Macrobiotic foods offer a unique approach to healthy eating, write Simon Brown and Michio Kushi in their book "Modern-Day Macrobiotics: Transform Your Diet and Feed Your Mind, Body, and Spirit." The principle behind macrobiotics is that every food that you eat has its own life force energy and that energy influences our bodies' life force. A macrobiotic diet tends to be low on calories and high on nutrients, which can be helpful for weight loss. Note that macrobiotic foods are not meant to replace medical treatment. If you have a health concern, please contact your physician.
History
George Osawa and later Michio Kushi developed the theories behind the macrobiotic diet. Carl Ferré writes in his book "Pocket Guide to Macrobiotics" that Oshaha thought that all life comes from oneness, or the infinite, which then divides into yin and yang. From these three principles, all life force is created. The principles of a human diet should be organic in nature.
Principles
Osawa thought that humans should first eat fresh vegetables, whole grains, beans and sea vegetables. Every else, including animal products, is secondary. So the diet is largely made up of fresh vegetables and grains. Organic foods are also preferred. Grains should constitute 40 to 60 percent percent of your diet and vegetables 25 to 30 percent. Beans and soups should make up 5 to 10 percent and sea vegetables should round out the last 5 percent.
Benefits
Brown and Kushi list numerous reasons to eat macrobiotic meals. They claim the regimen helps ward off illness, creates a healthy digestive tract, balances mood and enhances blood quality and circulation. The diet is also balanced in acid and alkaline levels and provides the body with lots of stamina. Macrobiotic foods are also high in vitamins and nutrients, including iron, calcium, protein and calcium.
Weight Loss
Eating macrobiotics may also help you to lose weight, since it is low on the gylcemic index, according to Kushi and Brown. Macrobiotic foods encourage even blood sugar levels. Macrobiotic foods tend to be low in calories and help you to keep digesting and eliminating food on a regular basis. Jessica Porter writes in her book "The Hip Chick's Guide to Macrobiotics" that the calories you consume in a macrobiotic diet have a positive impact on your body for weight loss.
Menus
Kushi and Brown suggest eating brown rice for breakfast with parsley tea during the summer months. For lunch, try corn on the cob with a fresh salad. Eat an apple or pear for a snack. Dinner can be barley stew with steamed vegetables and pea, celery and mint soup. Other macrobiotic meals include miso soup, sauerkraut, roasted nuts and seeds, vegetable soup and millet mash.
Warning
Check with your health care provider to make sure a macrobiotic diet is for you. Weight loss takes a dedication to burning more calories that you consume. It is important not to skip meals or make drastic changes that can be harmful to your health.
References
- "Modern-Day Macrobiotics: Transform Your Diet and Feed Your Mind, Body, and Spirit"; Simon Brown, Michio Kushi; 2007
- "Pocket Guide to Macrobiotics"; Carl Ferré; 1997
- "The Hip Chick's Guide to Macrobiotics"; Jessica Porter; 2004
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