Nutrition Information

Translate this page into:
Spanish TranslationFrench TranslationGerman translationItalian translationPortuguese translationArabic translationJapanese translationKorean translationChinese translationRussian translation

Macrobiotics: Diet and Lifestyle for Long-term Health


A frequent misunderstanding about macrobiotics is that it is a diet sick people use - cancer patients especially - in order to heal. While it is true that a macrobiotic approach has helped a great many people get well, macrobiotics is much more than a mere diet, and it is for everyone. Whether you're recovering from illness or simply interested in having greater vitality, macrobiotics is a wholistic, natural system for good health and long life.

"Let food by thy medicine, and medicine thy food," is a saying from the ancient Greek philosopher Hippocrates, who also coined the term "macrobiotics." In Greek, "makro" means long or large, and "bio" means life. A macrobiotic approach to good health begins with food and cooking, extending to include lifestyle and exercise. Daily walks, a grateful state of mind, and meditation for centering oneself are among the practices of the system. Its purpose is to create a state of health that supports rather than prevents a full and vibrant life.

Since Hippocrates coined the term, we know that the principles of macrobiotics have been around a long time. They're the same concepts that you'll find in any modern day nutrition or fitness class: high fiber, low fat, plenty of vegetables and grains, limited meat. Going beyond these basics, macrobiotics also includes healing foods such as sea vegetables and ginger root.

To bring balance to one's physical and emotional condition through utilizing food is the macrobiotic focus. Foods that have nutritional and energetic balance - yin and yang - are used: legumes, beans, whole grains, and vegetables dominate. Red meat, dairy, refined sugar, and coffee are examples of foods without balance and they are eliminated. For flavor, variety, and seasonal virtue, some oils, nuts, and fruits are used in small amounts. The variety adds interest and also increases the nutrient range. The end result is food both wholesome and delicious.

It is critically important that the food tastes good because food is sensual, and if it doesn't appeal to our senses, we won't eat it in the long run. It might take a bit of time to develop the taste for macrobiotic cuisine because it is light and elegant in its simplicity. Here is an example of typically combined macrobiotic ingredients for an easy and tasty meal.

*Nutty Rice with Vegetables*

Cook 2 cups short or long grain brown rice in sea-salted water (2 and 1/2 cups water with 2 pinches sea salt). Cover the pot tightly for 30-40 minutes on very low heat.

Parboil these vegetables separately for two minutes or less: 1/4 cup diced carrot, and 1/4 cup diced red onion, and 2 cups florets of broccoli. Allow to cool.

In a dry frying pan toast 1/2 cup walnuts over medium heat for five minutes. Puree the toasted walnuts with one teaspoon barley miso dissolved in some water.

Mix together the vegetables, rice, and puree. Then add the grated peel of a lemon. Serve this dish warm or cool, rather than hot or cold. Enjoy!

Grace M. Navarro's articles on topics related to diet are published in Alta Diet News the leading resource on-line for information about diets. Visit the complete archive of articles here: http://www.altadiet.com/


MORE RESOURCES:

Chori-bar nutritious punch for poor eating habits
San Francisco Chronicle
Bruce Ames' first attempt at developing a nutrition bar was not entirely successful: The dense, fruit-based product was chock-full of vitamins and minerals and other healthy supplements, but it tasted awful. "The first bar produced a gag response," ...



Daily News

President Obama calls for 'New Alliance' to ensure food, nutrition for Africa
Catholic Online
LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - "Today, I can announce a new global effort we are calling a 'New Alliance' for food security and nutrition. And, to get the job done, we are bringing together all the key players around a shared commitment," Obama ...
Food security and nutrition need global pushDaily News
Govt implements $7.8b investment plan for food, nutrition securityFinancial Express Bangladesh
President Mills: G-8 sincere in helping Africa improve food securityGhanaWeb
Kaiser Family Foundation -Leadership Newspapers -UPI.com
all 53 news articles »


Mannatech Launches Website Focused on Real Food-Based Nutrition
MarketWatch (press release)
Mannatech, Incorporated, develops high-quality health, weight and fitness, and skin care products that are based on the solid foundation of nutritional science and development standards. Mannatech is dedicated to its platform of Social Entrepreneurship ...

and more »


Nutrition a great investment
Phnom Penh Post
These are fine achievements, but more needs to be done to improve the nutritional status of children and women. This has been the focus for government officials, national and international experts, development partners and civil-society representatives ...



Animal nutrition company to expand
Voxy
Animal nutrition specialist SealesWinslow is expanding its footprint with a multi-million dollar feedmill development in Wanganui. SealesWinslow has completed the purchase of the existing Inghams feedmill and grain storage complex on Kelvin Street, ...

and more »


PacificHealth Laboratories Announces Sponsorship of New Online Tool for Athletes
MarketWatch (press release)
MATAWAN, NJ, May 21, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- PacificHealth Laboratories, Inc. (otcqb:PHLI) (OBB:PHLI) , a leading sports nutrition company, announced their sponsorship today of a new online calculator, www.portmancalculator.com , that promises ...

and more »


Announcing the Launch of HealthyHomeCooking.com, the Online Source for ...
Sacramento Bee
In addition to the free tools they offer, such as a Nutrition Directory, Nutrition Lists and a convenient Measurement Converter, they have created a huge searchable database of nutritional information. When users come to HealthyHomeCooking.com they can ...

and more »


DC Brands International, Inc. Announces New President and COO Stephen F ...
MarketWatch (press release)
Now with the new labels on our HARD Nutrition Functional Water Systems, we are ready to re-launch the product, introduce Professor Nutrition, and gain distribution into an initial 2500 accounts that Stephen and I believe is the critical number in ...

and more »


Nutritional Counseling for Weight Loss Available at Seminole Chiropractic ...
MarketWatch (press release)
SEMINOLE, Fla., May 20, 2012 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- Obese patients and others suffering from a variety of related health concerns in the St. Petersburg area of Florida can now benefit from qualified nutritional counseling in addition to ...

and more »


CBC.ca

DSM Advances Reach over Omegas with Ocean Nutrition Acquisition
WholeFoods Magazine
Already a leader in the nutritional lipids industry, DSM supplemented its market hold by acquiring omega-3 fatty acid leader in Ocean Nutrition, the company announced on May 18 th . DSM's acquisition capitalizes on a market already well-established by ...
DSM to acquire Ocean Nutrition Canada to expand its Nutritional Lipids growth ...Reuters
Royal DSM To Buy Ocean Nutrition Canada For Enterprise Value Of C$540 MlnNASDAQ
Dartmouth's Ocean Nutrition sold for $540MCBC.ca
Proactive Investors USA & Canada -TheChronicleHerald.ca -Natural Products INSIDER
all 14 news articles »

Google News

home | site map
© 2006