Some Basics Of A Macrobiotic Diet
Keywords: diet products, diets
A macrobiotic diet is a diet formulated by the belief that food, and the quality of food, has an affect on a person’s life on a greater extent than most people realize. Practitioners of a macrobiotic diet believe that food has an affect on health, as well as happiness and well being. Those who follow a macrobiotic diet believe that natural foods with little to no processing are the best choice of food. In addition, they believe in using traditional methods of cooking and they enjoy cooking for themselves, as well as for family and friends.
Literally translated, macrobiotics means “great life.” Physicians and philosophers from around the world have associated macrobiotics with living in harmony with nature while eating a simple and balanced diet. In the 1920’s, George Ohsawa, who founded the modern form of macrobiotics, claimed to have cured himself from a serious illness by changing his diet.
Ohsawa believed in the Chinese philosophy of Yin and Yang. They yin represents outward centrifugal movement and the yang represents inward centrifugal movement. Yin and yang are always opposite, with yin being sweet, cold, and passive and with yang being salty, hot, and aggressive. In a macrobiotic diet, the yin and yang need to be kept in balance for good health.
Because this balance of the yin and yang is at the core of the macrobiotic diet, foods are all classified as one or the other. This division is in accordance with their properties, tastes, and effects on the body.
Grains and vegetables are not strong in either yin or yang. Therefore, they are especially important in the macrobiotic diet. These more neutral types of foods make it easier to maintain balance of yin and yang and these foods that are extremes in either yin or yang or to be avoided in the macrobiotic diet.
All foods included in the macrobiotic diet must be organically grown. Whole grains, such as barley, brown rice, oats, millets, rye, core, buckwheat and whole wheat are thought to be the most balanced of foods in a macrobiotic diet. Therefore, these foods make up about 50 to 60% of the macrobiotic practitioner’s diet. Whole grains are the preferred type of grain in a macrobiotic diet, but small portions of bread and pasta derived from refined flour are acceptable.
Fresh vegetables make up approximately 25 to 30% of the macrobiotic diet. Broccoli, cabbage, kale, cauliflower, collards, turnips, mustard greens, turnip greens, radish, onion, butternut squash, acorn squash, and pumpkin are the primary vegetables to be included in a macrobiotic diet. Iceberg lettuce, celery, snow peas, mushrooms, and string beans are to be included in the diet only two or three times per week. In a macrobiotic diet, these vegetables are to be prepared by either being steamed lightly or being sautéed with unrefined cooking oil, ideally corn oil or sesame oil.
5 to 10% of the macrobiotic diet consists of sea vegetables and beans. Chickpeas, adzuki beans, tofu, and lentils are the recommended types of beans. Sea vegetables should be included in the diet. These vegetables are rich in vitamins and minerals.
Soups and broths make up about 5 to 10% of the macrobiotic diet. Soups should contain a soybean paste. They also should contain beans and vegetables.
In a macrobiotic diet, a few servings of seeds, nuts, and fresh fish (such as flounder, halibut, and cod) each week are acceptable. Acceptable sweeteners in the macrobiotic diet are barley malt, and rice syrup, which is a sweet drink made from rice. Plum and brown rice vinegar may also be occasionally used in the macrobiotic diet. Tamari soy sauce and sea salt can be used to add flavor to soups and to grains.
A person following a macrobiotic diet only drinks when thirsty. The only drinks that are generally accepted in a macrobiotic diet are teas, which are made from dandelion greens, roasted grains, or the leftover cooking water from preparing soba noodles. Teas containing caffeine or aromatic fragrances are unacceptable. In addition, all cooking water and drinking water must be purified before use.
Foods such as eggs and dairy products are thought to have strong yang qualities. Similarly, chocolate, refined sugars, tropical fruits, coffee, fruit juice, soda, and hot spices are believed to contain strong yin qualities. Therefore, all of these foods are avoided in the macrobiotic diet. All foods with artificial flavors, artificial colors, and preservatives are also avoided.
The macrobiotic diet is more than just a diet, it is a lifestyle, and it embraces a simplistic diet bound closely to nature.
Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida with his 16 year old son. Get a great selection of quality health products at www.shop4diets.com
Previous Articles Highlighter:
Eye-popping Properties Of HDTV (1)
Also, consider the provider. High definition broadcasting and digital should not be confused. They are not the same thing. There are many cable and satellite companies that simply convert standard analog broadcasts to digital to improve reception and to provide additional services.
Help Slash The U.S.'s Dependency On Overseas Oil (2)
With over 11 millions barrels being imported into the United States each day, any reduction in the need for oil is a welcomed idea. In the 1970s, during the first oil crisis, the United States was using much less oil than they are today.
Why Hybrids Require Less Maintenance (3)
This type of technology also does away with a regular starter. Not having a starter makes one less component that will need to be replaced over time. With no starter, there is no way to accidentally grind the flywheel.
How To Filet A Fish (4)
I personally use an electric filet knife a lot, but you really have to have some experience to be able to use one properly. Using a standard filet knife, I prefer to use one with about an eight inch blade unless I am filleting a large gamefish in which case I will break out my "Crocodile Dundee" Alaskan Filet knife.
How To Inspect Your Car Before Final Delivery (5)
Check the body and paint thoroughly. Look inside the hood, trunk, and gas filler compartment. This is an area that is overlooked for overspray. If there was a minor flaw they fixed they may try to pass it off without disclosing it.
Top Three Things To Look For In Soundcards (6)
This sound was used as a warning to the user that something might be amiss. Later on, technicians were able to toy with the length and frequency of the beep, thus creating a bit more variety to the listener.
How To Set Up Your Hosting In 5 Minutes Flat (7)
Try sending an email to your new address from one of your other accounts, to see if it works. Other Things to Do with cPanel. It varies from website to website exactly what you might need to do with cPanel.
Three Ways To Extend The Life Of Your Sports Car (8)
Likewise, one should not embark on using a high-performance sports car until they are prepared to drive it optimally and with great skill. Sometimes the most basic themes hold the keys to success.
How To Find Affordable Sports Cars (9)
Fiat sports cars from the 1970s, for instance, can often be found in running condition for under a few thousand dollars. Any sports club car membership will undoubtedly boast scores of stories detailing great bargains found from individual owners on classic sports cars that are more coveted by collectors, too.
Why It Is Essential That You Train Your Dog (10)
Effective dog training is not a mere option. When one considers its immeasurable benefits, it becomes nothing short of mandatory. Allowing a dog to live untrained can pose significant risks.
Newer Articles Highlighter:
How To Use Decorative Concrete Effects To Spice Up Your Home (1)
This will help retain the coloration of the concrete surface, and reduce the chance of scratching. Make sure a cutting board is used. Cutting on the surface can scratch it.
Don't Get Burned By Car Dealer Tactics (2)
Another key part of the system is the advertising. I am sure you see tons of advertising in your area from car dealers. They usually dominate local Sunday papers and the visions of the screaming car dealer on TV will stay with us forever.
How To Negotiate A New Vehicle Lease (3)
Because of the ease with which a dealer can take profit from your trade without your knowledge when leasing it is my opinion that you do not trade a vehicle.
Environmentally Friendly Reasons To Choose A Hybrid (4)
Depending less on oil helps contributes to less destruction of our natural resources. 3. Effects on the Human Environment: When emissions get churned into the air, the environment is not the only place that suffers.
Do Your Homework Before Buying That New Sports Car (5)
Yes, consult the Blue Book and determine its estimated value, but don't stop there. Find out what kind of problems the car in question most often experiences. Find out what telltale signs of problems might be evidenced in a used version.
How To Hang A Picture Properly (6)
You want to make the vertical and horizontal marks for each picture rather than just guessing. It is often easier to offset the pictures when you estimate. If you do want all of the pictures even, then you need to use a level and be really exact in your measurements.
How To Maximize The Mileage On Your Hybrid (7)
Experts on hybrid cars and driving in general are trying to consult with the owners to show them that the mileage guides were not deceiving them after all. After some workshops done with hybrid drivers, owners have reported much better mileage after taking advice from the experts.
A Look At Cigar Flavors (8)
The very fine cigars, particularly those of Cuban origin before 1990 have almost no taste of smoke at all. Some of the more common flavors one may encounter while smoking a cigar include: Leather Spice Cocoa / chocolate Peat / moss / earth Coffee Nut Apple Vanilla Honey The most passionate enjoyers of cigar aficionados will sometimes keep personal journals of cigars they've enjoyed complete with personal ratings, description of flavors observed, sizes, brands, etc.
How To Buy A Sports Car (9)
They may try to sell you an automobile they like-or one that brings with a greater commission than a superior alternative. One should, therefore, approach any salesperson with some healthy skepticism.
Lower Cholesterol With Supplements And Eliminating Some Items From Your Diet (10)
There are other sources of fiber as well such as barley, beans, peas and many other vegetables. Corn fiber is also good for reducing LDL, lowering it by as much as 5 percent in a recent study.