On this webpage you'll notice that we've fragmented the HIV nutritional approach into levels.
The levels are in order of importance and also ease of access (Thus levels 1, 2 and 3 are cheaper and easier to access.) People living with AIDS (PLWA) have the following nutritional facts to bear in mind
1) The greatest reason for immunosuppression in the world is malnutrition. Combine this with active HIV infection and you have a bad scenario because HIV can cause bad absorption of nutrients.
It is thus crucial that PLWA look after their intestinal tracts and take the right nutrients. 2) Many drugs used on a regular basis by people living with HIV can be immunosuppressive as well. They include antibiotics like Bactrim or Septran.
The problem with the chronic use of these antibiotics is that folic acid is inhibited and digestive flora is destroyed. This in turn can cause folic-acid deficiency and other adverse effects such as rash, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, headache, muscle and joint pain and dizziness.
Although patients benefit from the anti-bacterial effect of these anti-biotics they need to be nutritionally supported.
Other drugs that can also cause immunosuppressive effects include steroids, and antiviral drugs (such as AZT, ddI, ddC, 3Tc, and D4T). 3) Recent studies have shown beyond any shadow of doubt that a healthy diet and dietary supplementation is absolutely crucial for PLWA using anti-retrovirals and for those that don’t use anti-retrovirals. Read about studies on nutrition and HIV
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