- Within macrobiotics--which translates to "long life"--foods are categorized as having either yin or yang properties. The balance of the two is vital and necessary in order to achieve and maintain optimal health. Macrobiotic followers believe that adhering to a diet of energetically balanced foods will strengthen the immune system, fortify the body's health and healing processes and decrease the chance for various illnesses to develop.
- The best foods are ones that closest to the earth: organic and unprocessed. Each food is classified as being yin or yang. As noted in the Macrobiotic Guide, there are four factors that determine whether a food is yin or yang: how the food grows, including speed and direction; whether the food was grown in northern or southern climates; the sodium-potassium content; and whether the food as a hot or cold effect on the body. Foods that belong to the yin category are typically cold in temperature, sweet and mild. Foods that belong to the yang category tend to be hot in temperature, salty and harsh. It's important to avoid foods that are considered too yin or yang because they can throw of the body's equilibrium.
- The macrobiotic diet consists of foods that are low in fat and high in fiber; it is mainly vegetarian. Whole grains make up 50 to 60 percent of the diet, vegetables account for 25 to 30 percent, miso and bean soups are 5 to 10 percent, and beans and sea vegetables make up the other 5 to 10 percent. Grains and vegetables are the core of the diet because they're somewhat neutral and have a heavy weight within the yin and yang arrangement. The diet also includes principles such as eating only when hungry and chewing food completely, and its guidelines address the way food should be prepared, cooked and eaten.
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A list of the foods meeting the general macrobiotic dietary guidelines can be broken up into the categories: whole cereal grains, vegetables, beans-fish, special foods, foods for occasional use, foods to use sparingly or avoid, and styles of cooking.
The best whole grains include short and medium-grain brown rice, barley, millet, spelt, whole oats, rye and buckwheat. Within the vegetable category, there are green leafy products (bok choy, carrot tops, Chinese cabbage, collard greens, daikon greens, dandelion greens, kale, leeks, mustard greens, parsley, spring onions, turnip greens, watercress), round vegetables (squash, broccoli, brussels sprouts, buttercup squash, butternut squash, cabbage, cauliflower, onion, pumpkin, red cabbage, turnips, shiitake mushrooms) and root vegetables (burdock, carrots, daikon, dandelion roots, lotus root, parsnip, radish. The remaining categories are comprised of various soups or broths, sea vegetables and beans such as adzuki, black soybeans, chickpeas and green or brown lentils. - Provisions with stimulating properties or ones that are overly concentrated can keep the body from reaching the right balance. Therefore, it's important to steer clear of products such as alcohol, coffee, teas, certain fruit juices, soda, dairy, eggs, refined flour, poultry, tropical fruits, chocolate, sugars and various hot spices.
- Although there are a number of subjective reports claiming that macrobiotic diets have cured or can cure a range of serious diseases, there's a lack of concrete scientific evidence to back those claims. Consult with your doctor prior to starting a macrobiotic diet or any other diet, especially if you have any preexisting medical conditions. Remember, there is no one diet that can meet all the specific needs of every person; factors such as a person's age, daily activity, health status and specific amount of nutrients they personally need to thrive must be accounted for.
