Macrobiotic diet and health – Macrobiotic Recipe Example

The macrobiotic diet is more than just a diet; it’s an actual way of life that incorporates eastern culture and philosophy, opposes consumerism, and struggles against the frenetic pace of modern life.

The term “macrobiotic” comes from the Greek words “makros” and “bios” and means “great life” or “long life.” In order to adapt to the macrobiotic diet, it is essential to change the overall approach to eating; nutrition acquires fundamental importance in the balance between body and mind; not for nothing, the term “macrobiotic” originates from Greek.

In fact, the modern macrobiotic diet is nothing more than the commercialization of a very ancient dietary style; it was born in the East a number of millennia ago but was exported to the West (America) between the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century. The macrobiotic diet is based on the idea that eating a diet high in plant-based foods is healthier than eating foods high in animal-based foods.It was a Japanese physician by the name of Nyioti Sakurazawa who is credited with being the first person to popularize the macrobiotic diet. Sakurazawa became interested in the diet of Buddhist monks and attempted to model his own eating habits after theirs.

The selection of foods is based specifically on this criterion, differentiating between acidic-Yin foods (such as milk and its derivatives, fruit, tea, and spices, etc.) and alkaline-Yang foods (such as salt, meat, fish, chicken, eggs, and so on). Those who subscribe to the macrobiotic diet seek to improve their health by striking a balance between Yin and Yang.The macrobiotic diet encourages the consumption of certain foods that are thought to have a “naturally balanced” composition, such as cereals, legumes, and oilseeds. This diet attempts to find compensation in the relationship between these foods.

The macrobiotic diet shuns refined foods in favor of those that are naturally produced; it discourages the consumption of sugar and other sweets and emphasizes the consumption of fruit and vegetables, with the exception of tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplants.He advises against overindulging in milk and dairy products, spices, ground salt, and coffee (recommending alternative beverages instead), and he favors products derived from fish over those derived from meat.The macrobiotic diet emphasizes the importance of chewing food thoroughly in order to maximize the efficiency of digestion and fulfill gustatory needs.
One of the benefits of this way of eating is undoubtedly the high intake of liquid or brothy foods, which causes a reduction in water requirements and favors the absorption of cooking solutes. This is one of the advantages of this eating style.

The macrobiotic diet provides a fairly good percentage of protein, but the majority of it comes from plant sources; the consumption of carbohydrates ensures that one’s energy requirements are met, and the diet prioritizes the consumption of unrefined foods that contain dietary fiber.The proportion of complex carbohydrates to simple carbohydrates, which are derived from fruits and vegetables, is adequate. Additionally, if you do not count condiments, the balance of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids is not very good. However, eating a lot of vegetables and fish makes it easier to meet the recommended levels of essential lipids (omega 3 and omega 6). The lipid content is a little bit low, and furthermore, the ratio between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids is not the best.
It is exclusive to supporters of eastern philosophy, whereas the principles of a healthy and correct diet should not be limited by any philosophical and/or cultural tendency. The major flaw of the macrobiotic diet consists in the applicability of the food principles; it is exclusive to those who follow the macrobiotic diet.