Healthy eating

Eating the right food and staying at a healthy weight can also help lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and osteoporosis. 

The type of HIV medication you are on might affect the choices you make about your nutrition. Eating some foods at certain times of day can make your medication more effective, and some medications need to be taken on an empty stomach, or should be taken with a meal. You might have some side effects from your medication, like nausea or diarrhoea. These side effects usually go away after some time, but eating certain foods might help relieve them.

Your clinic or doctor will be able to help if you have any questions about your nutrition and medication.

Should I take multivitamins and herbal remedies if I have HIV?

You should be able to get most of your nutrients from a balanced diet, however, many people with HIV take multivitamins. Always check the recommended dose as high doses of some vitamins and minerals can be harmful and have side effects and should be avoided, such as:

• vitamin A
• vitamin C
• vitamin E
• vitamin B6
• zinc
• selenium.

These herbal supplements may interact with HIV medication and make it less effective:

• garlic
• African potato
• Sutherlandia
• St John’s Wort.

If you have any questions about whether you should take supplements, speak to your doctor. 

Does having HIV put me at risk of food poisoning?

People living with HIV used to be more likely to get food poisoning or have problems caused by water impurities. This is no longer the case, as long as your immune system is healthy and strong.

If your CD4 count is below 200 you might need to be especially careful when preparing and handling food or drinking water. 

If you’re travelling abroad, your clinician will be able to advise you of any special measures you need to take regarding drinking water.

Does having HIV put me at risk of mouth or throat infections?

Infection in the throat, gums and mouth can be a sign of untreated HIV, and can make it extremely painful to eat.

What should I eat if I’m on HIV treatment?

You don’t need to eat any special diet if you’re on HIV treatment, but you should be aware of how it might affect your body and how you can stay healthy. 

Some HIV medication can cause problems with high cholesterol and increase the risk of diabetes.  

Some HIV medication has caused problems with high cholesterol and the development of diabetes. 

Certain HIV drugs have been linked to Type 2 diabetes, including:

• AZT
• indinavir
• the little-used d4T
• full doses of the booster drug ritonavir.

You can lower your level of cholesterol, and reduce your chance of developing type 2 diabetes, by eating a healthy diet and exercising. Talk to your doctor if you’re worried about your cholesterol or diabetes. They can give you advice on your diet.

NHS Choices has information about risk factors for Type 2 diabetes.

Fat redistribution (known as lipodystrophy) used to be more common in people taking certain HIV medication.

It's characterised by gaining weight in some places and losing it in others, causing changes to the body's shape and appearance. New drugs have been developed that don’t cause this issue, so this is now uncommon in the UK.

Further information

You can read aidsmap’s excellent page on nutrition.

The Food Chain has recipes on their website. If you're based in London, they also provide a range of services, which include meal deliveries and grocery deliveries for people with acute health needs.

NHS Choices has a range of information about healthy eating.

Most HIV clinics have dietitians, who can advise you on your diet and also talk to you about any concerns you have.