1. Get Your Vitamins
The macrobiotic diet eliminates foods from the diet that contribute to many illnesses and ailments. By reducing the processed foods and animal byproducts, which include dairy, meat and eggs, the body can provide good health and long life. At least that is what the proponents of the macrobiotic diet tout. They further believe that a body in good health and nourished properly, can heal illness and ailments of the body without other intervention. The human body needs a minimum amount of vitamins, minerals, protein and fats. These are necessary for the body to function properly and to avoid serious disease. The minimalistic diet is the goal of the macrobiotic diet, which is to reduce foods in the diet until a person only consumes beans and brown rice. There are many deficiencies in this approach to dieting. The elimination of most vegetables and fruits reduces the sources of vitamin C in the diet and this removes the important antioxidants in the body. Scurvy is only one disease that's linked to not getting enough vitamin C in the diet. There are many other diseases related to other vitamins and minerals in the diet.
2. Watch Your Scale
One of the most immediate side effects of this diet is the drop in weight a person will be able to observe. The reduction of protein and starches in the diet will trigger a rapid weight loss and lack of energy. While on the surface this seems like a wonderful benefit, over time it will become a serious drawback. The extreme of this drawback is that a person can actually become malnourished. If a person is considering embarking on this diet it would be wise to find alternate sources of the RDAs of the basic vitamins and minerals and be aware that they may need to supplement their diet or adjust the diet plan to include enough protein from other sources. Adhering to the macrobiotic diet in the strictest sense is not healthy.
3. Consult Your Physician
Always consult your doctor before beginning a diet plan. It is more necessary when thinking about adopting one as extreme as this one. Your physician can be a great source of information on what your particular body needs as far as nutrition is concerned. This is the basic advice for a normal otherwise healthy person but for those with health problems and conditions that require medical intervention, this advice is mandatory. Your diet could do you irreparable harm when combined with your condition.
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