Food as Medicine

What to eat, eat less of and avoid for 18 conditions common in Africa, explained simply.

Food as medicine, alongside your medicine. Food works alongside your medicines, not instead of them. Never stop or change your tablets without talking to your health worker.

Heart, blood vessels & metabolism

High blood pressureHypertension, “BP”Food is a main treatment
StrokeBrain attack, CVAFood helps alongside treatment
Coronary heart disease / heart attackIschaemic heart disease, angina, myocardial infarctionFood helps alongside treatment
Heart failureWeak heart, congestive heart failureFood helps alongside treatment
Type 2 diabetesSugar disease, “sugar”, diabetes mellitusFood is a main treatment
PrediabetesBorderline diabetes, impaired fasting glucoseFood is a main treatment
ObesityBeing very overweightFood is a main treatment
High cholesterol and triglyceridesDyslipidaemia, high blood fatsFood is a main treatment
Chronic kidney diseaseCKD, weak kidneysFood helps alongside treatment

Women’s & reproductive health

Pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure in pregnancy)Toxaemia of pregnancy, eclampsia (when fits happen)Food helps only a little
Gestational diabetes (diabetes in pregnancy)GDM, sugar in pregnancyFood is a main treatment
Anaemia in pregnancyLow blood in pregnancy, low HbFood helps alongside treatment

Undernutrition & deficiencies

Iron-deficiency anaemiaLow blood, low iron, low haemoglobinFood helps alongside treatment
Folate deficiency and neural tube defectsLow folic acid, spina bifida, anencephalyFood helps alongside treatment

Infections

HIVHuman immunodeficiency virusFood helps alongside treatment
Weight gain, cholesterol and sugar changes on HIV treatmentMetabolic changes on ARTFood is a main treatment

Blood & genetic conditions

Sickle cell diseaseSCD, SS, sicklerFood helps alongside treatment

Bones, joints & muscles

GoutGouty arthritis, high uric acidFood helps alongside treatment

General information, not a diagnosis. Always follow the advice of your health worker.