Nutritional Taboos among the Fullas in Upper River Region, The Gambia

Figure 1

To illustrate the impact of these taboos, see the following chain-reaction as an example. If bread is not eaten, the pregnant woman is reducing her intake of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamin B, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium. Potassium can be obtained from eating banana, but banana is also a taboo. By not eating banana she is reducing the amount of vitamin A, folic acid, iron, phosphorus, and calcium. Calcium could be obtained from catfish—which is very abundant in the River Gambia—but it is also a taboo. Eggs are also a taboo, which leads to a decrease in the intake of calcium, iron, Vit A, proteins, or cholesterol. How can then a woman that does not eat catfish, bread, banana, and eggs and cannot afford to buy meat avoid animal protein and energy depletion during pregnancy?