Macrobiotics 101
I’m a big fan of reading up on diets and different types of food lifestyles. It’s kind of a geeky hobby. My personal take on food is that I try to avoid the processed stuff and stick to local, organic foods as much as I can (unless there’s a special occasion, like Halloween, where I needed sour patch kids). I’m about moderation, so it’s not about being so strict, but rather learning from different diets and incorporating them into my own every now and then for health benefits. Raw food is a perfect example — I have a blast going to these cool raw food restaurants in Santa Monica and Venice.
I wanted to learn a bit more about the Macrobiotic diet to see if there’s anything I can incorporate into my own diet. I found this great article on oprah.com that outlines what it’s about. I also plan on perusing the book the article mentions: “The Hip Chick’s Guide to Macrobiotics.” Enjoy!
Eating Your Way to Better Health
By Erin J. Shea
Following a Macrobiotic Diet
The word macrobiotic comes from “macro,” which means large, and “bio,” which means “life.” Practitioners of a macrobiotic diet generally seek a way of eating that incorporates physical and spiritual health. Rich in soy and phytoestrogens, which are a diverse group of nonsteroidal plant compounds found in food such as nuts, oilseeds and flaxseed, the macrobiotic diet is predominately vegetarian and emphasizes whole grains and vegetables.
“The real spirit of macrobiotics is about freedom,” says Jessica Porter, author of The Hip Chick’s Guide to Macrobiotics. “One eats healthy foods most of the time so that one can eat more extreme foods some of the time. People in good health can go out and play, having a glass of wine or a piece of chocolate cake. They return to their regular macro foods in order to maintain their health and eventually play again.”
Porter says the philosophy in macrobiotic thinking is explained through the lens of yin and yang. “We eat foods that are whole, local and in season [so] that our bodies get perfect yin-ness and yang-ness needed for the natural environment in which we live. When we harmonize with nature, we experience strength, flexibility, freedom and happiness.” For example, she says those who live in New York City and eat what she calls “yin foods” like bananas, yogurt and sugar on a daily basis become weakened and lose touch with the natural world.
Cooking macrobiotic food takes time. Porter suggest people start by cooking and eating whole grains on a daily basis, which can take up to an hour to cook. “Just make some brown rice and chew it well,” she says. “In my experience, after people begin to eat whole grains daily, [they'll] want to cook an hour a day.”
Though it can be expensive, Porter says certain items such as sea vegetables and miso last a long time and the elimination of meat and dairy in exchange for grains and beans balances out any high costs on a grocery bill.
“These days, with muffins, cappuccinos and microwave dinners making up our daily fare, we’re eating in a way that weakens our bodies and minds over time,” Porter says. “When we end up depressed or anxiety-ridden, we’re told it’s all in our heads, when very often, it’s all on our plates.”
Tags: green lifestyle, healthy food recipes, macrobiotic diet plan, The hip chick's guide to macrobiotics, unprocessed food
This entry was posted on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 6:47 pm and is filed under Health, green lifestyle. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
