In general, doctors and nutritionists recommend consuming five fruits a day. However, in some regions, the accessibility of fruits such as apples and bananas can be problematic due to high costs or availability. In West Africa, particularly in Senegal, local fruits such as sidem (jujube), solom (black tamarind), or madd (Saba senegalensis), konkorong (doum nut) can be alternatives. In this interview, Dr. Valérie Quenum Ndiaye, a nutrition specialist, enlightens us on the importance of consuming five fruits a day and the benefits of local Senegalese fruits such as madd, solom and konkorong.

Can you tell us briefly about your background in nutrition and your current specialty?

I am a doctor with a special training in nutrition. I am also trained in food technology. Today, I work in the food industry and I am active in the production of local juices under the Estéval brand, which uses local fruits.

Why is it important to eat five fruits a day?

It is advisable to eat fruits every day, in addition to vegetables. Our food rations in Senegal are rich in energy and protein, but lack minerals and vitamins, which are found in fruits and vegetables. These elements are essential for health, especially for the growth of children, pregnancy, student concentration, healing and cleansing the body of toxins thanks to their antioxidant properties. Fruits also provide dietary fiber to prevent constipation.

What are the main health benefits of regular fruit consumption?

Fruits allow the secretion of growth hormones, the proper development of the genitals, and promote healing. They cleanse the body of toxins and chemicals. The dietary fiber in fruits prevents constipation, a major public health problem.

Can you describe the nutritional properties of sidem, solom and madd?

Local fruits such as solom, sidem and madd are fresh, growing in the country and arriving quickly in homes. They are rich in vitamins and minerals. For example, they are rich in vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that protects the body from aggression. They also contain vitamins A and D, important for the proper functioning of the nervous system, especially in this period when many people are stressed, others have memory problems. Konkorong has a lot of calcium, magnesium, vitamin C and vitamin B, selenium, zinc, etc.

How do these fruits compare in terms of nutrients to others like often imported apples and bananas?

Imported fruits are exposed to the sun and light, which reduces their vitamin content. Our local fruits have a skin or shell that protects them, allowing them to retain their fresh vitamins. If you wash them and remove the shell, you get fresh vitamins.

What are the specific health benefits that Senegalese people can obtain by consuming these local fruits?

Local fruits such as ditakh (Detarium senegalense) whose skin peels off easily and the pulp is very green and floury, are good for everyone, especially for the elderly. They provide water-soluble vitamins that should be consumed daily.

Are there specific antioxidants, vitamins or minerals in these local fruits that make them particularly interesting?

Yes, these fruits are rich in vitamins C, A and D which are important for protection against aggression, the functioning of the nervous system and the management of stress and memory and concentration disorders.

What advice would you give to integrate more local fruits into the daily diet of Senegalese people?

I encourage Senegalese people to eat seasonal fruits to benefit from their full potential vitamins. For example, during this ditakh period, consume it fresh or in juice.

Do you think that local fruits can help diversify the diet of Senegalese people and why?

Yes, local fruits help diversify your diet by providing vitamins and minerals that are not always found in other foods. They are also more economically accessible.

What are the economic benefits of consuming local fruits compared to imported fruits?

Local fruits are cheaper, especially in times of hardship. They support the local economy by stimulating the production and harvesting of wild fruits.

Do you think that promoting local fruits could have a positive impact on local agriculture and the local economy?

Absolutely, the promotion of local fruits can pull all fruit sectors. This requires the development of agriculture for these fruits and the support of the Ministry of Agriculture.

What key messages would you like to convey to Seneweb readers regarding the consumption of local fruits?

It is essential to consume seasonal fruits to benefit from all their vitamin and mineral potential. Promoting local fruits means supporting the economy and the health of the population. I recommend promoting the fruits of each season and raising awareness among the population about the benefits of local fruits. Getting elders and specialists to speak can help pass on this knowledge.