4.2. How can I help my body fight the virus?

What is the immune system?
Think of your body as a walled city, being attacked by an invading army. The invading army is made up of millions of bacteria, viruses, toxins and parasites that are dying to get in. Your immune system is the defending army trying to stop enemy soldiers from getting in through the gates or over the walls. The miracle is that the defending army wins most of the time. But when it doesn't, the city's defenses are broken and so you get infected by one of the 'invading' micro-organisms. This can lead to illness, infections, tissue damage, pain and even death.
Eating correctly makes a difference.
* Providing your body with healthy food will help your immune system fight infection. It can also help your body stay stronger during any medical treatment you may need.
* When your body gets enough of the right food, you will feel better and more positive about yourself and the future.
* Many of the physical symptoms of HIV and AIDS can be made better or worse by the foods you eat.
* Good nutrition means eating foods each day that give you the nutrients (vitamins, minerals and proteins) that your body needs to keep it strong and healthy.
* What kind of food does the body need?
- Foods that build the body such as dry beans, lentils, peas, eggs, meat, fish, chicken, milk, cheese, peanut butter and cooked mopane worms.
- Foods that give energy such as bread, samp, porridge, mealie rice, rice, potatoes, oats, sugar and jam, fatty foods (bacon, oil in tinned fish, margarine).
- Foods that protect you from diseases such as fruit and vegetables.
* What are good eating habits?
- Do not eat too much fat.
- Eat regular meals, even if you do not feel hungry.
- If some foods make you feel ill, tell your healthcare worker. You could be allergic to certain foods.
- Listen to your body; do not eat foods that make certain symptoms worse.
- Cut down on smoking.
- Avoid alcohol.
- Eat fruit and vegetables raw. If you have to cook them use a low heat, or steam or bake them. Try not to boil vegetables because some vitamins are lost in the process.
- Avoid using drugs (poppers, speed, cocaine, etc). They lower the body's ability to fight off disease.
- Don't go on diet or lose too much weight.
* People with HIV and AIDS are more likely to get sick from eating certain food. They may also suffer from nausea, vomiting, fever, diarrhoea, cramps and headaches.
Take extra special care when you prepare meals:
- Buy fresh food every day, instead of weekly or monthly.
- Keep food in the fridge or airtight containers (for short periods of time only) in a dark place.
- Store raw and cooked food separately in the fridge.
- Keep raw meat away from other food.
- Defrost food in the fridge and not at room temperature.
- Use a separate chopping board for raw meat. A hard plastic board is better than a wooden board. Disinfect the board every week using a weak solution of bleach.
- Always cook meat, fish and eggs well. Do not eat raw eggs.
- Keep leftovers in the fridge.
- Eat only pasteurised dairy products and drink pasteurised milk.
- Wash fruit and vegetables well before eating.
- Try to drink up to 1-2 litres of water a day.
- Drink sour milk, milk or yoghurt.
- Eat beans, lentils, eggs or meat every day if you can - beans are just as good as meat if you put a tablespoon of uncooked sunflower oil with them before serving.
- For a healthy stomach, eat raw garlic, raw carrots or dried pumpkin seeds.
- Eat a lot of grains and starch - maize, rice, sorghum, brown bread.
- Sugar is very bad for the immune system and causes stomach problems.
- Too much fried food and cooking oils stop the stomach from digesting food.
- Too much spicy food can also cause stomach upsets.
How do I stay healthy?
Many people living with HIV want to help themselves. There are lots of things you can do to stay healthy. A healthier lifestyle makes living with HIV easier and treatment much more effective. If you are HIV positive, it is very important to keep your immune system as strong as possible. This will help you fight diseases and infections. Food, exercise and lifestyle are all important.
* Exercise
Exercising for at least 20 minutes 3 times a week helps keep your heart and lungs fit. Regular exercise may help you feel better about yourself. Swimming, walking, jogging or going to a gym are all good ways to exercise. If you want to start exercising and have breathing or heart or blood vessel problems (e.g. high blood pressure) or diabetes, you should talk to your doctor about it. Start exercising gently at first, building up the frequency (how often) before increasing the intensity (how hard you exercise).
* Eat healthily
Many people living with HIV lose weight. Doctors aren't sure why this happens. It may be because the virus makes you feel less hungry. The infections you may get and the drugs you take for HIV can also give you diarrhoea, which can mean you lose weight. The drugs can also change how your food tastes or stop you from digesting your food properly. See the tips above for eating correctly to stay strong and well. Many people with HIV also like to take vitamin and mineral supplements. If you want to take vitamin supplements, talk to your doctor first. Some supplements (including vitamin A, vitamin E, zinc and iron) can make you feel sick. And some may cause problems with your kidney or liver.
* Protect yourself against STIs
Getting another sexually transmitted infection (STI) may cause HIV to damage your immune system more quickly. This is because your immune system has to put effort into dealing with the new infection. So it can't keep fighting the HIV as well. Protect yourself against STIs by using a condom when you have sex.
* Deal with depression
Most people with HIV get depressed (feel low and sad). Many doctors think this is a reaction to the medication. Learning about depression can help you to cope if this happens. HIV can be hard for many reasons:
- Being told you have HIV can be hard to accept when you feel and look well.
- Although drug treatments allow many people to stay healthy for a long time, some find their treatment a hassle because of the side effects and the need to take the drugs at particular times.
- You might feel embarrassed about having HIV.
- You might feel discriminated against.
- You might find it difficult to form close relationships.
While many people living with HIV feel down and hopeless, there are treatments for depression, so you don't need to live with feeling unhappy or anxious. If you feel down for 2 weeks or more, get help from your doctor or healthcare worker.
- end of chapter -



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