Macrobiotics for Modern Times

I have had forty years to develop my interpretation of macrobiotic ideas and ideals and I am still learning.

To me macrobiotics is a dynamic and comprehensive approach to understanding life and how to live in a way that enhances human potential. It addresses the huge gap in our social understanding of how to create health in the individual and in society as a whole.

Although the roots of macrobiotics are influenced by its' Japanese origins, it reflects a deep wisdom found in traditional ways of life throughout the world. This wisdom describes a way of being that is in alignment with the rhythms of nature as well as with the social environment.

There is an acknowledgement that we have within us the power to improve our physical, emotional and spiritual life if we have the desire and courage to change. It also speaks directly to the fact that this desire, when focused, can prove a powerful engine for change if informed by practical and effective tools.

The macrobiotic philosophy offers great insight into all dimensions of our daily life. Our imagination and our understanding are the only limits to the scope of our exploration.
What inspires my teaching is the desire to blend the wisdom of the ancient world with the demands of modern living.

Reviews of the Seminars and Lectures I offer are listed on this site. If you have any questions you can contact me at info@billtara.net

The Macrobiotic Diet

There is no question that the food we eat is one of the main influences on our state of health. There is still huge debate about what constitutes a healthy diet. Is it more or less protein? More or less carbohydrate? All vegetable or mostly meat? A narrow understanding of nutrition and the commercial "diet industry" drive much of the confusion.

(See Science and the Funny Nurse.)

The principles of macrobiotic eating provide important guidelines for health maintenance and can be adapted to fill specific needs when needed. This fact is sometimes confusing when people are trying to discover if the macrobiotic way of eating is a therapeutic diet for those who are sick, a guideline to healthy eating for anyone.

When George Oshawa first introduced his Macrobiotic philosophy to Europe and America, he outlines 10 "levels" of his diet to be applied according to individual needs and environment. Responding to government requests for a definition of the diet in the 1980's Michio Kushi and a group of his students created a single set of principles, conforming to contemporary nutritional science, to use as a guideline.

Unfortunately, this "Standard Macrobiotic Diet" is now seen by many, as the definition of what a macrobiotic way of eating should be for everyone.

True macrobiotic choice of food involves developing an understanding of how specific foods affect us and then making choices according to our personal condition, activity levels, environment and culture. This means that every person, or every family can choose a diet that fills his or her own needs within guidelines that provide a sound foundation.

If you have a specific health challenge and want to use food as a way of healing you can be confident using the general macrobiotic guidelines as a starting point. Having a personal consultation with an experienced macrobiotic counselor can be helpful for greater detail.

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Some General Guidelines

Following a macrobiotic way of eating requires cooking. There are a variety of good macrobiotic cookbooks to refer to. Macrobiotic cooking classes are offered all over the world. Taking a class is an ideal way to assure that you have ample variety and get the most benefit from the foods used.

The macrobiotic classification of foods reflects principles found in the health philosophies of China and Japan. Some foods are seen to have qualities that make them suitable for daily use and others that should be used sparingly or with special cooking or preparation methods.

See macrobiotic books for these listings.

• Whole Cereal Grains and whole grain products are usually the foundation or principle food in macrobiotic diets. The kind of grains used, the volume used may change depending on personal need.
  
  
• A good variety of fresh vegetables should be eaten daily. The government guidelines of five portions a day are a minimum. Both raw and cooked vegetables can be used.
  
  
• Protein foods are essential in a healthy diet. Cooked beans are the most common source of protein. Many macrobiotic people are vegetarian, some eat only fish, it is a matter of personal choice. It is important that the type of protein chosen is adequate for personal needs. Fermented soy foods such as Miso and Tempeh are often used as a good source of vegetable protein.
  
  
• Sea Vegetables can be an important addition to your diet. There are a variety of options that can be used in soups, as a garnish, as a side dish or in salads.
  
  
• Nuts and seeds can be used daily as a garnish or a snack.
  
  
• A small amount of fruit can be essential to healthy eating.
  
  
• Pure water is the best drink and simple teas such as bancha, green tea and mild herbal teas are useful.
  
  
• Use only high quality, cold-pressed vegetable oils.
  
  
• Seasonings should be used moderately.
  
  
• Naturally processed, unrefined sea salt is preferable over other varieties.
  

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A Few General Thoughts About Food

• Read labels, read labels, read labels. The more ingredients, the less you want it. If an ingredient has more than three syllables, a chemist, not Mother Nature, probably produced it.
  
  
• Refined sugars are harmful to your health. Enough said.
  
  
• Don't eat before going to bed. Eating is for energy - you need very little energy to sleep. When we eat before sleeping the body is trying to digest food rather than getting down into deep sleep.
  
  
• Sit down and slow down when you eat. Give the food a chance. Food needs respect, it needs attention, and it needs digestion.
  
  
• Junk food is just that - don't eat it and don't give it to the kids. Educating kids doesn't mean creating a prison camp where they only eat porridge. Learn to cook interesting meals. Find out the kind of foods the kids like and do your best to meet them part way.
  
  
• Enjoy your food and eat good quality food. Don't starve yourself, enjoy your food and eat till you are full. If you are really overeating and getting lethargic try chewing more.
  
  Check out possible reasons for over eating check out The Endless Appetite in the Articles section.
  
  
• Eat organically as much as possible. It is important that we support those people who care enough about the land to use it well. Organic farming not only saves the soil but also produces food with a higher nutritional value and a better taste. Why have a dose of chemical pesticides and herbicides with dinner?