Study reveals 14 days of western eating sparks alarming health changes

A two-week dietary shift from a traditional African diet to a Western-style diet has been found to cause inflammation, decrease the immunological response to pathogens, and activate molecular pathways associated with chronic lifestyle illnesses. In contrast, a traditional African diet high in vegetables, dietary fibre, and fermented foods has been shown to improve immunity and metabolism. These findings, published in Nature Medicine, highlight the significant impact of nutrition on immune function and overall metabolic health.

Lifestyle-related diseases such as cardiovascular problems, diabetes, and chronic inflammatory disorders are on the rise throughout Africa, putting further strain on already overburdened healthcare systems. Economic expansion, urbanisation, and increased access to processed foods have all contributed to the rapid spread of Western eating patterns across the continent. To evaluate the health effects of this nutritional transition, researchers from Radboud University Medical Centre in the Netherlands and KCMC University in Tanzania undertook a study on the biological repercussions of these dietary alterations.

The study included seventy-seven healthy Tanzanian men, both urban and rural. Some participants who had traditionally eaten an African diet shifted to a Western diet for two weeks, whereas others who ate a Western diet adopted a typical African diet. A third group drank fermented banana drinks every day. Ten volunteers served as controls, eating their usual diet. The researchers examined the immune system, blood inflammatory indicators, and metabolic processes at baseline, after the two-week intervention, and again four weeks later.

Participants who shifted to a Western diet showed an increase in inflammatory substances in their blood, as well as the activation of biological pathways associated with lifestyle diseases. Their immune cells were also less effective against infections. Meanwhile, individuals who adopted a typical African diet or drank the fermented beverage exhibited a decrease in inflammatory markers. Some of these effects lasted even after four weeks, demonstrating that short-term dietary modifications can have long-term consequences.

This is the first study that has completely mapped the health impacts of a typical African diet. “Previous research has focused on other traditional diets, such as the Japanese or Mediterranean diet,” explains physician Quirijn de Mast of Radboudumc. However, there is still plenty to learn from traditional African diets, particularly given that lifestyles in many African regions are rapidly changing and lifestyle disorders are on the rise. Africa’s diverse traditional cuisines provide unique possibilities to obtain significant insights into how food affects health.

De Mast finds it astonishing how profound the effects of food are, even after only two weeks. The African diet consists primarily of vegetables, fruits, beans, whole grains, and fermented foods.’ Our findings emphasise the benefits of these traditional foods for inflammation and metabolic processes in the body. At the same time, we demonstrate how damaging an unhealthy Western diet may be. It is often made up of processed and high-calorie items like French fries and white bread that are heavy in salt, refined sugars, and saturated fats. Inflammation is at the foundation of many chronic illnesses, making this finding especially significant in Western countries.”

Disclaimer: (Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.)

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