AFRICAN DIET CAN PROTECT AGAINST CANCER

A traditional African diet rich in vegetables, fibre, and fermented foods can reverse inflammation and protect against cancer and chronic diseases in just two weeks.The research, conducted by scientists from Radboud University Medical Centre, in the Netherlands, and KCMC University, in Tanzania, found that even a short-term switch to a Western diet causes infiammation, reduces the body’s immune response to infections, and activates processes associated with lifestyle diseases.

Quirijn de Mast, an infectious diseases specialist at Radboud University Medical Centre and lead co-author of the analysis, says many areas in Sub-Saharan Africa are seeing a sharp rise in these non-communicable diseases, such as heart disease and cancer.

The African diets study involved 77 healthy men from Tanzania, both urban and rural residents.

One group of participants came from rural areas where they ate a largely plant-based diet. During the trial, this group switched for two weeks to a Western diet that included sausages, white bread, French fries, eggs and biscuits.

Another group of participants from urban areas, who usually consumed a Western diet, did the reverse. A control group maintained their usual diet.

Researchers analysed immune system function, blood inflammation markers, and metabolic processes, after the two-week intervention and again four weeks later.

Those who switched to a Western diet showed increased inflammatory proteins and reduced immune effectiveness against infections, while those adopting the traditional African diet showed reduced inflammation.

Some effects persisted even four weeks after the intervention ended, indicating that short-term dietary changes can have long-lasting impacts.