Recommendations on a macrobiotic diet

Macrobiotic Diet

The word macrobiotic comes from the Greek words macro, which means large or long, and bio, which means life.

Summary

• The macrobiotic diet was developed by a Japanese philospher called George Ohsawa.
• It is a strict diet with rules about what you eat and how you cook your food.
• There is no scientific evidence that this diet can prevent or cure cancer.

What is a macrobiotic diet?

The macrobiotic diet was developed in the 1920s by a Japanese philosopher called George Ohsawa. He believed that by eating a simple, healthy diet, we could live in harmony with nature. He also believed that his macrobiotic diet could cure cancer and other serious illnesses.

The macrobiotic diet aims to avoid foods containing toxins. Many people follow a completely vegan diet with no dairy products or meats. But some people eat small amounts of organic fish and meat.

Why people with cancer use macrobiotic diets

Some people with cancer use macrobiotic diets as a complementary therapy. They think that changing their diet and lifestyle might help them to feel better and more positive. A macrobiotic diet might do this, but it can also have harmful effects.

Some people think living a macrobiotic lifestyle may help them to fight their cancer and lead to a cure.

What a macrobiotic lifestyle involves

There are different types of macrobiotic lifestyle that involve more than just diet. To follow a macrobiotic diet properly, you need to be strict about what you eat and how you cook your food.

A macrobiotic practitioner plans your diet by taking into consideration your age, sex, where you live and how much exercise you do.

Generally, the diet is made up of:

• organic whole grains such as brown rice, barley, oats and buckwheat (half your food intake)
• locally grown, organic fruits and vegetables (up to a quarter of your food intake)
• soups made with vegetables, seaweed, beans, chick peas, lentils and fermented soy (miso) (up to a quarter of your food intake)

Sometimes you include small helpings of nuts, seeds and pickled vegetables. Some people occasionally eat small amounts of organic meat or fish.

You should only eat when you are hungry. And you should chew your food for a long time until it becomes a liquid in your mouth. The belief is that this helps you digest it more easily.

You shouldn’t have any vitamin or mineral supplements. You cannot eat processed foods or foods with artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.

You should also prepare and cook your food in a certain way.

• Cook and store all your food in pots and utensils made of wood, glass, stainless steel or china (ceramics).
• Avoid microwave ovens or cooking with electricity.
• Prepare your food in a calm and peaceful environment.
• Always purify the water you drink or cook with.

You should also only drink when you are thirsty. And only drink water or teas that aren’t flavoured, or contain caffeine.

As well as teaching you about the macrobiotic diet, a practitioner may also offer:

• advice on healthy exercise
• home remedies that aim to heal your body
• cooking clases
• macrobiotic counselling sessions
• meditation

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