review · Nutrition Research Reviews
Rapid urbanisation across Sub-Saharan Africa is driving shifts towards sedentary lifestyles and Westernised diets, which promote inflammation, metabolic issues, and immune dysregulation. This epidemiological transition is contributing to rising rates of obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases, creating substantial strain on healthcare systems. In contrast, traditional heritage diets in Tanzania rely heavily on whole grains, legumes, and fruits, prepared with minimal oils, sweeteners, and preservatives. These diets are rich in dietary fibre and nutraceuticals that provide immunomodulatory and metabolic health benefits capable of countering the effects of Western diets. The dietary patterns of four Northern Tanzanian tribes, the Maasai, Chagga, Pare, and Hadzabe, demonstrate historically low disease rates, yet these communities now face rapid urbanisation. Because traditional food systems lack scientific documentation, targeted efforts are required to preserve and study these heritage dietary practices to address increasing non-communicable disease prevalence.
The rise of diet-related non-communicable diseases places immense pressure on African healthcare systems. Documenting and understanding the protective health properties of indigenous diets offers valuable knowledge for public health initiatives. Preserving traditional food knowledge provides an evidence-based foundation for promoting healthier, locally relevant diets that can help prevent widespread chronic diseases caused by rapid urban lifestyle transitions.
The work represents early-stage narrative review research that identifies nutraceuticals and dietary fibre within indigenous food systems as candidates for health promotion. This knowledge could eventually inform food manufacturers, public health organisations, and functional food developers seeking to formulate preventative nutritional products. However, the abstract does not indicate any tested products, applied commercial development, or immediate translation pathways.
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Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is currently undergoing rapid urbanisation, a transition that is closely linked to the adoption of sedentary lifestyles and Westernised dietary habits. This shift has contributed to a substantial rise in obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases (DR-NCDs), placing a significant strain on already burdened healthcare systems. Among the key modifiable risk factors driving this epidemiological transition are changes in dietary patterns. Western-style diets have been shown to promote inflammation and trigger metabolic and immune dysregulation, factors that underlie the development of DR-NCDs. Conversely, many Tanzanian heritage diets incorporate a diverse array of nutrient-rich foods prepared using techniques that minimise the use of oils, sweeteners and preservatives. These diets predominantly use whole grains, legumes and fruits, foods high in dietary fibre and nutraceuticals. Nutraceuticals are known to have both immunomodulatory and metabolic benefits and could potentially counteract the negative effects associated with Western-style diets. However, the limited scientific documentation of these heritage diets endangers future research into their potential health benefits. This underscores the need for targeted efforts to preserve and promote traditional dietary practices. In this review, we summarise the diversity of heritage diets from four distinct tribes in Northern Tanzania – the Maasai, Chagga, Pare and Hadzabe – who have historically exhibited low rates of DR-NCDs but are now experiencing rapid urbanisation and lifestyle changes. We briefly describe the dietary patterns of these tribes and examine the potential links between the declining usage of traditional dietary practices and the rising prevalence of DR-NCDs in Tanzania.
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DOI: 10.1017/s095442242510022x
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