Ditch the Mediterranean Diet: This East African Cuisine Might Be the Secret to Better Health

While the Mediterranean diet is popular amongst nutrition experts, a recent study indicates that adhering to a locally-based eating plan from an East African community might also hold significant benefits for overall well-being.

The recent research, encompassing 77 participants who were all males, was released in the journal Nature Medicine , concentrating on the dietary habits of the Chagga people, inhabitants of northern Tanzania at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro.

This diet is abundant with plants and fibers, including an abundance of whole grains, legumes, and leafy greens.

Over a period of two weeks, males residing in countryside regions, who typically adhered to their conventional eating habits, transitioned to a Western-style regimen abundant in processed foods Along with salt, items like sausages, white bread, and fried chicken are included.

In the meantime, urban males who followed more Western-style diets either adopted traditional foods for a fortnight or included Mbege—a fermented banana beverage containing between 1% and 3% alcohol—in their diet for one week.

The research team subsequently assessed inflammation-linked indicators in the participants' blood and also examined alterations in their intestinal microorganisms.

They discovered that shifting from a traditional diet to a Western one increased inflammation—but swapping out a Western diet for traditional foods or consuming Mbege decreased inflammation levels. This reduction is significant because inflammation is linked to various health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and autoimmune disorders.

Some of these changes were still apparent a month after the experiment, the study found.

The findings indicate that maintaining traditional eating habits in Sub-Saharan Africa—and embracing comparable dietary patterns globally—might aid in lowering individuals' susceptibility to chronic diseases associated with inflammation.

"As people's diets significantly influence their immune and metabolic systems," said Dr. Quirijn de Mast, the study’s lead researcher and an associate professor at Radboud University Medical Center in the Netherlands, to Euronews Health.

He noted that surprisingly, many of these effects actually lasted.

Diversity in diet

The researchers indicated that the advantages of the Chagga people’s diet probably stem from how their main food items work together, instead of one particular superfood — much like the Mediterranean diet, which highlights fruits, vegetables, olive oil, and modest quantities of fish and dairy products.

It's likely not just one factor," de Mast explained. "I believe it's the overall diet.

In the meantime, the fermentation process seems to enhance banana beverage Mbege with microorganisms and chemicals beneficial for digestion; however, the scientists cautioned that the potential health advantages of this drink must be balanced against its alcoholic content and risks of contamination.

For those aiming to include the advantages of Mbege, de Mast suggests consuming a greater variety of fermented foods overall.

Significantly, these findings may not be applicable to the entire Eastern African region. The study pointed out that Tanzania alone has over 100 tribes, each possessing distinct dietary practices.

The researchers urged for additional investigations into the impact of different traditional African diets on health, particularly since global nutritional recommendations often fail to account for variations in local foods, cultural practices, and genetic factors.

Timing is crucial. Rapid urbanization in sub-Saharan Africa has led to shifts in diet and decreased physical activity levels, resulting in increasing obesity rates and associated health issues across the region.

"These traditional diets and their variety truly warrant greater recognition before they vanish, as I believe we have much to gain from them," de Mast stated.