Vegetarianism and Lifestyle for AIDS Treatment - on Friday 8th January 1999
AIDS is a great worldwide problem and concern and significantly causes a death
at early life. The cost of special drugs like AZT, protease inhibitors, medical
treatment, etc for AIDS treatment is highly increasing , so low-income people
especially in developing countries unfortunately cannot afford it. HIV only
cannot cause the death of AIDS, but there are several cofactors involved in
the progression from HIV+ to the symptomatic ones and full-blown AIDS. HIV+
and AIDS patients having low immunity and anti-oxidative capacity are more sensitive
and risky to chemicals , microorganisms and toxins than healthy person. Immune
power in our body can be induced and enhanced by good nutrition, emotion, environment,
detoxification, excretion of toxic compounds and exercise.
In our study, the symptoms observed in the patients are clearly attributable
to bad diet as well as to other unhealthy lifestyle such as eating improper
food, tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking, weight loss, less physical activity,
and, toxic chemicals and illicit drugs. The quality of life in the patients
will be much better to normal life by changing diet to vegetarian products.
The AIDS patients are therefore encouraged to take vegetarian diet which is
mainly plant foods: fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, seeds, and nuts. The
patients should absolutely avoid meats, eggs, dairy products, fermented fishes
and sea foods due to their cause of allergy, sickness and enhancement of opportunistic
symptoms in AIDS.
In planning good diets and lifestyle for AIDS patients, they should understand
the causes and effects by education first. they should change their bad lifestyle
and habits and to maintain the quality of life..
Following recommendations for longer life in AIDS are in order.
1. Abstinence of meats and their products, cowmilk, eggs, meats, eggs, dairy
products, fermented fishes and sea foods as well as low nutrient-dense foods,
such as sugar, sweets and fatty foods.
2. Avoid and be careful with raw and unclean foods or contaminated food products.
3. They should choose a wide variety of foods with sufficient nutrients like
vitamin and minerals and ensure that the caloric intake is adequate to meet
energy needs.
4. Regularly intake whole or unrefined grain products, instead of refined products,
fortified or enriched cereal products or health products.
5. Take a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, including a good food source
of phytochemicals including vitamin C and other kinds of antioxidants.
6. Drink more soy milk or soy products and healthy herbal tea.
7. Regular light exercise like walking, jogging, Yoga or Tai-chi , etc.
8. Stay in a good and clean environment and practice routine meditation.