Good nutrition is important for everyone’s health. Nutrition plays an important role in the health of the immune system and its ability to fight infection. Healthy eating also helps one reduce the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

Having HIV does not require one to make big changes to their diet. However, it is important to get enough nutrients to help one stay well. If one is taking anti-HIV drugs, it is important to eat a healthy, balanced diet, as HIV medication can cause changes in the way the body metabolises some fats and sugars. A healthy and balanced nutrition pattern also helps patients meet their increased protein and energy requirements and maintain their nutritional status.

According to Rene Tabaro, a nutritionist at King Faisal Hospital, people with HIV are prone to many diseases and complications because of the low immunity in the body, and for that reason, they should maintain a balanced diet to stave off  infections.

"When one is HIV-positive, they may get secondary conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, tuberculosis and others. It is important that they get the nutrients required to boost their immunity. Having good nutrition means eating the right type of food in the right quantity,” he says.

Tabaro says it is important for such people to maintain both a balanced diet and good hygiene. The diet should be free from toxins and bacteria to prevent more infections.

What to eat daily

"There are seven groups of food and an HIV/AIDS patient should at least consume one of them daily to help in boosting their immunity,” says Janvier Rusizina of Rusizina Clinic in Remera.

The first group contains meat, eggs and fish, while the second one is made up of milk and other milk products like cheese and yogurt, he says, explaining that one should not take more than one litre of milk per day.

"Proteins are good for patients who are underweight, have advanced HIV/AIDS, high viral loads or other infections. Such patients should take in more proteins and calories to maintain their body weight. For overweight patients, the extra weight may cause stress to their body and cause conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart diseases. The best way to go is maintain a good balanced diet,” explains Rusizina.

The third group comprises of cereals, legumes and carbohydrates to give patients more energy, he says.

Drucella Mugurwanyana, the in charge of nutrition for people with HIV/AIDS at Avega Clinic, says the fourth group includes fruits and vegetables, which she says are vital for proper cell functioning. However she warns against excessive consumption since they can be toxic.

Mugurwanyana adds that patients should consume them daily to get the required nutrients.

"When one is HIV-positive, their CD4 count is always low, and this puts them at the risk of acquiring other diseases such as TB,diabetis,asthma and many others. Maintaining a balanced diet that has vegetables and fruits helps in boosting their CD4 count thus preventing them from secondary infections,” she says.

She adds that patients with low CD4, if not treated well or given the required nutrients, are at a high risk of dying.

Lipids and oils are in the fifth group and comprise foods like soya and sunflower. Sucrose-rich products such as sugar and honey are in the sixth group, while water is the seventh most important item, says Tabaro.

"Lipids can be from sunflower and soya, while oils include fats and magerine. HIV-positve persons need a lot of water that will help in transporting the required nutrients in the body. Water can also help in reducing side effects of the drugs,” says Tabaro.

However, Tabaro explains that the specific diet for a patient is dictated by their general health status.

"People with the HIV virus always have many complications associated with the disease, and therefore, the diet will depend on the complications they have. It is also advisable to give counseling to encourage them to strictly follow their diet,” he says.

Rusizina advises that the best management for such patients should include a balanced diet, counselling and good hygiene. He warns that failure to take the prescribed drugs poses various risks to a patient’s life.

"Some patients skip counselling sessions due to tight work schedules. This is not advisable since one should be educated on what to eat depending on the level of infection,” he says.