Why eating of indigenous foods can reverse malnutrition

Increasing incidences of stunting, micronutrient deficiency (vitamin A, iron, iodine and zinc) as well as non communicable diseases like hypertension can only be solved by adequate utilisation of indigenous plant foods.

A survey of Igbo traditional food system and uses of various food items by researchers from the Department of Home Science, Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State attested to this fact. The survey, which characterised different plants that formed the traditional foods of indigenous people of Igbo land and their potentials was by Dr. E.C Okeke, Dr. H.N. Eneobong, Dr. A.O. Uzuegbunam, and Dr. A.O. Ozioko from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State in collaboration with Dr. K. Kuhnlein from McGill University, Canada.

The 2008 study was published in an edition of the Pakistan Journal of Nutrition. It documented traditional foods in terms of their availability in season and their use in eight communities selected from four states in the Eastern part of Nigeria. It reflected the fact that in different communities, foods are eaten for their traditional and medicinal values, as well as for their socio-cultural significance.

Considering the results that showed that over 21 different types of starchy roots and tubers, 21 types of nuts/ seeds. 20 types of legumes, 116 types of vegetables, 12 varieties of mushrooms and 36 varieties of fruits exist all year round, indeed, every community has sufficient food items to ensure good health, thus the need for people to be aware of their uses and health benefits to the body.

Though many are going into extinction, some varieties of yam like the three leaf yam (D. dumentorum) and the aerial yam (D. bulbifera) that the younger generation do not know or love, have lower sugar and starch contents, thus making them appropriate as part of a good diet for people with diabetes, as pointed out by the study. Also, unripe plantain, mostly taken by people with diabetes, is a rich source of iron required for building blood.

It was amazing that 116 varieties of vegetables, including mushroom, were documented in the study. For example, Indian spinach and Achara or grain millet leaf are typical of Igbos from Imo and Abia States, while bitter leaf is most popular in Anambra State. Interestingly, most are used in making soups and are said to have a variety of medicinal values. The study found that bitter leaf, apart from its use in cooking soups and other dishes, can be chewed raw after washing to treat malaria and diabetes.

Also, washed extract of fluted pumpkin, commonly called Ugu is used in treating low blood level (anaemia). Ocimum vindis, referred to locally in Igbo land as Nchuanwu or Ashigbu has a lot of medicinal value, and it is used for treating dysentery and stomach upset.

Uncommon vegetables in the Igbo land such as water leaf, that many people hardly give a second thought, when cooked with other vegetables can help in the treatment of malaria, dysentery and to boost appetite. Similarly, Awolowo weed referred to as kpugbum in Igbo, is a wild vegetable used in small quantities for soups because it relieves stomach pain and constipation. Bush marigold, referred to in Igbo as Anwiliwa ani, when cooked as a soup for eating new yam prevents worm infestation.

The root of Hogweed, referred to as Azu Igwe, Agili-ezi or ikpokpo, the respondents said can also be chewed to relieve stomach upset; for after birth pains and in combination with other vegetables for treating malaria and boosting appetite. In addition, other vegetables used in making soup for pregnant and lactating women include local onion (referred to as Obulumgbede or ifulonkpiri in Igbo) and jute plant (referred to as Ayauama or Ukpom in Igbo).

The issue of lack of access to meat, respondents in the study usually solved with the several varieties of mushroom available. Of course, eating mushroom as part of a balanced meal, can reduce cases of protein-deficiency malnutrition in the community.

Among the Igbos, different spices are used. Some spices are hot while others are very mild and flavourful. Most are recognised by communities that participated in the survey as having medicinal values and so could be used for treating such ailments as broken bones, loss of appetite and for pregnant and lactating mothers. This explained why black pepper, referred to as Uziza, Ehuru or Uda in Igbo land, a hot pepper is used for lactating mothers. Other spices used include alligator pepper, melon seed, local onion, locust beans.

Rather than resorting to snacking on junk meals, it was evident that several traditional legumes, nuts and seeds, itemised by respondents can also be eaten. For instance, the African yam, referred locally in Igbo to as Okpodudu can be roasted and eaten with palm kernel as a snack. Fortunately, African yam has many medicinal values too.

Groundnut, when boiled or roasted can be eaten as snacks with banana and popcorn. African bread fruit is also a delicacy that when roasted can be eaten with palm kernel or coconut as a snack. Even people with diabetes can have Irvinga spp, referred to as Ogbono in Igbo land as a snack, according to the Igbo respondents.

Meanwhile, in the riverside parts of Igbo land, apart from people eating coconut with corn as a snack, coconut water, said to work for oral rehydration therapy in cases of diarrhea, is refreshing and good substitute for soft drink.

Breaking kola is an important part of any Igbo ceremony and ritual. In fact it is a symbol of love, unity and welcome. Meanwhile, kola as a snack is also a good stimulant. Its close relative, bitter kola, equally helps to prevent malaria fever.

Fruits abound in the Igbo culture. Apart from the conventional fruits like mangoes and oranges, some traditional Igbo fruits grow in the wild are generally consumed as snacks based on the findings of the review. Fruits itemised include pear-avocado, Ujuju fruit, monkey apple, bush apple, bush mango, pumpkin, garden egg and pepper fruit. According to the respondents, unripe pawpaw cut into pieces and eaten with vegetables can treat malaria, just as leaves of mango tree cooked with others. Similarly, the very juicy Soup sop (Anana muricarta) fruit drives away cough and

pumpkin referred to as Anyu or Ugbogun in Igbo, that is highly rich in B-Carotene is good for eyesight.