Module 09 Discussion - Diet Therapy Considerations for People Living with HIV/AIDS
1. What are three diet therapy considerations that must be made for people living with
HIV/AIDS?
Proper nutrition is essential to all people, whether they are living with HIV or not. But
with many who have HIV/AIDS can have some conditions that include wasting, diarrhea,
and lipid abnormalities, meaning they lack proper nutrients which are very important to HIV
patients. Eating is a well-keyed component of maintaining the strength, energy, and healthy
immune system. HIV can lead to immune suppression, food safety, and proper hygiene when
it comes to preventing infections. A healthy diet is defined by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), as including all the essential food groups, to provide adequate
nutrients to help maintain a proper weight; and excludes excess fats, sugars, salts, or
alcoholic beverages. The FDA recommends these six essential nutrients for everyone from
HIV/AIDS patients to the average healthy individual such as:
Carbohydrates(gives extra energy [starches and sugars])
Fat(gives required excess power)
Vitamins (regulates body metabolism)
Minerals (Regulates body processes and builds body tissue)
Protein (builds muscles and improves immune system)
Water (shapes cells and is a medium within the body)[HIV17].
2. Why is it important for them to adhere to these dietary requirements?
An HIV/AIDS patient needs to adhere to their nutritional care and support the well-being
and self-esteem of a positive attitude for their own lives and family members. A healthy and
balanced nutritional goal should always be set for all HIV stages of infection. Effective
dietary programming can help improve the quality of life in individuals with HIV/AIDS by:
Replace all lost vitamins and minerals
Improve the functioning of the immune system to fight infection
Maintain body weight and strength
Improve treatment response, by reducing time and money spent on healthcare
Keep HIV patients active, allow caring for self and other family members
Extend the incubation period of the HIV infection to the development of AIDS
Keep HIV infected individuals working, and able to provide an income for their
families[Wor02].
3. What may happen if they don't?
An individual with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) if not taken care of can
progress further to the Auto Immune Deficiency Disease (AIDS) virus. The Aids virus is a
more complicated and severe immune compromised disease. Once this happens, it can cause
the infected individual to be at a higher risk for multiple secondary infections they will not be
able to handle[HIV17].
This study source was downloaded by 100000836386117 from CourseHero.com on 03-12-2022 03:36:34 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/30022474/ESchultz-Diet-Therapy-Considerations-for-People-Living-with-HIV-AIDS-12022017docx/
1. What are three diet therapy considerations that must be made for people living with
HIV/AIDS?
Proper nutrition is essential to all people, whether they are living with HIV or not. But
with many who have HIV/AIDS can have some conditions that include wasting, diarrhea,
and lipid abnormalities, meaning they lack proper nutrients which are very important to HIV
patients. Eating is a well-keyed component of maintaining the strength, energy, and healthy
immune system. HIV can lead to immune suppression, food safety, and proper hygiene when
it comes to preventing infections. A healthy diet is defined by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), as including all the essential food groups, to provide adequate
nutrients to help maintain a proper weight; and excludes excess fats, sugars, salts, or
alcoholic beverages. The FDA recommends these six essential nutrients for everyone from
HIV/AIDS patients to the average healthy individual such as:
Carbohydrates(gives extra energy [starches and sugars])
Fat(gives required excess power)
Vitamins (regulates body metabolism)
Minerals (Regulates body processes and builds body tissue)
Protein (builds muscles and improves immune system)
Water (shapes cells and is a medium within the body)[HIV17].
2. Why is it important for them to adhere to these dietary requirements?
An HIV/AIDS patient needs to adhere to their nutritional care and support the well-being
and self-esteem of a positive attitude for their own lives and family members. A healthy and
balanced nutritional goal should always be set for all HIV stages of infection. Effective
dietary programming can help improve the quality of life in individuals with HIV/AIDS by:
Replace all lost vitamins and minerals
Improve the functioning of the immune system to fight infection
Maintain body weight and strength
Improve treatment response, by reducing time and money spent on healthcare
Keep HIV patients active, allow caring for self and other family members
Extend the incubation period of the HIV infection to the development of AIDS
Keep HIV infected individuals working, and able to provide an income for their
families[Wor02].
3. What may happen if they don't?
An individual with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) if not taken care of can
progress further to the Auto Immune Deficiency Disease (AIDS) virus. The Aids virus is a
more complicated and severe immune compromised disease. Once this happens, it can cause
the infected individual to be at a higher risk for multiple secondary infections they will not be
able to handle[HIV17].
This study source was downloaded by 100000836386117 from CourseHero.com on 03-12-2022 03:36:34 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/30022474/ESchultz-Diet-Therapy-Considerations-for-People-Living-with-HIV-AIDS-12022017docx/
