Latest news with #Mbege
Yahoo
04-08-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New research reveals food choices that can boost immune system: 'Highlights the benefits of these traditional food products'
New research reveals food choices that can boost immune system: 'Highlights the benefits of these traditional food products' The health benefits of a Mediterranean diet have long been touted. New research suggests that an African heritage diet may offer similar advantages. Plant Based News summarized a study published in April in the journal Nature Medicine that indicated swapping Western foods for a traditional Northern Tanzanian diet — rich in green vegetables, legumes, fermented foods, and whole grains — could demonstrate positive impacts in a short time. Researchers assessed 23 men living in rural areas who typically adhered to a diet reflective of the Kilimanjaro region and who switched to a Western diet for a two-week period; 22 men living in urban areas who typically consumed a Western diet and switched to a traditional Kilimanjaro diet for the same period; and 22 men who typically followed a Western diet and added Mbege — a fermented banana and millet drink — for one week. These participants kept food diaries, and the research team took blood samples at the start of the study, two weeks in, and four weeks after it ended. The results indicated that switching to the traditional diet resulted in improved immune system function and "promoted the release of anti-inflammatory biomarkers, suggesting a potential reduction in [non-communicable disease] risk," according to a breakdown from News Medical. Meanwhile, switching to a Western diet "[upregulated] inflammatory biomarkers, resulting in chronic inflammation," and weakened immune responses. Those who added Mbege to their Western diet, however, saw metabolic and immune improvements relative to those who didn't. The trial adds to a growing body of research exploring the potential health benefits of plant-based diets. A 2022 study from Stanford University comparing identical twins, for example, found that plant-based diets were associated with lower insulin levels, reduced body weight, and lower levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. A study from the National Institutes of Health suggested that obtaining the majority of dietary fats from plant sources, such as nuts, grains, and vegetables, could significantly lower heart disease-related mortality. Notably, plant-based diets can also provide a climate benefit. Cutting back on animal agriculture can lower the release of heat-trapping methane into the atmosphere and reduce the potential for water contamination. Meanwhile, investing in sustainable plant farming — including best practices for drought- and flood-resilience — can support biodiversity and soil health while strengthening global food systems that can be compromised by extreme weather. In a press release, corresponding author Quirijn de Mast noted, "Our study highlights the benefits of these traditional food products for inflammation and metabolic processes in the body. At the same time, we show how harmful an unhealthy Western diet can be." Why do you eat plant-based foods? The health benefits It's cheaper It's good for the planet I prefer the taste Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
Euronews
06-04-2025
- Health
- Euronews
Move over Mediterranean food. Experts say this East African diet could be key to better health
ADVERTISEMENT The Mediterranean diet may be a favourite among nutritionists, but a new study suggests that sticking to a diet local to a community in East Africa could be another key to good health. The new study, which included 77 men and was published in the journal Nature Medicine , focused on the diet of the Chagga people, who live in northern Tanzania in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. It's rich in plants and fibres, featuring lots of whole grains, beans, and green vegetables. Related Want to live better in old age? Scientists advise following these eating habits For two weeks, men living in rural areas who usually followed the traditional diet switched to a Western-style diet full of processed foods and salt, such as sausages, white bread, and fried chicken. Meanwhile, town-dwelling men whose diets were more Western either switched to traditional foods for two weeks or added Mbege, a fermented banana drink with an alcohol content of 1 to 3 per cent, to their diets for a week. The researchers then measured inflammation-related biomarkers in the men's blood, as well as changes to their gut microbiomes. Switching from a traditional to a Western diet led to more inflammation, they found – but replacing a Western diet with traditional foods or drinking Mbege helped bring down inflammation, which is tied to health issues like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and autoimmune diseases. Some of these changes were still apparent a month after the experiment, the study found. The results suggest that preserving traditional diets in sub-Saharan Africa – and adopting a similar diet for those further afield – could help reduce people's risk factors for chronic conditions linked to inflammation. Related Lower risk of diabetes to bone fractures: What are the benefits and drawbacks of being vegetarian? "What people eat has a large impact on the immune and metabolic system," Dr Quirijn de Mast, the study's senior author and an associate professor at Radboud University Medical Centre in the Netherlands, told Euronews Health. "It was quite unexpected that many of these effects really persisted," he added. Diversity in diet The researchers said that the benefits of the Chagga people's diet are likely due to how the key foods interact with each other, rather than any single superfood – similar to the Mediterranean diet, which emphasises fruits, vegetables, olive oil, and moderate amounts of fish and dairy. "It's probably not one thing," de Mast said. "I think it's the entire diet". Meanwhile, the fermentation process appears to enrich banana drink Mbege with microbes and chemical compounds that are good for the gut – but the researchers warned that the health benefits of the drink should be weighed against the alcohol content and possible contamination. For people looking to incorporate the benefits of Mbege, de Mast recommends eating more fermented foods in general. ADVERTISEMENT Related Butter linked to higher death risk while plant-based oils may boost health Notably, the findings might not hold for diets across the East African region. There are more than 100 tribes in Tanzania, the study said, each with their own eating habits. The researchers called for more studies on how various traditional diets across Africa affect people's health – especially because international nutrition guidelines don't always consider regional differences in food, culture, and genetics. Timing is key. The rapid urbanisation of sub-Saharan Africa has come with dietary changes and less physical activity, and the region is now grappling with rising rates of obesity and related health problems. "These heritage diets and their diversity really deserve more attention before they disappear, because I think we can really learn a lot," de Mast said. ADVERTISEMENT
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Move over Mediterranean food. Experts say this East African diet could be key to better health
The Mediterranean diet may be a favourite among nutritionists, but a new study suggests that sticking to a diet local to a community in East Africa could be another key to good health. The new study, which included 77 men and was published in the journal Nature Medicine, focused on the diet of the Chagga people, who live in northern Tanzania in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. It's rich in plants and fibres, featuring lots of whole grains, beans, and green vegetables. Related Want to live better in old age? Scientists advise following these eating habits For two weeks, men living in rural areas who usually followed the traditional diet switched to a Western-style diet full of processed foods and salt, such as sausages, white bread, and fried chicken. Meanwhile, town-dwelling men whose diets were more Western either switched to traditional foods for two weeks or added Mbege, a fermented banana drink with an alcohol content of 1 to 3 per cent, to their diets for a week. The researchers then measured inflammation-related biomarkers in the men's blood, as well as changes to their gut microbiomes. Switching from a traditional to a Western diet led to more inflammation, they found – but replacing a Western diet with traditional foods or drinking Mbege helped bring down inflammation, which is tied to health issues like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and autoimmune diseases. Some of these changes were still apparent a month after the experiment, the study found. The results suggest that preserving traditional diets in sub-Saharan Africa – and adopting a similar diet for those further afield – could help reduce people's risk factors for chronic conditions linked to inflammation. Related Lower risk of diabetes to bone fractures: What are the benefits and drawbacks of being vegetarian? "What people eat has a large impact on the immune and metabolic system," Dr Quirijn de Mast, the study's senior author and an associate professor at Radboud University Medical Centre in the Netherlands, told Euronews Health. "It was quite unexpected that many of these effects really persisted," he added. The researchers said that the benefits of the Chagga people's diet are likely due to how the key foods interact with each other, rather than any single superfood – similar to the Mediterranean diet, which emphasises fruits, vegetables, olive oil, and moderate amounts of fish and dairy. "It's probably not one thing," de Mast said. "I think it's the entire diet". Meanwhile, the fermentation process appears to enrich banana drink Mbege with microbes and chemical compounds that are good for the gut – but the researchers warned that the health benefits of the drink should be weighed against the alcohol content and possible contamination. For people looking to incorporate the benefits of Mbege, de Mast recommends eating more fermented foods in general. Related Butter linked to higher death risk while plant-based oils may boost health Notably, the findings might not hold for diets across the East African region. There are more than 100 tribes in Tanzania, the study said, each with their own eating habits. The researchers called for more studies on how various traditional diets across Africa affect people's health – especially because international nutrition guidelines don't always consider regional differences in food, culture, and genetics. Timing is key. The rapid urbanisation of sub-Saharan Africa has come with dietary changes and less physical activity, and the region is now grappling with rising rates of obesity and related health problems. "These heritage diets and their diversity really deserve more attention before they disappear, because I think we can really learn a lot," de Mast said.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Move over Mediterranean food. Experts say this East African diet could be key to better health
The Mediterranean diet may be a favourite among nutritionists, but a new study suggests that sticking to a diet local to a community in East Africa could be another key to good health. The new study, which included 77 men and was published in the journal Nature Medicine, focused on the diet of the Chagga people, who live in northern Tanzania in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. It's rich in plants and fibres, featuring lots of whole grains, beans, and green vegetables. Related Want to live better in old age? Scientists advise following these eating habits For two weeks, men living in rural areas who usually followed the traditional diet switched to a Western-style diet full of processed foods and salt, such as sausages, white bread, and fried chicken. Meanwhile, town-dwelling men whose diets were more Western either switched to traditional foods for two weeks or added Mbege, a fermented banana drink with an alcohol content of 1 to 3 per cent, to their diets for a week. The researchers then measured inflammation-related biomarkers in the men's blood, as well as changes to their gut microbiomes. Switching from a traditional to a Western diet led to more inflammation, they found – but replacing a Western diet with traditional foods or drinking Mbege helped bring down inflammation, which is tied to health issues like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and autoimmune diseases. Some of these changes were still apparent a month after the experiment, the study found. The results suggest that preserving traditional diets in sub-Saharan Africa – and adopting a similar diet for those further afield – could help reduce people's risk factors for chronic conditions linked to inflammation. Related Lower risk of diabetes to bone fractures: What are the benefits and drawbacks of being vegetarian? "What people eat has a large impact on the immune and metabolic system," Dr Quirijn de Mast, the study's senior author and an associate professor at Radboud University Medical Centre in the Netherlands, told Euronews Health. "It was quite unexpected that many of these effects really persisted," he added. The researchers said that the benefits of the Chagga people's diet are likely due to how the key foods interact with each other, rather than any single superfood – similar to the Mediterranean diet, which emphasises fruits, vegetables, olive oil, and moderate amounts of fish and dairy. "It's probably not one thing," de Mast said. "I think it's the entire diet". Meanwhile, the fermentation process appears to enrich banana drink Mbege with microbes and chemical compounds that are good for the gut – but the researchers warned that the health benefits of the drink should be weighed against the alcohol content and possible contamination. For people looking to incorporate the benefits of Mbege, de Mast recommends eating more fermented foods in general. Related Butter linked to higher death risk while plant-based oils may boost health Notably, the findings might not hold for diets across the East African region. There are more than 100 tribes in Tanzania, the study said, each with their own eating habits. The researchers called for more studies on how various traditional diets across Africa affect people's health – especially because international nutrition guidelines don't always consider regional differences in food, culture, and genetics. Timing is key. The rapid urbanisation of sub-Saharan Africa has come with dietary changes and less physical activity, and the region is now grappling with rising rates of obesity and related health problems. "These heritage diets and their diversity really deserve more attention before they disappear, because I think we can really learn a lot," de Mast said.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Move over Mediterranean diet. Experts say this East African diet could be key to better health
The Mediterranean diet may be a favourite among nutritionists, but a new study suggests that sticking to a diet local to a community in East Africa could be another key to good health. The new study, which included 77 men and was published in the journal Nature Medicine, focused on the diet of the Chagga people, who live in northern Tanzania in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. It's rich in plants and fibres, featuring lots of whole grains, beans, and green vegetables. Related Want to live better in old age? Scientists advise following these eating habits For two weeks, men living in rural areas who usually followed the traditional diet switched to a Western-style diet full of processed foods and salt, such as sausages, white bread, and fried chicken. Meanwhile, town-dwelling men whose diets were more Western either switched to traditional foods for two weeks or added Mbege, a fermented banana drink with an alcohol content of 1 to 3 per cent, to their diets for a week. The researchers then measured inflammation-related biomarkers in the men's blood, as well as changes to their gut microbiomes. Switching from a traditional to a Western diet led to more inflammation, they found – but replacing a Western diet with traditional foods or drinking Mbege helped bring down inflammation, which is tied to health issues like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and autoimmune diseases. Some of these changes were still apparent a month after the experiment, the study found. The results suggest that preserving traditional diets in sub-Saharan Africa – and adopting a similar diet for those further afield – could help reduce people's risk factors for chronic conditions linked to inflammation. Related Lower risk of diabetes to bone fractures: What are the benefits and drawbacks of being vegetarian? "What people eat has a large impact on the immune and metabolic system," Dr Quirijn de Mast, the study's senior author and an associate professor at Radboud University Medical Centre in the Netherlands, told Euronews Health. "It was quite unexpected that many of these effects really persisted," he added. The researchers said that the benefits of the Chagga people's diet are likely due to how the key foods interact with each other, rather than any single superfood – similar to the Mediterranean diet, which emphasises fruits, vegetables, olive oil, and moderate amounts of fish and dairy. "It's probably not one thing," de Mast said. "I think it's the entire diet". Meanwhile, the fermentation process appears to enrich banana drink Mbege with microbes and chemical compounds that are good for the gut – but the researchers warned that the health benefits of the drink should be weighed against the alcohol content and possible contamination. For people looking to incorporate the benefits of Mbege, de Mast recommends eating more fermented foods in general. Related Butter linked to higher death risk while plant-based oils may boost health Notably, the findings might not hold for diets across the East African region. There are more than 100 tribes in Tanzania, the study said, each with their own eating habits. The researchers called for more studies on how various traditional diets across Africa affect people's health – especially because international nutrition guidelines don't always consider regional differences in food, culture, and genetics. Timing is key. The rapid urbanisation of sub-Saharan Africa has come with dietary changes and less physical activity, and the region is now grappling with rising rates of obesity and related health problems. "These heritage diets and their diversity really deserve more attention before they disappear, because I think we can really learn a lot," de Mast said.
