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Good nutrition is very important to all people, whether or not they are living with HIV and AIDS. It requires the intake of a variety of foods from all of the six basic food groups considered in relation to the body’s dietary needs.

A healthy diet therefore provides adequate energy, and helps in maintaining a healthy weight, and does not contain excess fat, sugar, salt, or alcohol. Good nutrition combined with regular physical activity, is the cornerstone of good health, as anything short of this can lead to low immunity, increased susceptibility to diseases, impaired physical and mental development, and reduced productivity.

However, when discussing Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) there is the need to consider nutrition as a key component to addressing some medical conditions such as wasting or thinness, (which is presents in very low weight), diarrhoea, lipid (fat) abnormalities and Tuberculosis (TB) among others, which often leads to fatalities, especially among children and Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV).

Again because HIV infection can lead to immune suppression, a patient may be at greater risk of food-borne illness, hence food safety and proper hygiene are also of great importance when it comes to preventing infection.

It is expected that in addressing HIV and AIDS in a holistic manner, proper nutritional guidelines be ensured in order to maintain energy and healthy immune systems of PLHIV.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated that malnutrition contributes to more than one third of all child deaths, although it is rarely listed as the direct cause. It also results in higher morbidity and mortality among PLHIV, by compromising their immune systems making them susceptible to opportunistic infections.

Undernutrition also increases the risk of Tuberculosis (TB) especially in PLHIV, while it has been demonstrated that poor nutritional practice is a risk factor for progression from tuberculosis infection to active tuberculosis disease and that undernutrition at the time of diagnosis of active tuberculosis is a predictor of increased risk of death and tuberculosis relapse.

It said poor feeding practices, such as inadequate breastfeeding, offering the wrong foods, and not ensuring that the child gets enough nutritious food, contributes to malnutrition in especially orphans, children born to PLHIV as well as those living with the disease.

It attributed the high under nutrition rates to the lack of access to highly nutritious foods, especially in the present context of rising food prices.

Source: Opinion: Why Good Nutrition Is Important For People Living With HIV/AIDS

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Nutrisattva is a protein innovation company focused on developing natural protein nutrition for individuals across age groups, nutritional needs, and lifestyles. Founded on the belief that the strains of urban living requires a natural, informed and convenience-based approach to good health, Nutrisattva develops products built on the knowledge of nutrition science, fitness and Ayurveda.