A Little Background

History tells us the father of modern medicine, Hippocrates, first used the word "macrobiotics." It meant to live a healthy long life. George Oshawa is responsible for bringing traditional Japanese macrobiotics to the United States. This healing diet and way of living found fertile ground and took root in the United States after many years of hard work by Oshawa's students, especially Herman Aihara, Mishio and Aveline Kushi.

Standard Diet

George Oshawa healed his body by eating miso soup, brown rice, sea vegetables and other traditional Japanese foods. Brown rice is at the center of the food options of the macrobiotic diet. Chewing brown rice very well and swallowing this liquid has cured many a sick person. But to get the full nutrients and minerals of a healthy macrobiotic diet other foods such as vegetables, miso, sea vegetables, legumes (beans), other whole grains, homemade pickles, nuts, seeds and small amounts of fish are included in the diet.

A Way of Life and Yin and Yang

Macrobiotics is a lifestyle. As the day is to night, so is yin to yang. Bring to mind the yin-yang circle of life. Macrobiotics is about balance. All foods in macrobiotic thinking fall into a category as either yin or yang. Acidic and alkaline are yin and yang. The acidic is the yang, and alkaline is the yin. Macrobiotics also teaches to eat the foods grown locally, as a means of harmonizing with one's environment.

Special Macrobiotic Foods

Miso is a fermented soybean paste used mostly in soups for its alkalizing effects and healthy digestive enzymes. Ume paste comes from little Japanese plums and nutritionists recommend it for the same reasons, as well as being tasty. It also makes a tasty balancing drink when used with kuzu root. Kuzu root is a natural thickening agent and you can use it like corn starch. Natural pickles are an essential in macrobiotics. All kinds of whole grains besides rice are great, as are a variety of sea vegetables, legumes like aduki and black beans, as well as all kinds of vegetables. Too much sweet is not healthy in macrobiotics, even too much fruit.

New Additions Like Olive Oil and Coconut Oil

"Macro" means large or great and "bios" means life. Even though Hippocrates' macrobiotics would differ from Oshawa's macrobiotics, today modern macrobiotic consultants may still have updated ideas. Brown rice and a very simple diet is perfect for healing; but for long term health, many other foods and nutrients are required. Today macrobiotic wellness consultants are discovering the vital importance of good oils like olive and coconut and, of course, fish oil in the diet. In addition, a greater quantity of good protein than traditional macrobiotics recommended is also beneficial.