Eat your way to health! (Macrobiotics)

Member Name: janharper

Product:	Macrobiotics
Date:	19/03/02 (135 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: eat yourself healthy

Disadvantages: a macrobiotic diet needs careful planning

Macrobiotics is a word derived from two Greek words, makos, which means large and bios, which means life. So, macrobiotics deals with striking a balance with the environment that surrounds us and of which we are an integral part.

Macrobiotics originated in Tibet and China and was first written about in the 'I Ching', Chinese book of changes.

The fundamental concept of Yin and Yang is an integral part of this book and it holds that there are two equal and opposite forces in nature, which work together and must always balance. Yin represents fluid, which is cool and flexible, and Yang represents heat, potency and that which is dynamic.

Yin and Yang are found in everything and every biological cycle. Human beings are made up of elements of Yin and Yang.

Yin is relaxed and laid back with a calm demeanor and a liking for sociability and creative pursuits. Yang is vigorous, alert and focused, pays attention to detail and is active and busy.

The macrobiotic therapist believes that illness and bad health come from either Yin or Yang being dominant over the other. Too much Yang causes stress, irritability, tension, insomnia, palpitations, weight loss, etc. Excess Yin leaves you feeling tired and lethargic, or depressed and gaining weight.

Yin and Yang can be influenced by many different factors, including lifestyle, diet and exercise. Macrobiotics in recent years concentrates on the ideas put forward by George Ohsawa, who put together an understandable modern version of ancient diets and lifestyle guides.The basic idea of this is that you can alter the balance of foods you take in and counteract illness and prevent disease. So, if you increased Yin food intake you could feel better if you had too much Yang, and vice versa.
The idea was developed from an earlier theory that a diet consisting of mostly whole grains and vegetables has few refined carbohydrates, and can keep the body in balance.
The term m
acrobiotics was first used in 1945 but the theory behind it is very ancient.


What is macrobiotics?
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This therapy is a combination of philosophy, lifestyle and diet.

The philosophy is that macrobiotics works by preventing disease rather than correcting problems once they are present.

The lifestyle component encourages follower of the regime to live each day to the full in harmony and happiness and to avoid negative emotions, thoughts and ideas.

A healthy lifestyle should be happy with a sociable approach to other people and friends.

The diet itself is very basic and the sort of fare that you would expect a Chinese peasant family to enjoy.


50% cooked whole grain pasta, bread, rice, noodles.

25% vegetables.

10% protein from fish, pulses, soya, cheese (made with tofu).

5% sea vegetables (seaweed, etc) (try things like spinach instead if you wish)

5% fish, beans, or other vegetables made into soups.

5% teas, desserts, which can also be seeds or nuts, fruit or rice.



Some suggested macrobiotic diets found on the Internet or in books may be much stricter than this. Take care not to embark on a diet that is so strict that it does not give you enough protein, vitamins, minerals and calories to live a healthy life.

Macrobiotic diet do usually discourage:
Alcohol because it can cause excess Yin.

Sugar and spices…..excess Yin.

Eggs can cause excess Yang

Cheese and meat…excess Yang.

The foods mentioned above can imbalance the system and are quite potent in doing so. This can lead to illness.





How does it work?
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A macrobiotic therapist will try to balance energy flow by adjusting diet.


(You can do this yourself if you take a good hard and honest look at exactly who and what you a
re. What traits already mentioned above do you have? Have you an excess of Yin, or Yang?)


These foods increase Yin:


Green leafy vegetables.

Seeds and nuts,

Tofu and tempeh,

Whole fruit,

Fruit and vegetable juices,

Jams and jellies (organically made)

Barley malt.



Yang foods include:


Whole grain cereals,

Brown rice,

Wholemeal bread,

Oats,

Root vegetables,

Fish and shellfish,

Beans, peas and lentils,

Salt (go easy here!!)

Soya bean protein.


Gradually, those who switch to this healthier diet will feel better and more alive. It takes at least ten days to get results. It isn't easy to change to a completely macrobiotic diet but it can be done if you introduce changes gradually.

Just a word of warning here, if you do feel unwell, tired, lethargic, etc speak to a medical professional. This diet is not suitable for those who has serious health problems and certainly not for children. However you decide to implement changes make sure that you don't deprive your body of the nourishment it needs.




Can macrobiotics help me?
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Its hard to measure how much a new lifestyle and new diet improves a persons health. However there must be obvious benefit in reducing stress levels and being more active and trying to eat a healthier diet.

There is a lot to recommend this particular nutritional regime, as it doesn't advocate artificial, processed foods. It may also help with weight reduction.

Macrobiotics claims to help prevent disease occurring in the first place. It also claims that it can boost the immune system. This, of course, is hard to prove.

However the three way approach of macrobiotics (as described earlier in the course) can help people to combat social, emotiona
l, and physical problems. It can improve the digestive system, the nervous system and the hormonal systems by making sure that vitamin and mineral levels are correct.

You can lose weight using a diet like this if you adhere to the exercise plans as well. It can also help to increase concentration and stamina. (Think about it logically here. If you have been living on large quantities of junk food and refined carbohydrates including sugar, your system has a lot to cope with. A better diet must help.)


Today's macrobiotic diets encompass what dieticians would consider sensible, balanced nutrition for the 'normal' digestive system.

(Be aware that certain medical conditions require diet adjustments and be guided by your medical practitioner.)

WARNING:

You may, during your research, come across a macrobiotic diet that advocates eating brown rice and hardly anything else. Don't embark on this. You will quickly start to show signs of malnutrition if you follow this. It's dangerous~! It was this particular diet that gave macrobiotics a very bad name during the 70's and 80's.

Don't make your diet too strict, or restrictive. Tailor it to suit your lifestyle. (Or pay to have a practitioner do this for you.)


If you do have any doubts about the nutritional content of your diet, you can always ask a doctor, or other health professional.



Summary
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Macrobiotics can be harmful if you don't make sure that you are getting enough of each different food group. Don't restrict your diet too much.

About twenty years ago macrobiotic diets were creating real harm by causing malnutrition in people who didn't have the general knowledge to realize that they could not live on such restricted foods. I repeat:

DON'T FOLLOW THE OLD MACROBIOTIC BROWN RICE DIET IF YOU COME ACROSS IT. IT IS NOT SAFE.

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We are what we eat and any scientist will agree with that. Many illnesses and diseases are directly related to diet. Many people could benefit from adjustments to their current lifestyle and diet so that they can become less stressed and give their bodies fewer artificial chemicals to deal with.

All aspects of a person's life are taken into account by macrobiotics. The approach is holistic (treats the whole person.)

Many people report an increase in health and general vitality after being on a balanced macrobiotic diet for a couple of weeks. Some have made quite extravagant claims about it ability to cure all kinds of complaints; it isn't magic, wonder system that cures all ills.

Macrobiotics is a holistic system that can improve physical condition and help the follower of the system to achieve a balanced, happy lifestyle.



One session with a macrobiotics practitioner will cost you in the region of forty pounds. That's fine if you have that kind of cash to spare. However, you can, by careful planning, construct a perfectly good macrobiotic diet and lifestyle for yourself.

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