The Nutritional Challenges in the New South Africa

Soybean: Africa's Potential Cinderella Food Crop

“…However, within the past generation, diets have changed with increases in energy and fat intake but decreases in fiber intake (Bourne et al, 1993). Such diets, with ongoing changes have been associated with the variably rising prevalences of the nutrition-related diseases (Walker 1996;Walker & Segal 1997). In South Africa and some other countries in SubSaharan Africa, among Africans, changes in diet and other environmental factors particularly among urban dwellers have evoked large rises in the occurrences of some chronic disorders and disease of lifestyle but hardly any rises in others.…”

“…In South Africa and some other countries in SubSaharan Africa, among Africans, changes in diet and other environmental factors particularly among urban dwellers have evoked large rises in the occurrences of some chronic disorders and disease of lifestyle but hardly any rises in others. Thus, major increases have occurred in obesity in women, hypertension and diabetes in both sexes and cerebrovascular disease (Walker 1996;Walker & Segal 1997). Judging from the experiences of the various populations described, it seems likely that, within the next generation, a marked rise in the occurrence of Coronary Heart Disease in urban African population would be inevitable (Walker et al, 2002).…”

Persistent low prevalence of Western digestive diseases in Africa: confounding aetiological factors

“…Most African children live in poor conditions and under nutrition is usual, as manifested by the high proportions (15–35%) who are less than the fifth centile of reference standards for growth 17. As mentioned, the staple diet of children is maize meal which, although relatively low in fibre, is high in resistant starch 18…”

Southern Africa is good place to research role of fetal malnutrition in chronic diseases

“…There, in the 1960s, despite a high prevalence of low birth weight, the prevalence of atherosclerosis and of myocardial infarction was low. Also in the 1960s, in villages in Africa, there was a high prevalence of low birth weight but little rise in weight and blood pressure with age 2. Diabetes was near absent and coronary heart disease totally so.…”

“…In the cities, obesity in women, hypertension, and diabetes have higher prevalences in Africans than in the white population 2. Why is the prevalence of obesity in African women five times higher than that in men?…”