Nutrition and living well with HIV
Having a healthy, balanced diet is important for everyone. Good nutrition helps keep the immune system strong and able to fight infection. As well as taking HIV treatment, there are many things you can do to improve your general health and reduce your risk of falling ill.
These include:
- exercising regularly
- eating a healthy, balanced diet
- stopping smoking
Read more about living with HIV here: HIV and AIDS – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
This page covers:
- Healthy Eating – Living well with HIV
- Weight Management Advice
- Food safety advice for low CD4 count
- If you have a poor appetite or have lost weight?
- Vitamin and mineral interactions with HIV medications
Healthy Eating – Living well with HIV
Having a healthy, balanced diet is important for everyone. Good nutrition helps keep the immune system strong and able to fight infection. Eating the right food and staying at a healthy weight can also help lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and osteoporosis. Read more about maintaining a health balanced diet here: Food and nutrition – Healthy living | NHS inform
The British Dietetic Association also have a range of resources created by Dietitians that provide information on a variety of nutrition related topics. You can access these for free here: Food Facts – British Dietetic Association (BDA)
Weight Management Advice
It is important to maintain a healthy weight and body mass index (BMI).
- Calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) using the NHS BMI calculator.
If your BMI is 25 or above and you want to be a healthier weight then you can access this 12 Week Weight Management Programme on NHS Inform 12 Week Weight Management Programme | NHS inform
- Our local NHS Forth Valley website also has useful information to help you achieve a healthier weight: Adult Weight Management
If you have a poor appetite or have lost weight?
- Read more about Malnutrition and Nutritional Support : NHS Forth Valley – Nutritional Support
Food safety advice for low CD4 count
A lower CD4 count typically indicates a weakened immune system and it’s easier to catch infections from both food and water. If your ‘CD4 Count’ is below 200 you should be especially careful when preparing and handling food. Ask your clinic if you are not sure what your CD4 count result is.
If your ‘CD4 Count’ is below 200, you should:
- Avoid raw meat, raw fish, raw eggs, and undercooked chicken, other poultry or pork.
- Avoid unpasteurised and blue cheeses (such as brie or stilton), and unpasteurised milk and yoghurt.
- Avoid live yoghurt and probiotic drinks and supplements.
In addition, the following general advice about the preparation, cooking and storage of food can help reduce the risk of food poisoning for everyone.
- Cooked food should be kept in the fridge and eaten within two days. Portions should be frozen if you wish to keep them for longer than two days.
- Make sure that food is thoroughly reheated if it has already been cooked.
- Avoid food that is mouldy or has passed its sell-by date, and eggs that have cracked.
- Wash fruit and vegetables thoroughly.
- Keep chopping and preparation surfaces clean.
- Make sure that uncooked food is kept separate from cooked food.
If your CD4 is below 200 then you can access further food safety advice here: Food and water safety for people living with HIV | aidsmap
Vitamin and mineral interactions with HIV medications
Vitamins and minerals are nutrients that our body needs in order to work properly. These nutrients occur naturally in food. A balanced diet will provide all the vitamins and minerals most people need. You can find out more about key vitamins and minerals here: Vitamins and minerals – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Large doses of vitamin and mineral supplements can be harmful. Several vitamin and mineral supplements and herbal remedies can interact dangerously with HIV medications. Before you take any vitamin and mineral supplements or herbal remedies talk to your HIV Doctor, Nurse or Pharmacist.