Adopt a philosophy of balanced nutrition with a macrobiotic diet. This ancient Japanese diet is vegetarian, which is beneficial if not taken to extremes, according to a 2007 report in the "Medical Edge" newspaper column by Dr. Brent A. Bauer of the Mayo Clinic. The diet is rich in organic vegetables, grains and beans, with occasional supplementary nuts. Strict macrobiotic diet followers exclude any kind of animal flesh in their regimens.
Definition
The definition of macrobiotic reflects the overall benefit claimed for macrobiotic diets. The word is a combined form of the Greek word "macro," which is usually translated as large or long, and the word "bios," meaning life or living. Together they signify the benefit of long life, promised to people who eat in the prescribed macrobiotic way.
Variations
Researchers in the Faculty of Medicine at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, in 2007, described macrobiotic diet variations with different benefits and challenges. Lacto-ovo-vegetarians allow egg and dairy proteins and vitamins, but no meats. Lacto-vegetarians allow only dairy products that provide some animal-derived nutrients. Pure vegetarians, or vegans, reject dairy and eggs. Strict macrobiotic diets rely on cereals to provide 100 percent of your nutrition. A revised version allows whole-grain cereals, unpolished rice, vegetables and seaweeds, seeds, nuts, seasonal fruit and some fermented foods. Macrobiotic and vegan diets offer the benefit of lower cholesterol and saturated fat than non-vegan diets, though you must add some essential nutrients. Seventh Day Adventists, who subscribe to veganism and macrobiotics, enjoy lower age-specific mortality and cardiovascular disease rates than meat, dairy and egg eaters.
Pediatrics
McGill University specialists say a macrobiotic diet offers low cholesterol and fat benefits to infants and children. However, they warn that supplements unavailable in a macrobiotic diet are required to give your baby nutrients critical for brain development, growth and a healthy immune system. Vitamin B-12 is virtually absent from plants. Deficiency can cause irreversible brain damage and severe anemia. Vitamin-D and calcium deficiencies are also common, risking osteoporosis and rickets. Some animal fats are essential, as your body cannot make them. The benefits of macrobiotics in children require adding the right supplements.
Team Efforts
A macrobiotic diet initially requires a team of people versed in nontypical nutrition and health care. This team effort provides the benefit of teaching you about nutrition. You will learn how to get the most from fresh plants, grains, legumes and unprocessed organic foods. This knowledge allows you to create a macrobiotic diet suited to your specific needs and tastes. Individual dietary experimentation does not offer this benefit.
Disclaimer and Dangers
Macrobiotic diets provide well documented benefits if done properly. Do not attempt this without trained medical consultation. The McGill physicians cite a Dutch study of six- to eight-month-old infants fed a macrobiotic diet. Over half received less than 80 percent of their recommended daily protein. In 2002, a New Zealand vegan couple was accused of child abuse in the death of their 6-month-old son for failing to provide him with dietary necessities. The cause of death was identified as vitamin B-12 deficiency after his parents refused medical advice and care.
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