Have you been keeping tabs on all the Hollywood diets lately? Ranging from the South Beach Diet to the Atkins Diet, it can sometimes be hard to keep track of them all! You may also have heard about the Macrobiotic Diet, which has advocates including Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna. A macrobiotic diet isn't simply a diet plan. It's a way of life. If you're drawn to the concept of eating a natural, organic, plant-based diet (with a little fish) and embrace a Zen-like spirituality in both your life and food selections, then a macrobiotic diet may be for you.
What is Macrobiotic Diet?
Originally from Japan, the principle behind the macrobiotic diet combines tenets of Zen Buddhism with a Western-style vegetarian diet. The word "macrobiotic" comes from the Greek and essentially means "long life" or "great life." The macrobiotic diet regimen supports an Eastern philosophy of balancing foods to attain a balance of yin and yang. Yin foods are cold, sweet, and passive while yang foods are hot, salty, and aggressive. It is also based on the premise that all foods on cooking lose their nutrition progressively. Harsher the cooking method; more is the nutrient loss. From this emerged a thought process that we should eat foods in their most natural form without damaging the nutrient value. This new diet is not really very new as this sort of diet was already used by the monks, rishis and many lamas in different parts of the world.
What foods are allowed in this diet?
The macrobiotic diet is easy to follow once you know exactly what you are allowed to eat. The diet divides daily intake into different food groups. The basic diet is essentially:
- 50% whole grains
- 25% seasonal vegetables, cooked or raw
- 10% protein foods - such as fish or legumes
- 5% sea vegetables
- 5% soups
- 5% fruit, nuts, or seeds
The macrobiotic diet consists of food in its natural form like:
- Sprouts: Mung, moth, channa (bengal gram) are the dals (pulses) which can be easily sprouted and these are the most energizing and vitalizing foods available. The nutrients we get from these are vitamin C and vitamin B complex.
- Nuts: Walnuts, pistachio, almonds and peanuts provide nutrients like calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, vitamin E.
- Salads: All vegetables like cucumber, kakdi, tomato, bell pepper, blanched spinach, steamed broccoli, onions release tremendous amounts of vitamins into the system.
- Raw Chutney: Made of onion, garlic, dhania (coriander), pudina (mint), it has amazing antioxidants and is good for kidneys, liver, digestion and intestinal tone.
- Fruits: All fruits are wonderful source of the multivitamins like B complex, vitamin C etc.
- Herbs: Like wheat grass juice with tulsi (holy basil) and ashwagandha (winter cherry) added to it are beneficial for anti-aging and anticancer.
Additionally, the macrobiotic diet allows you to eat small quantities of fish and seafood several times a week. Moreover, the diet emphasizes the use of all natural foods that are locally grown.
What Foods Should You Avoid on the Macrobiotic Diet?
Unfortunately, many of those foods that you likely love are strictly forbidden on the macrobiotic diet. This is because they are too high in either yin or yang properties, and therefore will throw your natural balance off course. In particular, you should try to stay away from:
- processed foods
- refined foods (like sugar and white flour)
- animal products, including red meat, poultry, dairy products, and cheese
- chocolate
- soda
- caffeinated products (especially coffee)
What is the Daily Regime?
A typical day on this diet would consist of:
- Water on waking up and followed by herbal tea
- A breakfast of fruits and lemon water with a little honey
- A lunch of raw salads, sprouts and various herbs with a lemon dressing and lightly salted with rocksalt
- In the evening some herbal tea or vegetable juice
- For dinner, a tofu salad or a steamed fish salad
What are the Advantages?
There appear to be numerous health benefits that the macrobiotic diet can offer. When paired with a healthy fitness routine, the macrobiotic diet can help you to lose excess weight. And, because this diet focuses on foods that are low in saturated fats and high in fiber, it can also help you to lower your risk of:
- heart disease
- high cholesterol
- heart attack and stroke
There have also been some claims that the macrobiotic diet helps to improve symptoms of certain illnesses, including cancer and AIDS. However, these claims have yet to be scientifically proven.
What are the Disadvantages?
Many nutritionists and health care providers express concerns over the macrobiotics diet, particularly if it is followed strictly. Extreme macrobiotic eating can be very low in calories, posing a risk for starvation. The diet is also very low in essential vitamins and minerals, like calcium, iron and vitamin D. For this reason, children and pregnant or breastfeeding women should not follow a macrobiotic diet
According to macrobiotic proponents, living within the natural order means eating only what is necessary for one's condition and desires, and learning to adjust in a peaceful way to life's changes. Learning the effects of different foods allows one to consciously counteract other influences and maintain a healthy, dynamically balanced state. By following a macrobiotic diet, one can prevent health problems and rejuvenate the body. The foods contained within the diet are highly nutritious and nourishing. Living in such a manner promotes well being and longevity.
Dana Vigilante