IntroductionThe Noonuccal and Goenpul tribes of the Quandamooka people are the traditional owners of Minjerribah, known as North Stradbroke Island (NSI) (Redland City Council [RCC], 2010b, paragraphs 1-2). A description of Minjerribah, its location, climate, flora and fauna is followed by a dietary profile for a traditional diet and a typical Western diet. The health of indigenous societies such as hunter-gatherers and correlations between diet and disease for Aboriginal Australians are discussed. Concluding by explaining how the transition from a traditional indigenous diet to a Western diet can have a clear effect on a person's health and well-being. Geographical boundaries, climate, fauna, flora and how they influence the diet of the Noonuccal and Goenpul tribes Minjerribah is located within Moreton Bay, 30 km south-east of Brisbane, east of Cleveland (RCC, 2010a paras. 1 and 7 ) (map A1). A subtropical climate and a range of terrestrial and marine ecosystems support many flora and fauna (Stradbroke Island, 2011, para. 4-5). Fresh water is always available from natural springs and lakes (Welsby, 1917, p. 120) (Figure C1 and C2) (Map B2). Wind and salt resistant plants grow along the front dunes (pig face, goat foot), eucalypts dominate the high dunes in open forest with acacias, banksia, tea trees, grasses and creepers. Mangroves dominate the tidal mudflats, seaweed beds provide food for dugongs. Roots, seeds, nuts, fungi, fruits, and berries are abundant in forests, rainforest, and freshwater and saltwater wetlands (Knight, Barry, McFarland, and Neal. 2010, para. 6; Liddy, n.d., para. 3- 8). Rocky coasts, coral reefs, saltwater and freshwater provide habitat for varieties of crustaceans, fish, eels and other marine species including whales, dugongs, dolphins, stingrays, turtles, snakes and... middle of paper.... ..treated hypertension and/or NIDDM and insulin resistance; conversely, it may also exacerbate hypertension and NIDDM (NHMRC, 2000, p. 178). Conclusion A change in diet from traditional to Western can have noticeable effects on a person's health and well-being. As we have seen, diet is inversely proportional to health. In traditional societies, the synergy between diet and lifestyle was probably protective against lifestyle-related diseases (Cordain et al., 2002, s.42; NHMRC, 2000, p. 37). The shift to a more sedentary lifestyle and Westernized diet is a major factor in the disease patterns observed in Aboriginal Australians (Smith and Smith, 2003, p. 48). Therefore, optimizing nutritional intake by following the principles of a traditional diet, rich in proteins, complex carbohydrates, high Ω3:Ω6 ratio and low salt content, potentially contributes to improving health outcomes by reducing the risk of developing chronic diseases..