Healthy diet can help strengthen immune system to help tackle AIDS

The immune system, our body's defense mechanism against foreign contaminants, has to function at a higher level to fight infections and keep the body safe when a person is infected with the HIV Infection.

Weight loss can be a common problem for people with relatively advanced stages of HIV Infection. HIV may cause reduction in a patient's appetite, make food taste bad and prevent the body from absorbing nutrients from food in the right way. Good nutrition is important to all people with HIV.

"Proper nutrition is crucial in order to manage abnormalities caused by HIV such as wasting, diarrhea, and lipid abnormalities. Eating well is key in maintaining strength, energy, and a healthy immune system. Food safety and proper hygiene are concerns, when it comes to prevent infections," said the Chief Dietician.

A healthy diet consists of a variety of foods from all the basic food groups in order to maintain a healthy weight. Proteins, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, minerals and water are the six essential nutrients required for strong immune function.

Vitamin B6, folate, selenium, iron, as well as prebiotics and probiotics influence the immune system. Vitamin A deficiency can interfere with epithelial cell function. The ability of certain immune cells to kill infectious organisms and the production of B-cells and T-cells are also dependent on their vitamin A status.Beta-carotene, a predecessor to vitamin A, may also be deficient in HIV individuals despite vitamin supplementation.

Collagen synthesis, phagocyte oxidative burst activity, the ability of B-cells and T-cells to work properlyare all due to Vitamin C. Low blood levels of vitamin B12 is common in patients with HIV infection. Vitamin B12 supplementation is required to improve both T-cell counts and natural killer cell activity.

Vitamin B12 and folate are involved in the production of genetic material. They appear to decrease T-cell responsiveness and natural killer cells' ability to kill infectious organisms. Vitamin E plays a key role as an antioxidant and anti viral nutrient in cell membranes.

Omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids, found in fish oils, affects immune function. Two fatty acids, eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA) decrease inflammation by modulating and influencing the cytokine production of T-cells.

Glutamine is important in maintaining the structure of the intestinal wall, which prevents infectious organisms from migrating across and into the bloodstream. Arginine contributes to the production of nitric oxide, which appears to have the ability to block and cease certain infectious organisms' activities.

There are countless and intricate relationships between nutritional status, specific nutrients, and the immune system. As HIV compromises the immune system the most in the body, it is important to maintain proper intake of the required nutrients to help the body fight the infection and minimise the damage and effects from the virus.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.   

PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO VIEW MY BLOG-                      

HTTP:GSEASYRECIPES.BLOGSPOT.COM/
FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                       

HTTP://KNEE REPLACEMENT-STICK CLUB.BLOGSPOT.COM/
FOR CROCHET DESIGNS
HTTP://MY CROCHET CREATIONS.BLOGSPOT.COM

CONNECTION BETWEEN GUT BACTERIA AND WEIGHT LOSS !

Quite often, I've wondered that even after dieting and walking for 30 minutes a day, why am I not losing weight, so the culprit seems to be the gut bacteria, about which you can read below !

 

If you thought following a strict diet was the only way to achieve your weight loss goals, there's more to it. A new study has found that apart from diets and other regimes to keep us fit and healthy, there are other factors that are involved when it comes to losing weight, particularly gut bacteria. Gut bacteria refers to friendly microorganisms that are present in your stomach which work towards maintaining a healthy gut ecosystem, aiding digestion.

 

According to the researchers, the proportion of some gut bacteria may be connected to how much weight a person is able to lose under certain circumstances. This means that a one-size-fits-all approach to dieting is pretty pointless.

For the study, the researchers observed 62 people with a large weight circumference. They made them follow either the New Diet (featuring plenty of dark greens, berries and whole grains) or another  Diet (lean meat, eggs, lettuce, coffee but no grains). The participants were then grouped according to how much of two different bacteria, called Prevotella and Bacteroides, they had in their bodies.

The study found that those who had a higher ratio of Prevotella to Bacteroides and followed the New Diet lost more body fat than those with the same ratio following the other Diet.

According to co-author of the study, while human intestinal bacteria have been linked to the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity, it is only now that they have a breakthrough demonstrating that certain bacterial species play a decisive role in weight regulation and weight loss.

Many gut bacteria imbalances can be reversed through diet, for example, cutting out sugar or ditching booze or caffeine intake while supplementing your diet with pre- and probiotics can also help.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.
 PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO VIEW MY BLOG-                      
HTTP:GSEASYRECIPES.BLOGSPOT.COM/
FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                           

HTTP://KNEE REPLACEMENT-STICK CLUB.BLOGSPOT.COM/
FOR CROCHET DESIGNS
HTTP://MY CROCHET CREATIONS.BLOGSPOT.COM