| The Zen Macrobiotic diet originated over a century | | | | Ohsawa himself defined macrobiotics as a dietetic |
| ago and today enjoys a worldwide following due its | | | | medicine-philosophy, while his successors simply call it |
| principles of harmonious living with nature through a | | | | "a sensible way of eating". Actually, then, there is no |
| balanced whole foods diet, and an active lifestyle and | | | | macrobiotic diet per se, just general principles. |
| respect for the environment. | | | | General principles of the Zen Macrobiotic diet |
| Lets look at why the Zen Macrobiotic diet has such a | | | | Diets based on cereal grains with minority proportions |
| reputation for being one of the healthiest diets in the | | | | of vegetables, legumes, and seaweeds are |
| world. | | | | considered ideal. |
| Origins of the Zen Macrobiotic diet | | | | The Zen Macrobiotic diet is predominantly, but not |
| Dr. Ishizuka ( the originator of the Zen Macrobiotic | | | | absolutely, vegetarian. |
| diet ) suffered both kidney and skin disease, so to | | | | The Zen Macrobiotic diet makes general dietary |
| restore his health conducted extensive research | | | | recommendations, particularly that 40 to 60 percent |
| which was compiled into two books-Chemical Theory | | | | of caloric intake should come from whole grains, |
| of Longevity, published in 1896, and Diet For Health, | | | | including rice, millet, barley, wheat, oats, rye, corn and |
| published in 1898. | | | | buckwheat. |
| His great successor Yukikazu Sakurazawa integrated | | | | Additionally to the type of food eaten, the Zen |
| the theory with elements of eastern and western | | | | Macrobiotic Diet advises:o Do not eat processed, |
| philosophy and gave the diet the name we know it | | | | sugared, dyed, canned, bottled, or other adulterated |
| by today. | | | | food.o Eat no foods produced have been treated |
| Zen Macrobiotic Diet theory | | | | with pesticides, chemical fertilizers or preservatives.o |
| The Macrobiotic philosophy is based on the oriental | | | | Eat no foods imported from a long distance.o Eat no |
| principles that everything in creation is made up of | | | | vegetables or fruits out of season.o Refrain from |
| two antagonistic but complementary forces--yin | | | | eating extreme yin vegetables, such as potatoes, |
| (passive, silent, cold and dark) and yang (active, hot | | | | tomatoes and eggplant.o Use no spices, chemical |
| and heavy). | | | | seasonings or processed table salt.o Drink no coffee |
| Consequently, they categorized all foodstuffs as 'yin' | | | | or black tea.o Refrain from flesh and dairy foods |
| and 'yang', or combinations of them both. They | | | | except for occasional fish and game birds.o No |
| believe that the ideal diet is one that can help balance | | | | refined flour products, yeasted foods or foods |
| these two forces in the body. | | | | containing baking soda.o Chew one's food thoroughly |
| According to Mr. Ohsawa's yin and yang guidelines for | | | | (at least 30 times - preferably more).o Cook all food |
| the Zen Macrobiotic diet:o Cereals must always be | | | | with a gas fire. Electricity is said to create chaotic |
| every meal's basis. The most ideal is whole, brown | | | | energy patterns, and microwaves. |
| rice.o Vegetables can supplement cereals, but in | | | | The Zen Macrobiotic Diet's 5 guiding principles for |
| lesser quantities and less frequently. Eggplant and | | | | healthy living are: |
| tomatoes must be avoided, as they are extremely | | | | 1. Foods are the foundation of health and happiness. |
| yin.o Fresh fish can be used occasionally. Animal and | | | | 2. Sodium and potassium (as in salt) are the primary |
| dairy products and fruits are to be used in minute | | | | antagonistic and complementary elements in food. |
| amounts.o All fluids should be taken as infrequently as | | | | They most strongly determine its character-or "yin / |
| possible, since they are very yin, especially tea, | | | | yang" quality of each food. |
| coffee, colas and sweetened juices. Tea made from | | | | 3. Grain is proper and nature staple food of man. |
| fresh herbs, and spring water are thought to be the | | | | 4. Food should be unrefined, whole, and natural. |
| most balanced and acceptable beverages. Mr. | | | | 5. Food should be grown locally and eaten in season. |
| Ohsawa gave a special recipe for such a tea. | | | | |