Chapters authored
Selected Superfoods and Their Derived Superdiets
Despite the reported decline in undernourishment in developing regions from 23.3% to 12.9% within 25 years, sub-Saharan Africa is the most malnourished region in the world, and the situation could get even worse depending on how the continent’s love affairs with the few popular foods play out. The irony is that there are millions of nutrient-rich edible plants, insects and animals within tropical Africa, but due to modernization, only 3% of these foods are utilized within diets. Through a comprehensive literature review, this chapter will explore eight of the most feasible superfoods with an objective of using a systems approach to further look into their derived superdiets. Superfoods are naturally occurring plant or animal-based foods dense in nutrients, antioxidants and healthy fats, whilst superdiets are defined as feasible dishes prepared based on selected superfoods, incorporating other food ingredients and using appropriate processing and cooking techniques. The selected superfoods will include amaranth, teff, fonio, moringa leaves, baobab fruit, tamarind and hibiscus leaves. With the dense vitamins, minerals, healthy fats and antioxidants, these superfoods and more importantly their derived dishes have great potential in boosting the immune system, reducing risk of chronic diseases and promoting a healthy and productive population.
Part of the book: Superfood and Functional Food