Macrobiotic Vs. Vegan

There are many reasons why people adopt particular diet and lifestyle practices. These reasons vary from person to person, ranging from personal health, the environment, spiritual or religious factors and animal rights. Both vegan and macrobiotic diets have benefits, restrictions and even some potential issues or problems that may arise when observing these diets. Although there are some similarities between these two diets, there are also some notable differences.

Considerations

It is important to note that the terms "vegan" and "macrobiotic" mean different things to different people. Just like anything else in life, there is individual variation when it comes to these diets. Both tend to be very strict if followed to the letter, but some people do not adhere strictly to "the rules."

Vegan

A vegan diet excludes all meat, seafood, eggs and dairy products and is, therefore, a plant-based diet. A strict vegan will also avoid any products made from animals like silk, wool, leather and down. In the United States, about 1 percent of the population follows a vegan diet, notes Sally Kneidel and Sara Kate Kneidel, authors of "Veggie Revolution, 2005." Vegan philosophy focuses on a cruelty-free lifestyle that benefits the environment, personal health and the animals, notes Vegan Action. Strict vegans are very well informed on what products contain animal products, not just in terms of foods like baked or boxed goods, but also lotions and personal care products.

Macrobiotic

Hippocrates, the ancient Greek philosopher, coined the word "macrobiotic," which means "great life." It was not until the 1920s that the first macrobiotic diet was created by Japanese philosopher George Oshawa, who was trying to cure himself of disease, notes Epigee. The macrobiotic diet is mainly vegetarian with some seafood, note Kneidel and Kneidel. No other meat products are included in the diet, nor are eggs and dairy products. A macrobiotic lifestyle emphasizes living close to nature and eating simple and natural foods. Additionally, the diet stresses eating local and seasonal foods and foods that balance each other out harmoniously in the body.

Vegan Values

Vegan philosophy is a big part of vegan lifestyle. Vegans treasure and respect life and they see themselves as part of the environment, not owners of it. Vegan ideology is more than just advocacy of an animal-product-free diet and defense of animal rights, notes Stanley M. Sapon, Ph.D., on Vegan Values. It is about respecting life above comfort and convenience. Sapon notes that the term "mindfulness" encompasses vegan philosophy because vegans strive to be aware and concerned about the impact of their actions and decisions.

Macrobiotic Energy

The Eastern principle of yin and yang make up the foundation of macrobiotics, notes the Toronto Vegetarian Association. Macrobiotics seeks to bring harmony to these complementary but opposite forces. In macrobiotics, yin represents outward energy movement or expansion and yang is inward energy movement or contraction. Plant foods that are dense and hearty are considered yang and light; watery plant foods are considered yin. Macrobiotics' focal point is balance and choosing foods and cooking methods that balance yin and yang.