Traditional foods solution to lifestyle diseases

Okumu Haggai     

Most  people in today’s  society are battling  lifestyle diseases such as obesity, heart diseases, diabetes, cancer and psychological disorders such as depression and schizophrenia.

Some of these diseases and conditions could be caused by unhealthy eating habits,  including consumption of processed food and those that contain harmful chemicals.

Experts say people who consume high amounts of vegetable oils, white flour and white sugar are at higher risk of experiencing widespread physical degeneration like tooth decay and having problems in the digestion system, skin, circulation, reproduction, nervous system, musculoskeletal/joint, and all areas of connected to human health.

One of the best ways to take control of your health is to eliminate processed foods from your diet and start eating traditional foods, which provide the cells of our bodies with the necessary fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients needed for vibrant health. 

It’s high time Kenya came up with a programme that will encourage the consumption of traditional foods. 

Kenyans should understand that traditional food by nature contain high levels of nutritional needs available. 

This is because they  are grown or produced using sustainable methods which increase nutrient content and without chemicals and other dangerous substances which have been found to diminish nutritional value and damage health.

Foods like sorghum, millet, arrow roots, yams and vegetables like black night shade, pigweed, spider plant among others, are full of flavours, texture, and aroma and contain less calories and less saturated fat. They help in weight control and prevent obesity and heart-related diseases.

In most cases, people who eat processed foods are those who lead sanitary lifestyles like people who work in offices, hence do not get enough physical exercise. 

This puts them in a higher risk of contracting lifestyle diseases. Such people should be encouraged to shift to more traditional diets, more fruits and vegetables and organic foods.

Some of these foods contain more zinc which helps in wound healing and fighting infection, calcium for strong bones and teeth and others like carrots that contain more vitamin A that helps in improving vision and fighting disease.

The state of well-being brought about by healthy eating is characterised by a strong digestive system, superior brain function, blissful sleep, sturdy bones, calm mind and an immune function that prevents infection.

Changing eating habits may not be easy, but perhaps you have some health issues motivating you to do something about problems you’d like to eliminate but haven’t had success in treating with conventional medicine.

Eating healthy requires one to take the time and effort to deliberately choose healthier food and the discipline to avoid the more tempting processed, packaged and fast foods. —The writer is a student at Maasai Mara University