Answers from the Wild

Long ago, people were able to thrive on the nutrients obtained from wild edible plants. Various factors over the years have led to the neglect of this valuable food source. Micronutrient consumption in South Africa is currently insufficient to meet the needs of lactating women, negatively impacting the health of both mother and infant. Increasing consumption of wild edible plants has been recommended to combat these deficiencies, but little information is available on the quantity or types of plants that should be eaten. This book offers a glimpse into the factors that caused the transition away from wild edible plant use in South Africa, the health problems currently prevalent there due to poor nutrition, and an overview of the various interventions that have been attempted. A study is also presented quantifying the amounts and types of wild edible plants that would need to be consumed by lactating women to meet their micronutrient needs. It is hoped that this information will help policy makers and individuals formulate effective interventions to improve micronutrient intake and health of the most vulnerable individuals in any population—mothers and their children.