a little exercise, like walking or doing yoga. This can often
stimulate your appetite and make you feel like eating more.
- Eat smaller meals more often. For instance, try to snack between meals.
- Eat whenever your appetite is good.
- not drink too much right before or during meals. This can make you feel
full.
- Avoid carbonated (fizzy) drinks and foods such as cabbage, broccoli, and
beans. These foods and drinks can create gas in your stomach and make you
feel full and bloated.
- Eat with your family or friends.
- Choose your favorite foods, and make meals as attractive to you as
possible. Try to eat in a pleasant location.
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![](images/transparent.gif) | How much water do I need? | ![](images/transparent.gif) | ![](images/transparent.gif) | | ![](images/transparent.gif) | Drinking enough liquids is very important when you have HIV. Fluids transport the
nutrients you need through your body. Extra water can: - reduce the side effects of medications
- help flush out the medicines that have already been used by your body
- help you avoid dehydration (fluid loss), dry mouth, and constipation
- make you feel less tired
Many of us don't drink enough water every day. You should be getting at least
8-10 glasses of water (or other fluids, such as juices or soups) a day. Here are some tips on getting the extra fluids you need: - Drink more water than usual. Try other fluids, too, like Gatorade or
Sprite.
- Avoid colas, coffee, tea, and cocoa. These may contain caffeine and can
actually dehydrate you. Read the labels on drinks to see if they have
caffeine in them.
- Avoid alcohol.
- Begin and end each day by drinking a glass of water.
- Suck on ice cubes and popsicles.
Note: If you have diarrhea or are vomiting, you will lose a lot of fluids and
will need to drink more than usual. For more information, see the side
effects (http://www.hiv.va.gov/treat-04-00)
section. |
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![](images/transparent.gif) | Do I need supplements? | ![](images/transparent.gif) | ![](images/transparent.gif) | | ![](images/transparent.gif) | Our bodies need vitamins and minerals, in small amounts, to keep our cells working properly. They are essential to our staying healthy. People with HIV need extra vitamins and minerals to help repair and heal cells that have been damaged. Even though vitamins and minerals are present in many foods, your health care provider may recommend a vitamin and mineral supplement (a pill or other form of concentrated vitamins and minerals). While vitamin and mineral supplements can be useful, they can in no way replace eating a healthy diet. If you are taking a supplement, here are some things to remember: - Always take vitamin pills on a full stomach. Take them regularly.
- Some vitamins and minerals, if taken in high doses, can be harmful. Talk with your VA health care provider before taking high doses of any supplement.
Following is a table of some vitamins and minerals that affect the immune system. |
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![](images/transparent.gif) | What should I know about food safety? | ![](images/transparent.gif) | ![](images/transparent.gif) | | ![](images/transparent.gif) | Paying attention to food and water safety is important when you have HIV, because
your immune system is already weakened and working hard to fight off infections. If food is not handled or prepared in a safe way, germs from the food can be
passed on to you. These germs can make you sick. You need to handle and cook food properly to keep those germs from getting to
you. Here are some food safety guidelines: - Keep everything clean! Clean your counters and utensils often.
- Wash your hands with soap and warm water before and after preparing and
eating food.
- Check expiration dates on food packaging. Do not eat foods that have a
past expiration date.
- Rinse all fresh fruits and vegetables with clean water.
- Thaw frozen meats and other frozen foods in the refrigerator or in a
microwave. Never thaw foods at room temperature. Germs that grow at room
temperature can make you very sick.
- Clean all cutting boards and knives (especially those that touch chicken
and meat) with soap and hot water before using them again.
- Make sure you cook all meat, fish, and poultry "well-done." You might want
to buy a meat thermometer to help you know for sure that it is done. Put the
thermometer in the thickest part of the meat and not touching a bone. Cook
the meat until it reaches 165 to 212 degrees Fahrenheit on your thermometer.
- Do not eat raw, soft-boiled, or "over easy" eggs, or Caesar salads with
raw egg in the dressing.
- Do not eat sushi, raw seafood, or raw meats, or unpasteurized milk or
dairy products.
- Keep your refrigerator cold, set no higher than 40 degrees. Your freezer
should be at 0 degrees.
- Refrigerate leftovers at temperatures below 40 degrees F. Do not eat
leftovers that have been sitting in the refrigerator for more than 3 days.
- Keep hot items heated to over 140 degrees F, and completely reheat
leftovers before eating.
- Throw away any foods (like fruit, vegetables, and cheese) that you think
might be old. If food has a moldy or rotten spot, throw it out. When in
doubt, throw it out.
- Some germs are spread through tap water. If your public water supply isn't
totally pure, drink bottled water.
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![](images/transparent.gif) | Can diet help ease side effects and symptoms? | ![](images/transparent.gif) | ![](images/transparent.gif) | | ![](images/transparent.gif) | Many symptoms of HIV, as well as the side effects caused by HIV medicines, can be
helped by using (or avoiding) certain types of foods and drinks. Below are some tips for dealing with common problems people with HIV face. You
should also look in the side effects section for more information. ![](images/transparent.gif) | Nausea | ![](images/transparent.gif) | - Try the BRATT Diet (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Tea, and Toast).
- Try some ginger--in tea, ginger ale, or ginger snaps.
- Don't drink liquids at the same time you eat your meals.
- Eat something small, like crackers, before getting out of bed.
- Keep something in your stomach; eat a small snack every 1-2 hours.
- Avoid foods like:
- Fatty, greasy, or fried foods
- Very sweet foods (candy, cookies, or cake)
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![](images/transparent.gif) | Mouth and Swallowing Problems | ![](images/transparent.gif) | - Avoid hard or crunchy foods such as raw vegetables.
- Try eating cooked vegetables and soft fruits (like bananas and pears).
- Avoid very hot foods and beverages. Cold and room temperature foods
will be more comfortable to your mouth.
- Do not eat spicy foods. They can sting your mouth.
- Try soft foods like mashed potatoes, yogurt, and oatmeal.
- Also try scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, macaroni and cheese, and
canned fruits.
- Rinse your mouth with water. This can moisten your mouth, remove bits
of food, and make food taste better to you.
- Stay away from oranges, grapefruit, and tomatoes. They have a lot of
acid and can sting your mouth.
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![](images/transparent.gif) | Diarrhea | ![](images/transparent.gif) | - Try the BRATT Diet (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Tea, and Toast).
- Keep your body's fluids up (hydrated) with water, Gatorade, or other
fluids (those that don't have caffeine).
- Limit sodas and other sugary drinks.
- Avoid greasy and spicy foods.
- Avoid milk and other dairy products.
- Eat small meals and snacks every hour or 2.
- Try taking Glutamine protein powder to help repair the intestinal
lining.
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![](images/transparent.gif) | Points to remember | ![](images/transparent.gif) | ![](images/transparent.gif) | | ![](images/transparent.gif) | You may feel that many things are out of your control if you have HIV. But you
can control what you eat and drink, and how much. Good nutrition is an important
part of your plan to stay well. - Eating right can make your body and your immune system stronger.
- When you are HIV-positive, you may need to eat more. Be sure to eat a diet
that is high in proteins and calories.
- Exercise can stimulate your appetite and make you feel like eating more.
- Drink plenty of liquids to help your body deal with any medications you
are taking. If you are vomiting or have diarrhea, you will need to drink
more than usual.
- Practice food safety. Keep your kitchen clean, wash foods, and be careful
about food preparation and storage. If your tap water isn't pure, drink
bottled water.
- You can use certain foods and beverages to help you deal with symptoms and
side effects.
- Before taking vitamin and mineral supplements, check with your VA health
care provider.
Remember, there is no one "right" way to eat. Eating well means getting the right
amount of nutrients for your particular needs. Your VA health care provider can
refer you to a dietitian or nutritionist who can help design a good diet for
you. For general guidelines on good nutrition, you can follow the U.S. Government's
Food Pyramid guide. Check it out here: http://www.mypyramid.gov/ (http://www.mypyramid.gov)
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