Macrobiotic diet

The macrobiotic diet can be traced back in history to the days prior to Hippocrates. It is said to be a very natural type of diet that consists of eating a large amount of grains and fruits and vegetables. Macrobiotics has long been linked in history to cultures who had long and healthy lives. Cultures who have practiced the macrobiotic diet in the past include the Incans, the Chinese and the Japanese people to name a few.

Supporters of the macrobiotic diet believe that the food that we ingest is very closely linked to our ability to be healthy and our well being. The quality of the food that we eat is very important as well. They believe that the macrobiotic approach to diet is much more beneficial to good health than other dietary approaches are. They also state that there is much benefit by eating a diet that consists of natural or organic products rather than manufactured or processed food of the macrobiotic diet is

The composition of the macrobiotic diet is given here as 50-60% of whole grains, 25-30% vegetables, and 5-10% of beans and legumes. The rest of the diet should be made up of fish and seafood, seeds and nuts, seed and nut butters, seasonings, sweeteners, fruits, and beverages. Other naturally raised animal products may be included if needed during dietary transition or according to individual needs.

This diet works heavily on the premise of everything needs to be in balance even the foods that we eat on a daily basis. Some foods are considered to be Yin foods which are very stimulating and can cause energy depletion in the body. These foods include foods such as chocolate, alcohol, honey, coffee, and some of the very hot spices. Foods that are very dense and heavy are called Yang foods and these can cause stagnation as they take much more energy to digest by the body. These foods include poultry, meat and eggs.

Macrobiotics goes even further and suggests that the types of foods and dishes that are prepared need to be adjusted to the particular times of the year, the weather at the time, the age, gender, activity level, and the health of the person the diet is intended for. This sounds very complicated but it is a fine art that is honed for the individual that the diet is designed for.

Proponents of macrobiotics have touted that the diet will prevent and cure many health conditions. There have even been reports that if a person adheres to this type of diet that it can prevent and even cure cancer. Books have been written on the benefits of the macrobiotic diet for the prevention of cancer. However recent studies show that the evidence of this being true is coincidental at best. More study needs to be done on this before any final conclusions can be made in this matter and the diet’s benefit in the prevention and possible cure of cancer and other diseases.

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