HIV Nutrition

HIV disease is a constant strain on many systems in your body.
Your daily need for protein doubles. Your muscles are the reserve fuel tank for your immune system. You body is trying to replace millions of T cells that the virus kills every day.

You want 2 times the RDA for protein. Think of eating 3/4 of a gram of protein for each pound of ideal body weight. Your ideal weight is 160 pounds? You should eat 120 grams of protein a day.

Damaged T cells, liver cells, muscle cells and lung cells constantly release stray electrons. Stray electrons are called free radicals, and cause oxidative stress. Just as your car can rust from stray electrons, you can too. Your liver, eye balls, kidneys, nerves and skin can all corrode too from oxidative stress. Oxidative stress can cause cells to grow more HIV. Studies show that people take extra antioxidant vitamin supplements slow down the rate of progression of HIV to AIDS. You need to take both 500mg vitamin C and 400 iu vitamin E, twice a day.

Your liver would also like to get extra B-complex vitamins and extra selenium every day too. Take a B-complex 25 pill, and take one 200 mcg selenium pill. If you have both HIV and Hepatitis C, 2 selenium pills is a good idea. See page 18-19 in Eat UP! HIV for more advice on useful supplements.