Adopt a Macrobiotic (Whole Life) “Plant Based Diet”

Macrobiotic means “whole life”, and is a diet based on certain principals of energy. Balance is attained in our lives as we take in the whole food, since they serve the whole body. One misconception is that whole grain bread from the supermarket is equivalent to eating the whole grain itself. Often with supermarket bread products, the ingredients list many colours, sugar, preservatives and flavours. Our taste senses have the ability to appreciate food in its natural state, without flavour enhancers, sugar and excess salt.

In many cases, we see an increase in food additives that really do not belong in the human body. As the late Dr. Weston Price found, refinement of foods resulted in a dramatic increase in tooth decay among indigenous cultures that had access to these “civilized foods”. According to the principals of Macrobiotics, here in the West we consume way too many meat and animal products. This kind of food makes a more aggressive, “yang” type person.

We have strayed away from the traditional cultures that ate plenty of whole grains, beans and vegetables as their staples. These plant based foods are the basis of the Macrobiotic diet. It feeds the whole body and works to maintain balance.

There are whole lists of diseases that can be prevented by consuming whole foods. Simple nutrient deficiencies may become symptoms of disease in our body. In addition to a whole food diet, the addition of herbs, homeopathic remedies and supplements can help to keep our lives healthy. As the great Hippocrates, the grandfather of modern medicine, said, “Without good food, medicine is of no use, with good food, medicine is of no need.”

Science has come a long way in 2000 years. We now have detailed accounts of nutritional research, demonstrating that whole foods are the healthy foods. Water soluble nutrients vitamin B and vitamin C are found mainly in plant foods. These vitamins are not stored very adequately in the body. B vitamins are found in whole grains, and vitamin C is abundant in fresh fruit and vegetables. When we refine the whole grain, much of the B vitamins are lost, even with whole grain flour. In addition, Vitamin C is lost in commercial processing.

Plant foods tend to be alkalizing, contributing to our defence against disease. In contrast, animal foods are for the most part acid forming. To combat acids, the body uses high amounts of stored minerals, and they become unavailable for other uses in the body. Macrobiotic diets have a balance of alkaline and acid forming foods.

Balance is what the philosophy of macrobiotic food offers. When we are living on one extreme like in the standard American diet, illness may manifest. Vegetarian diets may not be the answer either, since illness can come from deficiency of iron, B12 etc. Macrobiotics suggests choosing foods which bring balance, in order to live a balanced life.

When we are healthy we can move into new areas of learning and growth. Having illness is not conducive to vitality. With a healthy body and a steady mind, our potential may be actualized in infinite ways.