Overview of a Macrobiotic Diet
A macrobiotic diet derives from the word “macrobiotic” and has Greek roots. It’s meaning is “long life”.
The macrobiotic diet was created developed by a Japanese educator, George Ohsawa, who believed simplicity was the key to optimal health.
The original form of macrobiotic diet consisted of included increasingly restrictive stages, with the final stage consisting of only brown rice and water.
A more relaxed version if popular today, the macrobiotic diet has followers such as Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow.
Macrobiotic Diet Foods
A macrobiotic diet is a low fat, high fibre diet. It is a predominantly a vegetarian diet. In addition, a macrobiotic diet incorporates a high level of phytoestrogens from soy products. The main guidelines are:
- Whole grains make up 50 to 60% of each meal. These include brown rice, whole wheat berries, barley, millet, rye, corn, buckwheat and other whole grains. Rolled oats, noodles, pasta, bread, baked goods and other flour products can be eaten occasionally.
- Soup. One to two bowls per day. Miso and shoyu are commonly used.
- Vegetables make up 25 to 30% of daily food intake. Up to one third of this percentage can be raw. Otherwise, steamed, boiled, baked or sauteed.
- Beans make up 10% of daily intake. This includes cooked beans or bean products such as tofu, tempeh and natto.
- Animal products. A small amount of fish or seafood a few times a week. Meat, poultry, eggs and dairy are usually avoided.
- Seeds and nuts in moderation. These can be lightly roasted.
- Fruit includes apples, pears, peaches, apricots, grapes, berries, melons and other fruit. Some tropical fruit is usually avoided.
- Cooking oil is unrefined vegetable oil. The most popular is dark sesame oil or light sesame oil, corn oil and mustard seed oil.
- Condiments include natural sea salt, shoyu, brown rice vinegar, grated ginger root, fermented pickles, roasted sesame seeds, roasted seaweed and sliced scallions.
How much weight can I lose on a Macrobiotic Diet?
A macrobiotic diet is more a lifestyle diet choice rather than a diet effected to lose weight. However the multitude of healthy fruit and vegetables and other health foods that predominantly make up the diet plan of a macrobiotic diet may mean ultimately that you lose weight.
How does a Macrobiotic Diet work?
A macrobiotic diet is made up of healthy fresh foods which when eaten in abundance can result in weight loss. However most people effect a macrobiotic diet as a result of health reasons or lifestyle choices rather than as a diet aimed at solely weight loss.
Macrobiotic Diet Celebrities
The most famous followers of the Macrobiotic Diet are Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow who at one time were said to be avid followers of the macrobiotics lifestyle.
What Diet Macrobiotic Diet Review
A good healthy option for a long term diet, a macrobiotic diet will long term lead to a healthy weight.
Macrobiotic Diet Pros
- A macrobiotic diet emphasizes foods that are usually missing from modern diets such as fibre which is a bonus
- It is low in saturated fat and high in phytoestrogens. This may help balance female hormones and help with menopause, premenstrual syndrome, and prevention against breast cancer
- The macrobiotic diet is low in meat, dairy products and sugar which can only promote health
Macrobiotic Diet Cons
- The macrobiotic diet is sometimes considered too restrictive in certain nutrients such as protein, vitamin B12, iron, magnesium and calcium. Lack of energy may be a result of this
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What Diet: Macrobiotic Diet
