The Need to Revive African Diet
EDITORIAL
The Daily Observer (Banjul)
21 August 2007
By extending his medical treatment to diseases, such as high blood pressure
and hypertension, President Yahya Jammeh has shown strong commitment to get rid
of these "modern diseases".
This move reminded us to the real causes of these emerging diseases.
Africans should resume to traditional diet to curb diabetes epidemic. Paradoxically, rates of obesity and diabetes in some African countries are up to 50 per cent higher than the normal average, but reverting to a more traditional diet may help address the problem.
Should we retrieve ourselves from the "consumer class"?
The answer is certainly no. But, there is an urgent need to assess our diet, transportation systems, and lifestyles once limited to the rich nations of Europe, North America, and Japan.
Now is the time to move towards changing our diet; and indeed, examine our own patterns of consumption. There is no doubt that moving down the current food chain should be a priority to all.
In The Gambia, this might be a more persuasive position, if the health effects of heavy meat consumption, oil and sugar were stressed. We believe that the dietary and life style changes are the root cause of diabetes epidemic among African peoples.
A scientific approach will validate the wisdom of our ancestors who ate mainly berries, nuts and protein, rather than mostly carbohydrates.
Traditional diet can help people lose weight and doesn't seem to harm cholesterol. The more we eat local, the more we are healthy but longer studies are needed to test, if it helps to prevent or treat diabetes.
In the meantime, the media should be involved in wider campaign to promote traditional diet. The development of our local diet will bring a new synergy to the agricultural sector.
Copyright © 2007 The Daily Observer. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).
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