The Optimal Diet for Human Health

Caitlyn Davey • July 8, 2025

Last week what spoke about what I believe what health really is, so let's go deeper again and try and find the optimal diet for human health as backed by research. You’ve heard everyone spouting shit about what the best diet for fat loss and health is right? Ketogenic, high carb, low carb, paleo, high protein, plant-based, vegan etc BUT What if there wasn’t an optimal overall diet? Maybe we need to have a closer look at ancestral health & the blue zones around the world. What’s a blue zone you ask? Blue Zones are areas in which people have low rates of disease and live longer than anywhere else. Lomo Linda (California), Nicoya (Costa Rica), Sardinia (Italy), Icaria (Greece), Okinawa (Japan) What do these blue zones have in common, remember from last weeks email, it’s not all about nutrition. Physical activity Close knit community & family Sun exposure Less stress No smoking Religion & sense of purpose Less PollutionLet’s have a look at some fairly extreme diets around the world where the people seem perfectly healthy and without rates of obesity. The Kitavans on the Melanesian island follows a traditional, non-industrial diet. About 69% of their diet comes from Carbs, 10% Protein and 21% fat. Yet they having very low HDL (good cholesterol) levels and very low rates of cardiovascular disease.   The Aymara people (Chilean natives) 80% of their diet comes from the carbohydrate potato. They have extremely low rates of diabetes despite the extremely high intake of HGI Carbs. Maasai Tribe, men eat a diet consisting almost exclusively of high fat and protein consisting of milk, meat, blood and they rarely eat any vegetables. High calories over 3000 per day 66% from fat (33% from Saturated fat) and they consume 600-2000mg of cholesterol per day.  YET they have low levels of serum cholesterol and no evidence of heart disease. Now let’s have a look at the most famous case of a tribe being westernised and how this affected them. The Pimpa Indians, they traditionally lived off the land until irrigation water got diverted so they could no longer grow crops. The became dependant on government food programs providing white flour, sugar, partially hydrogenated lard and canned goods. They now have the highest rate of diabetes (38%) and one of the highest rates of hypertension and obesity of any population in the world! How very very sad is that. But why?Well, you are taking people who grew their own crops and lived naturally off the land, their food was nutrient-dense and their foods were extremely satiating. Now they have been given highly palatable foods with low satiation whenever they want them. They eat for pleasure in the absence of an energy deficit.These people above have possibly genetically adapted to that way of living. But you can see all their diets are vastly different. Some extreme high fat like the Inuits (75% fat) some are high carb, some don’t eat any vegetables.  So with all that said………………So how do we know what the optimal diet is? Well, the answer is there isn’t one. Nice one James, top marks I wanted a straight answer! LOL you won’t find one here. The answer is you need to eat to meet your energy requirement while having an underlying principle of a good Macronutrient breakdown (protein, fats and carbs) and micronutrient intake (vitamins and minerals). But if any diet worked perfectly for everyone, trust me the world wouldn’t be in the shit pile it is surrounding food. You see it really doesn’t matter how you eat in theory, the optimal diet is the one you can adhere to the best, it is as simple as that.I think we can take a lot away from the blue zones, they get sunlight each day, they have a connection with family and a sense of purpose, they smoke less, they stress less they are very active and they eat a less westernised diet.  If I was going to say what a ‘good balanced’ overall diet would be for westerners of the world. It would be:Limit refined starches Limit added sugar limit processed foodsLimit certain processed fats (Trans) Eat meats, fish, poultry, seafood, whole grains, vegetables and fruits.  Eat some of your favourite foods ?The key word there is the limit, not eradicate all together. Still, have the foods you always enjoy, that is what keeps up adherence and allows sustainability in life & what the fuck is life without some bloody chocolate or crisps (UK crisps of course, Australia crisps suck and they call them chips WTF). Anyway, I digress.You see everyone needs something a little bit different in their diet depending on a factor of different things, but the diet should be built around your lifestyle and values, your life should not be built around your diet.

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July 22, 2025
If you live in Wynnum or Capalaba , chances are you’ve seen a bootcamp in action — high-intensity sessions in parks, with lots of burpees, sprints, and shouting. While bootcamps can be a fun way to get sweaty, there’s a reason more people are choosing structured strength training instead. At Rebuild, we often meet people who’ve jumped from one bootcamp to another, chasing results they never quite achieve, or can’t maintain. Here’s why strength training, not bootcamp-style fitness, is the smarter long-term approach for your health and body. 1. Progress Over Punishment Bootcamps often focus on burning calories and pushing people to their limits every session. It feels intense — but it’s usually random. There’s no plan beyond “go hard”. Strength training is different. It’s measured, progressive, and adaptable . Whether you’re lifting a barbell or doing bodyweight movements, the goal is to build skill, strength, and confidence over time. You're not punished for where you're at — you're coached toward where you want to be. 2. Stronger Muscles = Better Results Cardio-heavy bootcamps might help you lose weight quickly, but they rarely help you build muscle, and muscle is the key to long-term fat loss, strength, and mobility . When you train with resistance (weights, bands, or bodyweight), your body becomes more efficient. You burn more calories at rest, move better, and feel more capable in everyday life. And unlike bootcamps, strength training actually preserves lean mass while you're in a calorie deficit — which matters if your goal is body composition, not just weight loss. 3. Individual Coaching Matters Most bootcamps have one instructor yelling instructions to a big group. There’s rarely time to check your technique, let alone adjust for injuries, experience, or confidence levels. At Rebuild, our group sessions are coach-led and purpose-built . We take time to teach proper form, scale movements to your ability, and track your progress. You're not just surviving a workout — you’re learning how to move better and train smarter. 4. It’s Not Just About Today’s Workout Bootcamps often lack structure. You show up, do something exhausting, and leave. There’s no continuity or long-term planning. Strength training follows a programmed approach , meaning each week builds on the last. You’ll have sessions designed to improve specific movements and outcomes — whether that’s lifting more weight, increasing core strength, or mastering your first pull-up. That structure keeps you consistent, motivated, and injury-free. 5. Sustainability Over Shock Tactics If you’re tired of the “go hard or go home” mentality, strength training is for you. It’s adaptable to all ages, bodies, and goals . You’ll get fitter, stronger, and more confident — without burning out or breaking down. Ready to train with purpose? If you're looking for something better than a bootcamp in Wynnum or Capalaba , join us at Rebuild. We coach real people — not fitness models — to get real results. 📍 Structured training 📍 Expert coaches 📍 Community that has your back You don’t need to be fit to start. You just need to start.
July 22, 2025
A lot of people have completed a marathon but how many people have collapsed at 40km?

Sometimes you do everything right, and shit still doesn’t go to plan.
 Last weekend I ran in the Gold Coast Marathon, my first ever marathon. I trained properly, my body felt relatively good (all things considered when preparing to run 42.2km), I carb-loaded, and my race day nutrition was dialled in.
 I was ready.
 We set off. Jess and the kids met me at different points on the course with signs, the atmosphere was great. I loved seeing the kids with their signs. Pacing felt on point. The first 21km? Easy. I felt great. Maybe I should’ve drunk more water, but I didn’t think too much of it at the time.
 At 25km, I felt slower, but pace wise I was still holding well. I’d kept telling myself throughout the day "The race starts at 30km." And let me tell you, it does.
 By 30km, the sun was out, and I was starting to struggle. My watch started glitching so I had no real idea of my splits. I thought I was slowing down a lot (turns out I wasn’t), but the effort to keep the same pace suddenly felt 10x harder.
 I hadn’t taken on enough water. Usually, I can get away with lower fluids. Not this time. Dehydration crept in. hard.
 At 35km I was in survival mode, one foot in front of the other, flicking between moments of pain and little short lived waves of “let’s go.” But by 39km I was delirious. I could see the finish line, I hit the 40km mark (where I thought enjoyment might return to finish), and I collapsed.
 I was gone. Scary stuff.
 The last few hundred metres were a complete blur. All I remember is the crowd, the medics, and about five paramedics suddenly around me. I was vomiting, shaking, confused, in and out of it. I had this overwhelming, indescribable feeling, and honestly, for a moment, I thought I could die.
 My memory went. I couldn’t recall the day, the year, where I lived, or how to spell. I only knew who Jess and the kids were, and that I didn’t want them to see me with wires in me. 
 My temperature had hit 40°C. Blood pressure crashed. Thankfully, the medics and paramedics were incredible, I had a drip running into me within 10 to 15 minutes.
 As I already knew, I’m stubborn. I wanted to run it all. Not walk. Not stop and breathe and In hindsight, I should have. 
 Seems like my mind was just a bit stronger than my body on the day. I never thought I could push myself there in all honesty. 

Am I gutted? Of course, I was only 2km away but I gave it everything I had on that day. Heat stroke, exhaustion, and dehydration got me. 

I am always reminded here of the quote ‘The man in the arena’ look it up if you need. 
 Will I run 42.2km again? Yes, I feel I need to. 

Would I do things differently, now I’ve run 40km under race conditions? You bet, lessons learnt. Always lessons. Never be scared to not succeed. Be scared to never try in the first place. 
 We go again.
By Caitlyn Davey July 8, 2025
You Need To Earn The Right To Be Good At Something
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