Traditional African Foods and Their Potential to Contribute to Health and Nutrition

Muyonga, John H.; Nansereko, Sophie; Steenkamp, Ilona; Manley, Marena; Okoth, Judith

doi:10.4018/978-1-7998-3019-1.ch015

Cited by 6 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 81 publications

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“…The traditional African diet is mainly plant-based consisting of small grains (millet and sorghum), dark green leafy vegetables, wild fruits, starchy stems, and root tubers. Though largely cereal-based, a few animal source foods were added to the diet such as fish and game meat [8]. In Zimbabwe, traditional foods consist of small grains eaten with a variety of boiled or fried wild vegetables, seeds, and or game meat (Table 1).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Facilitators and barriers to the consumption of traditional foods among adults in Zimbabwe

et al. 2022

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Background Traditional foods have superior nutritional composition; however, they are largely absent from the Zimbabwean diet. Objective To identify barriers and facilitators to the consumption of traditional foods among adults aged 18–69 years in Zimbabwe. Methods An online-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among adults aged 18–69 years in Zimbabwe. The questionnaire was based on a socio-ecological model designed to assess barriers and facilitators at the individual, interpersonal, community, and national levels. Data were analysed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS version 20 software package. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. Ethical approval was obtained from the Medical Research Council of Zimbabwe (MRCZ/B/1931). Results The study enrolled 440 participants. Traditional food consumption was low in this population with only 9.3% consuming these foods daily. At the individual level, 44.4% of study participants mentioned their consumption of traditional foods is facilitated by generational factors, while the most important barrier at this level was the inconvenience in accessing and preparing traditional foods (33.2%). At the community and national levels, the most important facilitator was family members (26.2%) and lack of environmental contaminants (38.9%), respectively, while most important barrier at the community and national levels was their residential location or residence (31.8%) and aggressive marketing of processed foods (47.8%), respectively. Conclusions Consumption of traditional foods was low in general. Generational factors, family contribution, and food safety impact the consumption of traditional foods among adults in Zimbabwe. The food environment, particularly commercial advertising of alternative foods, is a deterrent. Therefore, interventions to promote the consumption of traditional foods must take into account these factors at every stage of the socio-ecological model.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Facilitators and barriers to the consumption of traditional foods among adults in Zimbabwe

et al. 2022

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“…The search for plants and plant-based products that can face the raising necessities of food and medicines in a context of climate changes and food scarcity is nowadays a major challenge in Africa where persist malnutrition problems (Muyonga et al, 2016). In this context, Moringa oleifera Lam.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutritional and phytochemical profiles and biological activities of Moringa oleifera Lam. edible parts from Guinea-Bissau (West Africa)

et al. 2021

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Moringa oleifera is an edible medicinal plant used to fight malnutrition in Africa. In this study, M. oleifera flowers, fruits and seeds from Guinea-Bissau were characterized for their nutritional composition and hydroethanolic and aqueous extracts were prepared to investigate the phenolic profiles and bioactivities. Seeds presented higher levels of proteins (~31 g/100 g dw), fat (~26 g/100 g dw) and flavan-3-ol derivatives, while carbohydrates, proteins, citric acid, and glycosylated flavonoids were abundant in fruits and flowers, these last samples also being rich in α-tocopherol (~18 mg/100 g dw). Some of the identified polyphenols had never been described in M. oleifera. In general, hydroethanolic extracts contained more polyphenols and were more active against lipid peroxidation, NO production, and tumour cells growth. Significant antimicrobial effects against the tested bacteria and fungi strains were displayed by both hydroethanolic and aqueous extracts. The M. oleifera potential to fight malnutrition and health issues was highlighted.

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“…Traditional diets of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) were largely plant-based, emphasizing fruits and vegetables, legumes, wild cereals, roots and tubers, and supplemented with fish, dairy, and modest amounts of game, poultry, and red meat ( 1 ). Diets shifted dramatically following colonial incursions, the introduction of maize in the 1500s and its later emergence as the dominant staple throughout SSA ( 2 ), and recent decades of increasing incomes, urbanization, and food market globalization ( 3 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Global Diet Quality Score Is Inversely Associated with Nutrient Inadequacy, Low Midupper Arm Circumference, and Anemia in Rural Adults in Ten Sub-Saharan African Countries

Bromage

Zhang

Holmes

et al. 2021

The Journal of Nutrition

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Background Key nutrient deficits remain widespread throughout sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) whereas noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) now cause one-third of deaths. Easy-to-use metrics are needed to track contributions of diet quality to this double burden. Objectives We evaluated comparative performance of a novel food-based Global Diet Quality Score (GDQS) against other diet metrics in capturing nutrient adequacy and undernutrition in rural SSA adults. Methods We scored the GDQS, Minimum Dietary Diversity–Women (MDD-W), and Alternative Healthy Eating Index–2010 (AHEI-2010) using FFQ data from rural men and nonpregnant, nonlactating women of reproductive age (15–49 y) in 10 SSA countries. We evaluated Spearman correlations between metrics and energy-adjusted nutrient intakes, and age-adjusted associations with BMI, midupper arm circumference (MUAC), and hemoglobin in regression models. Results Correlations between the GDQS and an energy-adjusted aggregate measure of dietary protein, fiber, calcium, iron, zinc, vitamin A, folate, and vitamin B-12 adequacy were 0.34 (95% CI: 0.30, 0.38) in men and 0.37 (95% CI: 0.32, 0.41) in women. The GDQS was associated (P < 0.05) with lower odds of low MUAC [GDQS quintile (Q) 5 compared with Q1 OR in men: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.22, 0.85; women: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.31, 1.03] and anemia (Q5/Q1 OR in men: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.32, 0.98; women: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.35, 1.01). The MDD-W correlated better with some nutrient intakes, though associated marginally with low MUAC in men (P = 0.07). The AHEI-2010 correlated better with fatty acid intakes, though associated marginally with low MUAC (P = 0.06) and anemia (P = 0.14) in women. Overweight/obesity prevalence was low, and neither the GDQS, MDD-W, nor AHEI-2010 were predictive. Conclusions The GDQS performed comparably with the MDD-W in capturing nutrient adequacy–related outcomes in rural SSA. Given limited data on NCD outcomes and the cross-sectional study design, prospective studies are warranted to assess GDQS performance in capturing NCD outcomes in SSA.

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Traditional African Foods and Their Potential to Contribute to Health and Nutrition

Cited by 6 publications

References 81 publications

Facilitators and barriers to the consumption of traditional foods among adults in Zimbabwe

Facilitators and barriers to the consumption of traditional foods among adults in Zimbabwe

Nutritional and phytochemical profiles and biological activities of Moringa oleifera Lam. edible parts from Guinea-Bissau (West Africa)

The Global Diet Quality Score Is Inversely Associated with Nutrient Inadequacy, Low Midupper Arm Circumference, and Anemia in Rural Adults in Ten Sub-Saharan African Countries

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