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Macrobiotic Diet |
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Introduction & Overview |
In Greek Macrobiotic means “long life”, which is exactly what a Macrobiotic Diet is proposed to be able to deliver to users, along with good health, and in some instances users have reported a reduction in disease. In fact the actual word macrobiotic can be traced back to Hippocrates, who used this term to describe good health. Over time this word has come to mean living in alignment with nature, and its rhythms. As of late the Macrobiotic Diet has gained quite a bit of attention; although many individuals do not really know what it really entails.
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| Pros |
• Uses healthy grains and vegetables
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| Cons |
• May be difficult for many individuals to implement
• More of a lifestyle than a diet
• Users diet may be deficient in certain vitamins and minerals
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| Concept |
George Ohsawa is credited with being the father of the Macrobiotic Diet; although it can be traced back further to a Japanese army doctor named Sagen Ishizuka, who used a traditional diet that consisted of brown rice, and a variety of land and sea vegetables to help restore health to those who had various diseases. George Ohsawa actually used this diet to alleviate some health issues, and he began writing about it in the 1920’s.
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| Design |
This diet is designed around two foods - grains and vegetables. There are other foods used, but grains and vegetables are the most important foods used in this plan. This is a diet which is devoid of meat, tropical fruits, chocolate, eggs, fruits juice, coffee, spicy foods and dairy products, as well as sugar and processed foods. Whole grains such as buckwheat, brown rice, millet, oats, corn, and rye are emphasized, along with other whole grains. Some of these grains are not commonly used by most Americans; although they are extremely healthy.
Also the design of this diet requires that 30% of the food users eat comes from vegetables; although not all vegetables are acceptable. Sea vegetables and beans fall into a different category, and make up 5-10% of the food eaten daily in this diet. Sea vegetables are wakame, hijiki, kombu and nori; all of which contain large amounts of minerals and vitamins. However, some dieters may be resistant to eating these vegetables, because they often taste and smell like seaweed.
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| Cost |
This diet plan is free for the asking, and can be found outlined on websites such as this one. However, there is expense involved in terms of purchasing the foods that are used in this diet. They also must be cooked a certain way, and whole grains traditionally take a while to prepare. This is not a diet which is easily integrated into a busy lifestyle, because it requires a lot forethought and preparation.
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| Conclusion |
Clearly this diet plan uses foods that have been shown to promote health. However, for those individuals who are drawn to this diet it usually becomes more of a lifestyle than an actual diet, because as noted earlier, it request a lot of forethought and preparation, as well as a good dose of self discipline. Also, those who eat a Macrobiotic Diet need to be mindful of the nutritional content of the foods they eat because it can be deficient in calcium, vitamin B 12, vitamin D and Iron.
This is not a weight loss plan per ser; although some users may lose weight just by the nature of the foods eaten. Those who are seeking a weight loss plan but who are unable to devote so much time and energy into a plan that requires a total lifestyle overhaul may want to look elsewhere for a more lifestyle friendly plan.
Since the tenets of the Macrobiotic Diet are contained solely in books and on some websites, there is no component in place that makes it easy for consumers to get their questions answered quickly and easily, which is unfortunate because often users of these diets have many questions. In general, we suggest consumers who are looking for a plan or a holistic weight loss product look for one, which provides excellent customer service and a free trial.
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