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About the Tribe
Traditional diets included diverse seeds, tubers, roots, fruits, gums, insects, marsupials, reptiles, birds, fish, mollusks and crustaceans. It was rich in unrefined carbohydrates, fiber, protein, with modest saturated and monounsaturated fat (108, 109). There were no added sugars, refined carbohydrates or other processed foods (108, 109).
Importance of Animal Products
Importance of Plants
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Transition to Industrialized Food Products
Before western contact, Aboriginal Australians were slim with little or no hypertension, diabetes or cardiovascular disease (106, 107). Traditional diets included diverse seeds, tubers, roots, fruits, gums, insects, marsupials, reptiles, birds, fish, mollusks and crustaceans. It was rich in unrefined carbohydrates, fiber, protein, with modest saturated and monounsaturated fat (108, 109). There were no added sugars, refined carbohydrates or other processed foods (108, 109). Those who transitioned to urban settings or remained in home territories and consumed more processed foods developed high rates of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Their diet was rich in “flour, sugar, rice, carbonated drinks, alcoholic beverages (beer and port), powdered milk, cheap fatty meat, potatoes, onions, and…(some)…fresh fruit and vegetables (110, 111).” When a group of diabetic subjects returned to their traditional diet, despite 64% of the energy derived from animal sources, their diet was low in fat (13%) and calories (1200/day), their metabolic abnormalities improved or resolved (110). There was limited data on total calories associated with their lifestyle transition, but physical activity declined (112).