There are an estimated 1 million people living with HIV disease in the United States and more than half a million have died from AIDS, according to the International AIDS charity Avert.org. Staying healthy when you are HIV-positive requires medical care, medications and healthy eating habits. Certain foods are excellent for promoting good nutrition in HIV-positive patients.
Protein Foods
A side effect of HIV disease is muscle wasting. Because the body is busy trying to fight the infection your metabolism is increased. When your body does not get enough protein to support the high demand for energy, then the body uses its own protein, such as the muscles to fuel the metabolic processes. According to Tufts University, utilizing muscle protein in this manner can weaken the immune system. The recommended protein requirements for HIV-positive patients are 100 to 150 g/day of protein for men and 80 to 100 g/day for women, according to Tufts University Nutrition/Infection Unit. High quality protein comes from foods such as lean meats, poultry with the skin cut off prior to cooking, fish, nuts and legumes. Too much protein can stress the kidneys so it should be limited to 15 to 20 percent of the daily intake.
Fruits and Vegetables
Energy can also come from complex carbohydrates such as fruits and vegetables. If you are HIV-positive you should be getting at least five to six servings of fruits and vegetables daily according to Tufts University. This will ensure that you are obtaining the necessary micronutrients that are so vital to the immune system. An excellent source of vitamin C and antioxidants are oranges, strawberries, broccoli, kiwi, bell peppers and cantaloupe. Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant is an important building block of the immune system. Obtaining B vitamins from green leafy vegetables also enhances the immune system. Broccoli, asparagus, carrots and kale are good sources of vitamin A another important vitamin in immunity.
Fiber Foods
Tufts University Nutrition/Infection Unit notes that many HIV-positive patients have medication related high cholesterol. Getting multi-grain breads and cereals can help provide the fiber that is needed to lower LDL cholesterol or the "bad" cholesterol. If you are HIV-positive, Tufts recommends that total daily calories from fat be less than 30 percent. This will help keep cholesterol low. By eating a diet high in fiber, you can ameliorate some of the side effects that medicines has on your cholesterol. Twenty to 25 g of fiber per day will help keep cholesterol under control. Whole wheat breads, oatmeal, and whole grain cereals and vegetables are good fiber sources.
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