Food and Nutrition
Health Conditions (2.1)
HIV/AIDS
Description
● AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) an infectious, deadly disease
caused by (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) HIV
● Antibodies and cells form part of the immune system that protects the body
against germs, viruses and parasites
● HIV destroys white blood cells (T-helper Cells) that fight diseases and infections
● A person with HIV will have a weakened immune system, develop AIDS and be
susceptible to infections
● These diseases can eventually cause death
Causes
● HIV lives in bodily fluids and is transmitted when a healthy person comes into
contact with the blood of an infected person
● Transmission can take place through
○ Unprotected sex
○ Sharing needles
○ Using unsterilised needles
○ Blood transfusions with infected blood
○ Medical procedures with unsterilised instruments
○ A baby from her mother during birth
Symptoms
● People will only find out after a test
● AIDS is the late stage of HIV
● People are very ill
● Intense weight loss
● Diarrhoea
● Sore mouth
Stages of the illness
● At the beginning stages, a variety of healthy foods will strengthen the immune
system and slow down the development of the illness
● Second stage- immune system continues to weaken
○ Secondary problems such as a sore mouth, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, nausea
and weight loss
● The third stage- the immune system is completely weak and serious infection
, occurs
● The patient starts to waste away but with good nutrition may survive for a long
time
Prevention
● Abstain from sex
● Never have unprotected sex
● Know your HIV status
● Never share needle
Management- dietary changes
● No cure for aids
● A healthy lifestyle decreases the risk of infections
Healthy eating habits to support the immune system
● Maintaining body weight
● Follow a balanced diet that includes a variety of foods
● Eat fresh fruits and vegetables that are rich in fibre and antioxidants
● Eat protein every day, it prevents muscle loss
● Eat more carbohydrates (sugars) and fats- increase kilojoule intake
● Don’t eat fats in the later stages as it causes diarrhoea
● Drink 8 glasses of clean water per day
● Include starch as the basis of each meal
Anti-oxidants
● Substances that protect cells from damage caused by unstable molecules known
as free radicals
● Damage from free radicals may lead to cancer
● Antioxidants interact with and stabilize free radicals and prevent damage that free
radicals cause
● They prevent infection and slow down disease by keeping the immune system
healthy
Nutrients recommended for HIV/AIDS patients
Protein
Food Source
● Meat
● Chicken
● Fish
● Nuts
● Soya beans
● Dried beans
Function
, ● Builds up and strengthens immune system
● Helps prevent muscle loss
Vitamin A
Food Source
● Found only in animal foods
● Liver and Kidneys
● Egg yolk
● Beta-carotene (a precursor to vitamin A) found in orange fruits and vegetables
● The body converts beta-carotene to vitamin A
Function
● Promotes healthy mucous membranes in the lungs and digestive tract
● Helps with immune function
● Beta-carotene is an anti-oxidant
Vitamin B6
Food Source
● White beans
● Potatoes
● Meat
● Fish
Function
● Maintains a healthy immune system and nervous systems
Vitamin C
Food Source
● All fresh fruit and vegetables
● Guava
● Green peppers
● Citrus fruits
Function
● Strengthens the immune system
● Aids recovery from infections
● An anti-oxidant
Vitamin E
Food Source
● Plant Oils
● Margarine
● Nuts
Function
● Anti-oxidant that prevents infections and damage to cells
, Selenium
Food Source
● Whole-wheat bread
● Grains
● Maize
Function
● Activates T-helper cells
● Antioxidant
Zinc
Food Source
● Liver
● Red meat
● Chicken
● Shellfish
Function
● Maintains the immune system
Management- other lifestyle changes
● Prepare and handle food hygienically
○ Do not eat raw eggs
○ Wash fruits and vegetables
○ Use separate chopping boards
○ Wash hands
● Prepare food to preserve nutritional value
○ Do not overcook food
○ Do not soak vegetables in water for too long
○ Include raw fruit and vegetables
● Take vitamin and mineral supplements
● Avoid alcohol
● Exercise often
● ARVs
○ ARVs cannot cure HIV/AIDS but can enhance the quality of life of patients
○ Reduce the risk of infections
Managing the diet and lifestyle of AIDS patients with a sore mouth
● Choose moist, soft foods cool or at room temperature
○ Mashed potato or minced meat
● Avoid sticky foods that are hard to swallow
● Avoid hard and very dry foods
● Avoid spicy, salty and acidic foods
● Liquids should be drunk through a straw
● If a patient’s gums are painful the mouth can be rinsed with bicarbonate of soda
mixed with water
Health Conditions (2.1)
HIV/AIDS
Description
● AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) an infectious, deadly disease
caused by (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) HIV
● Antibodies and cells form part of the immune system that protects the body
against germs, viruses and parasites
● HIV destroys white blood cells (T-helper Cells) that fight diseases and infections
● A person with HIV will have a weakened immune system, develop AIDS and be
susceptible to infections
● These diseases can eventually cause death
Causes
● HIV lives in bodily fluids and is transmitted when a healthy person comes into
contact with the blood of an infected person
● Transmission can take place through
○ Unprotected sex
○ Sharing needles
○ Using unsterilised needles
○ Blood transfusions with infected blood
○ Medical procedures with unsterilised instruments
○ A baby from her mother during birth
Symptoms
● People will only find out after a test
● AIDS is the late stage of HIV
● People are very ill
● Intense weight loss
● Diarrhoea
● Sore mouth
Stages of the illness
● At the beginning stages, a variety of healthy foods will strengthen the immune
system and slow down the development of the illness
● Second stage- immune system continues to weaken
○ Secondary problems such as a sore mouth, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, nausea
and weight loss
● The third stage- the immune system is completely weak and serious infection
, occurs
● The patient starts to waste away but with good nutrition may survive for a long
time
Prevention
● Abstain from sex
● Never have unprotected sex
● Know your HIV status
● Never share needle
Management- dietary changes
● No cure for aids
● A healthy lifestyle decreases the risk of infections
Healthy eating habits to support the immune system
● Maintaining body weight
● Follow a balanced diet that includes a variety of foods
● Eat fresh fruits and vegetables that are rich in fibre and antioxidants
● Eat protein every day, it prevents muscle loss
● Eat more carbohydrates (sugars) and fats- increase kilojoule intake
● Don’t eat fats in the later stages as it causes diarrhoea
● Drink 8 glasses of clean water per day
● Include starch as the basis of each meal
Anti-oxidants
● Substances that protect cells from damage caused by unstable molecules known
as free radicals
● Damage from free radicals may lead to cancer
● Antioxidants interact with and stabilize free radicals and prevent damage that free
radicals cause
● They prevent infection and slow down disease by keeping the immune system
healthy
Nutrients recommended for HIV/AIDS patients
Protein
Food Source
● Meat
● Chicken
● Fish
● Nuts
● Soya beans
● Dried beans
Function
, ● Builds up and strengthens immune system
● Helps prevent muscle loss
Vitamin A
Food Source
● Found only in animal foods
● Liver and Kidneys
● Egg yolk
● Beta-carotene (a precursor to vitamin A) found in orange fruits and vegetables
● The body converts beta-carotene to vitamin A
Function
● Promotes healthy mucous membranes in the lungs and digestive tract
● Helps with immune function
● Beta-carotene is an anti-oxidant
Vitamin B6
Food Source
● White beans
● Potatoes
● Meat
● Fish
Function
● Maintains a healthy immune system and nervous systems
Vitamin C
Food Source
● All fresh fruit and vegetables
● Guava
● Green peppers
● Citrus fruits
Function
● Strengthens the immune system
● Aids recovery from infections
● An anti-oxidant
Vitamin E
Food Source
● Plant Oils
● Margarine
● Nuts
Function
● Anti-oxidant that prevents infections and damage to cells
, Selenium
Food Source
● Whole-wheat bread
● Grains
● Maize
Function
● Activates T-helper cells
● Antioxidant
Zinc
Food Source
● Liver
● Red meat
● Chicken
● Shellfish
Function
● Maintains the immune system
Management- other lifestyle changes
● Prepare and handle food hygienically
○ Do not eat raw eggs
○ Wash fruits and vegetables
○ Use separate chopping boards
○ Wash hands
● Prepare food to preserve nutritional value
○ Do not overcook food
○ Do not soak vegetables in water for too long
○ Include raw fruit and vegetables
● Take vitamin and mineral supplements
● Avoid alcohol
● Exercise often
● ARVs
○ ARVs cannot cure HIV/AIDS but can enhance the quality of life of patients
○ Reduce the risk of infections
Managing the diet and lifestyle of AIDS patients with a sore mouth
● Choose moist, soft foods cool or at room temperature
○ Mashed potato or minced meat
● Avoid sticky foods that are hard to swallow
● Avoid hard and very dry foods
● Avoid spicy, salty and acidic foods
● Liquids should be drunk through a straw
● If a patient’s gums are painful the mouth can be rinsed with bicarbonate of soda
mixed with water
