The Macrobiotic Diet is a part of a Far Eastern philosophy called Macrobiotics which was developed by a Japanese educator by the name of George Ohsawa. He believed that optimal health can be acquired through the simplicity of the food one takes in. This means that the food should not be highly processed or refined. He is also against any form of overeating and believes that food should be chewed properly before swallowing.
Have a Great Life
Macrobiotics can be derived from the Greek words, Macro which means "great" and Bios which means "life". The people who follow this diet believe that the quality of the food they eat has a great effect on their health, well-being and even their emotional states. In this regiment, sensitivity towards the effect of certain foods on the functions of the body is encouraged.
The Original Macrobiotic Diet
The Macrobiotic Diet that was originally created by Ohsawa had ten progressive and restrictive stages which was concluded by a stage wherein the follower of the diet should eat nothing but water and brown rice. For this reason, the Macrobiotic Diet has earned the reputation of being a regimen wherein only brown rice is eaten. This, however, is no longer followed since several dietary guidelines have evolved since then.
What You Can Eat
In a Macrobiotic Diet, 50 to 60% of each meal consists of whole grains like brown rice, barley, millet, corn and buckwheat. Processed grains, however, can only be eaten occasionally. Followers of this diet should also make sure that they consume two bowls of soup everyday. Since the diet's origin is Japan, soup bases made from fermented soybeans are commonly used. 20 to 30% of each meal should be made up of vegetables which are mostly raw or steamed. Fish or any form of seafood can be consumed with spices that can help in detoxifying the body. Examples of these are wasabi, ginger, mustard and horseradish. Seeds and nuts, however, are consumed in moderation. Eating certain types of fruits like apples, peaches, pears, grapes, berries and melons is also part of the diet.
What You Can't Eat
Meat, cheese and poultry are prohibited in this diet. One should also stay away from sugars and some spices. Certain vegetables with extreme yin and yang properties are also prohibited. Examples of these are eggplants, mangoes, pineapples and papaya.
Although the Macrobiotic Diet does encourage the consumption of fiber-rich grains, vegetables and beans and has been proven to prevent breast cancer and endometriosis, it is still being criticized by nutritionists as being too restrictive and may result to the deficiency of proteins, magnesium, iron and calcium.
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