As children, most of us would probably remember being told to eat all the greens on our plate or hear persuasive stories of spoons as flying airplanes that would scrumptiously land in our mouths. All of it, to ensure children ate well. Most adults, in our increasingly diet-conscious generation, are hyper-aware of the nutrients that compose the food we eat. It is obvious to mention that nutrition plays a key role in all of our lives to have a healthy mindbody development. Whilst food is an everyday necessity, acknowledging the privilege that comes with eating nutritious food can deepen our understanding of its importance, especially, for people positive with HIV.
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system and interferes with the body’s ability to fight infections. People with HIV take a combination of medicines to treat the virus. The body undergoes changes due to the effect of the medications and the impact of the disease. Various problems like diarrhoea, nausea, and vomiting, extreme weight loss, loss of appetite etc are some of the problems they face.
Studies show that HIV and nutrition have a strong link in improving the health and how they feel.
Proper intake of calories, proteins, carbs, vitamins, and minerals to maintain body mass, to build muscle and organ strength, to repair damaged cells, and to manage the side effects of medications, in order to build a strong immune system and improve overall quality of life is crucial for them. Along with the composition of food, quality of food is also important because HIV-positive people are highly susceptible to food-borne diseases. The pledge taken by Purnkuti to provide nutrition to 165 HIV-positive people is crucial in supporting the dietary needs and safe sources of food to ensure healthy treatment and recovery for HIV. Your support in funding this initiative can help ensure that the right kind of nutrients and food safety is provided. Let our motivation towards leading a healthy diet for ourselves also extend towards HIV positive people in their journey of combatting this disease