5.3. Nutrition

As we know, healthy eating is the key to a fulfilling life. There is a great variety of nutrition plans and diets, and in each case the individual determines the best for himself. Counselling with specialists can sometimes be helpful with this. Diet compliance issues relate not only to persons with a positive HIV status, but absolutely every human being who looks after his health.

We recommend that people living with HIV follow a nutritious diet, as it is a key factor in strengthening the immune system: get enough proteins and carbohydrates, and a moderate amount of fat. Physical activity is also very important, as it will help convert the received energy to muscle mass. It is also important to  get enough water: it will help to maintain the balance of nutrients and reduce the impact of side effects from the use of medications.

General recommendations on diet include the regularity of food intake during the day. It is also worth limiting excessive use of alcohol. In order to maintain a good appetite, it’s helpful to do exercises or yoga, spend more time with friends and family and enjoy lunch and dinner in a pleasant company.

People living with HIV require additional vitamins and minerals, but should use dietary supplements with caution and it is advisable to consult a doctor before doing this.

Before taking any other medications, it is advisable to find out what their interactions with antiretrovirals, and consult with a physician. Sometimes innocuous foods may be incompatible with certain drugs. For example, when taking Sacvinavir it is not recommended to consume grapefruit and concurrent use of St. John's wort substantially reduces the concentrations of some protease inhibitors. Check if there is any interaction between your ARVs and other medications by clicking this link: https://www.hiv-druginteractions.org/