Empowering Indigenous communities to improve their health through nutrition: Introduction of a low sugar carbonated beverage

Abstract

Indigenous communities face significant health risks from high softdrink consumption, including chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, and kidney disease. The transition away from traditional bush food diets has contributed to a scarcity of fresh and nutritious food in communities, with highly processed energy-dense products such as softdrinks being readily and excessively available. Previous attempts to improve Indigenous health through either improving water quality, removing favourite softdrinks from convenience store shelves, educating communities, or applying price discounts to healthier beverages have all yielded marginal success. Therefore, we are adopting a unique approach to help bridge the health gap: co-creating a healthier beverage using local bush foods.