Abstract
The consumption and encouragement of indigenous diets could help alleviate malnutrition and mitigate food insecurity in developing countries. In this regard, three Nigerian traditional diets: Akidi (Vigna unguiculata), Akara-Igboro (manihot esculenta), and Ofe-achara (Pennisetum purpureum soup) mixed with Mgbam (baked melon seed) and Garri (Cassva flakes) were evaluated for sensory characteristics, proximate composition, anti-nutrient composition, as well as vitamins, and mineral content using standard methods. Data from the sensory characteristics indicated that Ofeachara mixed with Mgbam and Garri (7.67 ± 0.89) was the most acceptable diet. The proximate analysis also revealed that Ofeachara mixed with Mgbam and Garri was highest in carbohydrate, (55.08 ± 4.66%), Ash (6.67 ± 2.89%) and moisture content (8.41 ± 0.89%) while Akidi was highest in protein (5.91 ± 0.05%) and crude fibre (12.31 ± 0.01%). The anti-nutritional analysis of the diets revealed that Akara-Igboro had the highest phytate (0.40 ± 0.01%), Alkaloid (50.00 ± 1.33%), oxalate (27.28 ± 0.88%) and Cyanogenic glycosides content (1.62 ± 0.12%) when compared to other diets. The vitamin content also showed that Akara-Igboro had the highest concentrations of vitamin B2 and C (21.67 ± 0.02g/100g and 17.01 ± 0.01g/100g) respectively. The highest level of calcium was found in Ofeachara mixed with Mgbam and Garri (0.08 ± 0.01mg/100g). This study revealed that these traditional diets are crucial sources of important nutrients. Increased consumption of these nutrient-rich diets will mitigate nutrition-related disorders.
Highlights
Food is any substance taken for the purpose of providing nutritional support for the human body
The result of the sensory evaluation of the traditional diets is presented in Table 1, notably the most acceptable food was Ofeachara mixed with Mgbam and Garri, followed by Akidi and Akara Igboro
The results of the vitamins and mineral levels of the traditional diets are presented in Table 4 and Table 5 respectively
Summary
Food is any substance taken for the purpose of providing nutritional support for the human body. It could be of animal and/or plant origin, which have some indispensable nutrients, like minerals, proteins, fats and vitamin. When food is ingested and absorbed by the human body, its primary aim is to sustain life, provide energy and enhance growth and development. Food is apparently unavoidable as it is one of the basic requirements of life. It can be regarded as any substance that promotes growth, produces energy etc. Careful selection of foods can provide all the essential nutrients that are needed for the proper functioning of the human body [2]
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