Facts on Macrobiotic Diet

1. It's a Lifestyle Change

A macrobiotic diet is not just another fad diet. It's a lifestyle change that helps you lose weight by changing the way you eat. Developed by a Japanese educator in the 1920's, it is based on simplicity and locally grown and produced foods. A macrobiotic diet keeps you in harmony with your environment and is used to treat different diseases, such as heart disease and high cholesterol.

2. Learn Your Percentages

A macrobiotic diet is based on consuming certain percentages of whole grains, beans, fruits and vegetables. A sample diet is 50 to 60 percent of grains, especially brown rice; 25 to 30 percent of vegetables, such as raw carrots and celery; 5 to 10 percent of beans and legumes, which can be included in soups; and the last 5 percent is made up of miso soup. Everything you eat should be grown or produced as locally as possible, and all food should be organic. You are keeping things in balance with your environment.

3. Avoid the Unnatural

In order to stay balanced, you must avoid unnatural foods on the macrobiotic diet. Processed foods, such as chips, cookies and sodas, are not allowed. Other foods to avoid include anything with caffeine, chocolate, refined sugar or animal products. Also avoid dairy products, including yogurt, cheese and eggs. Some versions of macrobiotic diets do allow for small amounts of fish, but the majority of followers avoid even this.

4. Simplicity is Key

How you prepare your food on the macrobiotic diet is also important. If you take great foods and cook all the nutrients out of them or cover them in sauces, you are not following the diet. Eating foods raw is the best way to follow a macrobiotic diet. If food must be cooked, the simplest way is preferred. Use simple methods, such as sauteing, boiling, or making a soup base with a vegetable broth. Simpler cooking methods keep more nutrients in the food. Some followers even believe how you cut and prepare the food is linked.

5. Stock Up on Nutrients

Macrobiotic diets are restrictive and not only based on what foods you consume, but also where you get these foods. It is important that you use locally produced foods, which means that your diet is very seasonal. You eat what is in season, or what you can easily store without the food being processed. People who are on this diet must also be aware that they may not get enough of certain nutrients, such as protein and calcium, and take steps to counter this. Consider eating dark leafy greens for calcium and beans and legumes for protein. A nutritionist can help you plan your macrobiotic diet to ensure you get all the nutrients that you need.