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Macrobiotic Diet: Frequently Asked Questions

What is a macrobiotic diet?

A good question, to which I have had difficulty finding a straight answer. (If anyone else can, tell me! ) As best I can tell, a typical macrobiotic diet is a vegan diet which also attempts to avoid refined foods (such as white sugar, for example). I am told that: “the gist of the dietary philosophy is a reliance on local, natural, organically grown, whole foods; elimination of meat and dairy unless you live in arctic or near-arctic regions, avoidance of either raw or well cooked foods (salads are just as bad as over-cooked vegetables in their system), in favor ...
The Macrobiotic Diet is a delicious, ecological, and nutritionally sound plant-based diet that has been eaten by millions of people throughout history. The traditional whole foods eaten according to macrobiotic principles are organic and balanced for each individual's unique condition, climate, profession. activities, and life goals. The Macrobiotic Diet is not a "One-Size-Fits-All" diet, because each of us has special characteristics and needs. ...

What celebrities follow a macrobiotic diet?

Gwyneth Paltrow, Barbara Streisand, John Travolta, Nicole Kidman, Madonna, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Joe Pesci, Steven Seagal, Mike Maloney, Roland Gift, Dirk Benedict, and Boy George

How do I follow the Macrobiotic Diet?

Follow the Plan in Gillian’s book, You Are What You Eat. Many elements of the Plan have their origins in macrobiotics.

Can I lose weight on a macrobiotic diet?

Yes. All studies have shown extensive loss of weight on a macrobiotic diet. By eliminating saturated fats and refined sugars from your diet you will not only lose weight but you will find that by eating food high in fiber, complex carbohydrates and micronutrients you will enjoy a healthier and more energetic lifestyle.

What is a macrobiotic vegan diet?

A macrobiotic diet is the opposite of a raw food diet. Primarily vegan, with some fish on occasion, the macrobiotic diet espouses only cooked vegan food. Michio Kushi has assisted individuals reverse disease and prevent over 200 chronic disorders in his book The Macrobiotic Path to Total Health . Other highly-regarded doctors feel that eating only cooked food is dangerous and creates digestive disorders.

What is the difference between macrobiotic and vegetarian diet?

Macrobiotic is all that affects your health as using whole foods. Focuses on the person's condition. Uses foods that grow in that season and in the environment that grows. Has higher enzymes, because uses fermented foods and other readily available enzymes like from press salads. In macrobiotics you have more balanced food and the life style, from acidic to alkaline. Macrobiotic individuals can practice in a vegan manner. Vegetarian diets don't concern themselves with balanced meals or foods high in acidity or sugar.

Which foods among the macrobiotic diet foods are good for my current health condition?

Each health condition requires a modified plan to achieve a cure. Example : parsley is very beneficial for anemia and diabetes and many other diseases, but is harmful for treating a GI infection and many forms of allergy. The answer is to know what the benefits are for every kind of food, and then you can use these foods as medicine. Or, you can consult someone who knows. to find out more about our services press here
Each health condition requires a modified plan to achieve a cure. Example: parsley is very beneficial for anemia and diabetes and many other diseases, but is harmful for treating a GI infection and many forms of allergy. The answer is to know what the benefits are for every kind of food, and then you can use these foods as medicine. Or, you can consult someone who knows.

Can you accommodate a strict macrobiotic healing diet?

I have two years of training at the Kushi Institute and graduated Level 3 of their professional career training program. If you have a serious health concern and a counselor who would like for you to follow a strict macrobiotic diet, I can prepare foods following your counselor’s recommendations. If you would like help transitioning your kitchen to include more macrobiotic products, I can help set it up. If you would like me to teach how to prepare these foods, I can do that as well.

What simple changes can I make toward a healthy, macrobiotic diet?

Chew your food! The digestive process begins in your mouth, by not chewing your food enough you will not release a digestive enzyme in your saliva. As a result your body will have been deprived of the first step in the digestive process. Eliminate all caffeine and carbonation. Drink green tea. Replace all white processed foods with whole grain based, easily digestible foods; switch from white rice to brown rice, replace white bread with whole grain bread, and avoid any refined sugars or flours. ...

Is chocolate permitted as part of the macrobiotic diet?

Chocolate is not a part of a strict macrobiotic diet and you should not eat it if you are recovering from a serious illness. However, if you are a healthy person living a macrobiotic lifestyle you can certainly enjoy chocolate once in a while. Chocolate contains flavonoids, a naturally-occurring compound found in many plant-based foods. Flavonoids provide an important protection benefit to plants by repairing damage and shielding the plant from environmental toxins. We can also benfefit from this "antioxidant" power. ...

Will a macrobiotic diet help fight off cancer?

There is no evidence that a macrobiotic diet can cure or prevent cancer. The diet is made up of many healthy foods, such as vegetables, seaweed, beans, and fish. However it can be very limited in calories and some nutrients such as vitamin B12. Our recommendation is to include these foods in your diet, but not to limit your diet to them. There are many other healthy foods that are excellent sources of nutrition. It is wise to include a variety of them.

Isn’t the macrobiotic diet just a fad diet?

No, definitely not! The diet is based on principles established 5,000 years ago and has stood the test of time. The macrobiotic diet is often mentioned in magazines and papers because a number of celebrities follow a macrobiotic diet. However, the food eaten is healthy, nutritious and delicious so once you have seen the benefits you are very likely to continue to follow the principles.

Why do people use the macrobiotic diet to recover from cancer and other serious illness?

In macrobiotic thinking, all illness begins with becoming out-of-sync with the natural environment. And the primary way that we do that is by putting food inside of us that has nothing to do with nature. Yes, there are other factors—lifestyle, emotional stressors and living next a to a nuclear power plant—and they all need to be addressed, but food is always either working for or against your health and freedom. ...

I have a friend with cancer. I get the macrobiotic diet’s benefits, but I know she’d be resistant to trying it. Is there anything I can say to her?

You could gently recommend some easier steps that would just make her feel better. As a start, cutting back on the amount of sugar in her diet – and adding some more vegetables – alone would help boost her immune system. If she’s open to trying this, you might also send her a link to one of the above resources – and to this site or my blog .

I have a certain illness. I think that some foods listed in the macrobiotic standard diet can be harmful to me. Which foods do I have to begin with?

This is true. the standard macrobiotic diet is a wide and varied diet. If you currently do not have a health condition that prevents you from eating some of these foods you can follow the standard diet. Examples: If you have an infections you might not be able to eat leafy greens. If you have bleeding you might not be able to eat even brown rice. If you have an allergies you might not be able to eat wheat products. If you have a tumor you might not be able to eat dairy products. ...
This is true. the standard macrobiotic diet is a wide and varied diet. If you currently do not have a health condition that prevents you from eating some of these foods you can follow the standard diet. Examples: If you have an infections you might not be able to eat leafy greens. If you have bleeding you might not be able to eat even brown rice. If you have an allergies you might not be able to eat wheat products. If you have a tumor you might not be able to eat dairy products. ...
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