Macrobiotics is more a way of living than a simple diet. It is not a new philosophy. According to Stephen Blauer in his book, "The Macrobiotic Way," ancient Greek physician Hippocrates was the first one to use the word. In ancient Greece, it meant living a balanced, healthy, long life -- something macrobiotics aspires to achieve today.
Beliefs
The macrobiotic diet focuses on changing your diet as a way of improving your overall life. Macrobiotics believes your health is defined by the balance of three natural processes: breathing, bowel movements and urination. Every illness is connected to an imbalance of one or more of those processes. According to the philosophy of macrobiotics, a bad diet causes toxins to accumulate in the body and lead to illness, lack of energy and mood changes.
Spiritual Connection
The macrobiotic lifestyle aspires to provide a well-balanced connection between your physical and your emotional health. When you eat the right diet, you help balance the ying-yang energies in your body. This in turn helps you get in balance with nature and the universe. When your body is in balance with your spirit and the universe, you don't get sick, as your body expels any toxins or viruses that get in.
Diet Principles
In a macrobiotic diet, 50 percent of your diet should come from whole grains, such as barley, whole wheat and brown rice. Another 30 percent after that should be from vegetables, especially green vegetables, like broccoli. Limit the intake of starchy vegetables, like potatoes. The remaining 20 percent can be divided among sea vegetables, beans and legumes. Some versions of the macrobiotic diet allow 5 to 10 percent for processed foods, as long as those foods don't contain high amounts of sugars and additives. Macrobiotics doesn't completely ban other foods, but suggests you severely restrict animal products, fruits and nuts to no more than two or three times per week.
Unhealthy Foods
Macrobiotic philosophy believes certain foods interrupt the healthy balance of energy in your body. You need to avoid these foods as much as possible to allow your body to thrive. Most macrobiotic diets are vegetarian, although some allow some fish. Sugars, alcohol, refined flour, processed foods, animal products and salt are damaging to the body's balance.
References
- "Macrobiotics for Life"; Simon Brown; 2009
- "The Macrobiotic Way"; Stephen Blauer; 1993
- Vanderbilt University; Macrobiotics: A Way of Life; Loulie Gillen
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