The macrobiotic diet comes from Far Eastern philosophy, which emphasizes yin and yang -- the two opposing, elemental forms of energy contained in all things. The goal behind the macrobiotic diet is to use foods to balance your own yin and yang. Some promoters of this diet believe it can prevent or treat certain diseases, including cancer, but no clinical evidence exists for the effectiveness of this use.
Step 1
Acquire the correct cooking tools. The macrobiotic diet restricts which materials you can use to prepare your food. For example, all utensils, pots and pans must be stainless steel, wood, ceramic, glass or enamel. Microwaves, electric stoves, rice cookers and other forms of electric cooking are forbidden.
Step 2
Stock your pantry with appropriate foods. When purchasing whole grains, choose short- and medium-grain brown rice more often than long-grain brown rice, the Kushi Institute explains. Other grains to eat regularly are corn, millet, barley, rye, whole oats, wheatberries and buckwheat. Consume noodles, couscous, steel-cut oats and other processed grains less frequently. Among vegetables, emphasize greens, carrots, onions, daikon, radishes, turnips, broccoli, acorn squash, Brussels sprouts, butternut squash, cabbage, pumpkin and string beans. Consume celery, cucumber, chives, endive, mushrooms, escarole, Swiss chard, snow peas, lettuce and sprouts only occasionally. When possible, purchase organically grown foods.
Step 3
Consume foods in the correct proportions. The macrobiotic diet has guidelines on the composition of your diet. Whole grains, for example, should make up approximately 50 percent of your diet. Vegetables, either cooked or consumed raw, should make up 25 percent of your food intake. Fish, legumes or other sources of protein can make up 10 percent of your diet, but meat and cheese are usually not allowed because of their extreme yin and yang properties. Soups such as miso should be consumed once or twice per day for 5 percent of your diet. Another 5 percent of your food should come from sea vegetables, which include kombu, sea palm, nori and Irish moss. The remaining 5 percent of your daily diet can derive from a mixture of nuts, seeds and fruits. You may need to go to specialty stores for some of these ingredients, or use the Internet to purchase hard-to-find foods.
Step 4
Eat in the appropriate manner. For example, chew each bite at least 50 times, the Kushi Institute explains. Eat only when hungry, and drink water only when thirsty. Do not eat within three hours of going to sleep, and sit relaxed but with good posture when eating.
Member Comments