Why a ‘macrobiotic’ diet is so healthy

Should you adopt a macrobiotic diet? To me, this doesn’t seem like too bad a choice. It is pretty much in line with what things I recommend to eat, except they do allow fish. I wouldn’t eat fish because of heavy metals like mercury.

Most fish is not wild caught and may be raised in fish farms. I would avoid this type of fish. I also don’t recommend soy products and most grains, except for brown rice. It seems to me that many diets (like this one) are healthier than foods most Americans eat. All those hamburgers, fries and pizzas will eventually take their toll.

One purpose of this type of diet is to avoid toxins. It is basically an organic vegan diet with no dairy and meat, although small amounts of it are permitted, which if you do eat any animal products, it’s not a vegan diet.

People with cancer may adopt this way of eating in hopeful belief it may cure them. Although, there is no scientific evidence it would, there is research showing various potential health benefits.

Organic food does cost more, but it can cost the same as regular produce. You don’t always have to buy organic, as certain fruits and vegetables are cleaner than others.

For example, be sure to buy your potatoes, strawberries, blueberries, spinach, grapes, bell peppers, lettuce and kale, organic, as they are usually sprayed heavy with pesticides. Produce like onions, pineapple, avocado, asparagus, peas, mangoes, cantaloupe, cabbage, mushrooms and sweet potatoes are OK and much cleaner.

The macrobiotic diet permits all kinds of whole grains in a large amount daily, but the only one I eat is brown rice. Even rice, I would limit it to no more than two cups each day. The diet has a few rules like avoiding processed food which contain additives and preservatives, also not taking any vitamin and mineral supplements.

They also suggest preferred ways to cook; using stainless steel, ceramic, clay, wood or glass pots. And, to avoid cooking with electricity or microwave ovens. Is this possible? This may be a hard one to do. We all use microwaves, don’t we?

They say to cook your food in a calm and peaceful environment. Always drink and use purified water. All this seems OK with me, but may be hard to implement in our everyday busy lives.

They also suggest you should exercise and meditate. Not bad advice. Some have said you don’t get enough of certain nutrients like calcium, iron, protein and calories on a macrobiotic diet and that you may lose too much weight. It has also been said you could get scurvy. But, you won’t if you eat enough fruit. Vitamin C.

Some research suggests macrobiotic diets can improve health as long as not taken to the extreme. I agree. But, what is ‘to the extreme’? Research on the macrobiotic diet implies people on these diets may have lower cholesterol, less heart disease and fewer cancers linked to a high fat diet. This diet is low fat, low sodium and sugar. These claims make sense.

My understanding: the gist of the Macrobiotic Diet

Whole grain 50% of daily meals like organically grown brown rice they suggest to eat (I think eating this much of any grain isn’t good; especially those like wheat, corn and others I don’t recommend)
Beans and soy bean products like Tofu @ 10% each day (I would stick to pinto beans)
Some sea vegetables
Regular vegetables @ about 30% daily (this amount might be OK, but you can eat more)
Fruit @ 10% of what you eat daily (I would recommend eating more than this)
Some fish (I wouldn’t)
A few nuts and seeds (handful, maybe less)
No dairy or eggs
No refined sugar
Chew your food thoroughly (good idea)
No packaged food
Exercise (moderately)
Food shopping bill may be the same or slightly higher
No caffeine
No alcohol
Avoid spicy food
Avoid the nightshade vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and potatoes (I say, eat potatoes, anyway! I can’t live without them!)
They talk about balance between Yin and Yang. I won’t get into that, as you should use your own common sense and pay attention to how your body feels after you eat anything