By Abdullahi Lukman
A new study published in Nature Medicine has revealed that a mere two-week shift from a traditional African diet to a Western diet can have significant negative effects on the immune system and metabolism.
This situation, the study reveals further, leads to increased inflammation, reduced immune response to pathogens, and activation of biological processes linked to lifestyle diseases.
The study highlights the critical role diet plays in shaping health outcomes and underscores the growing public health challenge posed by the rise of lifestyle diseases across Africa.
The research, conducted by Radboud University Medical Center in the Netherlands and KCMC University in Tanzania, was prompted by the increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and chronic inflammatory conditions across the African continent.
These conditions are largely driven by urbanization, economic development, and the rising availability of processed foods, leading to a shift from traditional diets to Western eating habits.
In the study, 77 healthy men from both urban and rural Tanzania participated in a dietary intervention. Some participants who followed a traditional African diet switched to a Western diet for two weeks, while others who typically consumed a Western diet adopted a traditional African diet.
A third group consumed a fermented banana drink daily, and a control group maintained their usual diet. Researchers monitored changes in immune function, blood inflammation markers, and metabolic processes at the start of the study, after the two-week intervention, and again four weeks later.
The results were striking. Participants who switched to a Western diet saw an increase in blood inflammation markers and a reduction in immune response to pathogens.
These individuals also showed activation of biological processes associated with lifestyle diseases, which are linked to high-calorie, processed foods.
In contrast, those who switched to a traditional African diet or consumed the fermented banana drink experienced a reduction in inflammation, with some positive effects lasting up to four weeks.
Dr. Quirijn de Mast, an internist at Radboud University Medical Center and one of the lead researchers, emphasized the importance of these findings.
He noted that while traditional diets from regions such as Japan or the Mediterranean have been widely studied, the African diet has been largely overlooked in research.
“Africa’s rich diversity in traditional diets offers unique opportunities to gain valuable insights into how food influences health,” said Dr. de Mast. “The African diet, rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, and fermented foods, has clear benefits for inflammation and metabolic health.
In contrast, the typical Western diet, which consists of processed foods and high-calorie items, contributes to inflammation and chronic diseases.”
This study is the first to comprehensively analyze the health effects of a traditional African diet. The findings suggest that dietary habits, particularly the inclusion of plant-based, fermented foods, can significantly impact inflammation and metabolic processes, which are central to the development of many chronic conditions.
Dr. de Mast also pointed out that while the study focused on Tanzanian men, the findings are relevant globally, as lifestyle diseases like heart disease and diabetes are increasingly common in both developing and developed countries.
The study underscores the urgent need for a reevaluation of dietary practices worldwide.
As lifestyle diseases continue to rise globally, particularly in Africa, this research highlights the potential benefits of returning to or maintaining traditional diets rich in whole, unprocessed foods as a way to prevent chronic conditions and improve overall health.
The study’s results also point to the broader implications of dietary shifts in Africa, where Western eating habits are becoming more widespread due to economic development and urbanization.
With lifestyle diseases becoming a major health concern, this research serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving traditional dietary practices and focusing on foods that reduce inflammation and promote long-term health.