Are South African Wild Foods the Answer to Rising Rates of Cardiovascular Disease?

The document discussed the potential of traditional southern African foods to address the rising rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in South Africa, particularly among economically disadvantaged urban groups. It highlighted that modern diets lack phytochemicals, which are crucial for protecting against inflammation and other metabolic issues linked to sugar metabolism. In contrast, indigenous southern African foods are rich in phytochemicals and soluble dietary fibers, which help modulate sugar release, support the microbiome, and prevent CVD. The review emphasized the importance of phytochemical diversity and detailed the protective effects of various indigenous foods, such as Aloe marlothii and Adansonia digitata, against cardiovascular disease.