Nutrition and weight maintenance

November 2004     View PDF     En español

Nutritional concerns of women with HIV

By Marcy Fenton, MS RD and Jeffrey Bowan
Excerpted from APLA’s Positive Living. January 1996

Women often tend to the nutritional needs of their families and neglect their own nutritional health. For women with HIV, this lapse can lead to increased instances of AIDS-related conditions, a general lack of energy and depression; serious consequences which may result in hospitalization.

By addressing their basic nutritional needs, HIV-positive women can maintain a healthier, stronger immune system; mount a better defense against infections; increase effectiveness of medicines and medical procedures (also minimizing their side effects); prevent the breakdown of soft body tissues and maintain the energy needed to lead an active, full life.

Here are a few conditions affecting HIV-positive women which can be controlled and enhanced through proper nutrition:

Heavy menstrual periods
Some HIV-positive women experience heavier bleeding during their periods. This may be due to low platelets. For women taking AZT, there is a greater risk of iron-deficient anemia. Eating lean meats, liver, egg yolk, legumes, green leafy vegetables, whole grains, molasses, fortified cereals and other iron-rich foods may be helpful.

Low iron levels
To increase absorption of iron from non-animal sources, combine these foods with those high in vitamin C such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, cabbage, strawberries, green leafy vegetables, broccoli, green and red peppers, potatoes and supplements.

Lighter or missed menstrual periods
This condition often appears in women who are extremely underweight or overweight. When a woman is underweight and under stress, while not getting enough calories and nutrients, the body functions conservatively and slows or stops menstruation (called amenorrhea). To help alleviate this, concentrate on eating “three square meals” a day, including each of the food groups, with additional healthy snacks and weight-gain supplements (drinks or bars are fine). Increase fluid intake and take time for both physical movement and rest each day.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
This condition can be improved through proper diet. Here’s the plan: Eat starchy and protein rich foods every three hours to avoid food jags and sharp drops in blood sugar. Choose from each of the basic food groups, including liver, meat, eggs and vegetables for B-vitamin values. Add a bit of vegetable oil (sunflower, safflower or corn) to ensure intake of fatty acids. It may be beneficial to eliminate, or cut back on, caffeine (including chocolate) to reduce breast-swelling and pain. Also, avoid high sodium foods (added salt, chips, processed foods) which can cause bloating. It may be a relief to know it is common to eat 300–500 more calories premenstrually, but choose this food wisely and resume your normal caloric intake after your period.

Menopause
As with all menopausal women, HIV-positive women at this stage lose bone calcium and need to increase calcium in their diet with calcium (such as Tums). As women get older, they tend to eat more and exercise less. Including a good protein source at each meal and snack, and participating in a physical activity each day, such as stretching and walking, as advised.