Doctors at the Mayo Clinic report that the macrobiotic diet is hundreds of thousands years old and has proven to be an effective diet for healthful living. Primarily a vegetarian diet, the menus are meant to be balanced and produce a yin and yang combination that helps the body maintain its equilibrium. The diet follows general practices of healthful eating.
Unadulterated Grains
One of the main tenets of a macrobiotic diet is that food should be clean and free from toxins, such as pesticides and preservatives. Unadulterated whole grains are unrefined and as close to natural as possible. According to the American Cancer Society, about 50 percent to 60 percent of the daily caloric intake should come from organically grown wheat products.
Organic Vegetables
Twenty percent to 25 percent of daily calories are supposed to come from organic vegetables. Proponents of the diet encourage the use of locally grown vegetables to reduce the amount of carbon emissions required to transport imported vegetables, even if they are grown organically. The remaining 5 percent to 10 percent of the food intake usually consists of soups made from organic vegetables. Soups also should include beans, seaweed, grains and miso. Occasional servings of nuts, seeds and pickles are allowed. Vegetables that are not allowed on the diet include potatoes, eggplant, tomatoes, peppers, asparagus and spinach.
Other Foods
Nuts and seeds are another staple of a macrobiotic diet. Asian condiments and nonstimulating, nonaromatic teas are allowed. While the earliest versions of the Japanese diet excluded any meat, more modern versions of the diet include fresh white fish. All other foods that originate from animals are discouraged, including all dairy products and eggs. The diet allows most fruit except those that are grown overseas, typically bananas, coconut, pineapples and other exotic fruits.
Cooking
Specific methods of cooking also are recommended for the macrobiotic diet. Most people who follow the diet do not use microwaves or electricity for cooking. In addition, pots, pans and utensils should be made from wood, glass, ceramic or stainless steel. Variety in meals can be achieved by cutting vegetables in different shapes or varying the amount of water used in a recipe. The International Macrobiotic Shiatsu Society encourages dieters to vary the style of cooking from stir-frying to dry roasting and steaming. A peaceful setting is prescribed for meals, since the macrobiotic diet encompasses the belief that food is sacred. Food should be chewed thoroughly until it is practically fluid.
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