The Skinny
Average Weight Loss: Varies. You can lose weight by reducing your daily calories, but this diet is more of a lifestyle than a weight-loss plan.
Type of Diet: Plant-based, low-fat, high-fiber organic diet.
About The Diet
A macrobiotic diet involves eating grains as a staple food, supplemented with other foods such as local vegetables, and avoiding the use of highly processed or refined foods and most animal products.
Following a macrobiotic diet is not hard if you can handle it because it has few choices and lots of restrictions (which is true with most diet and/or lifestyle plans). Your diet will largely consist of whole grains, vegetables, and beans and bean products (i.e., tofu, tempeh, and miso) but this plant-based, l0w-fat, high-fiber dietary plan may help reduce the risk of certain kinds of cancer and reduce the risk of heart disease.
There is a glitch to the “following a macrobiotic diet is not hard” and that is your foods should be organically grown, and fruits and vegetables should be locally grown. And, if you do not like tofu, you will have to make some adjustments to this diet or eat more beans. You are also discouraged from eating any processed foods, meats, and anything with refined sugars.
Avoid spicy foods and drink only when you feel thirsty are two other noteworthy quirks in this plan. Certain alcoholic beverages, sodas (diet and regular), and coffee are also not part of this lifestyle.
Other foods this diet suggests you do not eat include:
- Dairy
- Eggs
- Poultry
- Tropical fruits and fruit juice
- Certain vegetables including zucchini, asparagus, eggplant, tomatoes, and spinach.
Don’t really like beans and tofu? You don’t have to eat much. On this plan only about 10% of your diet is bean-based, 40-50% of your daily nutrition comes from organically grown whole grains, and 20-30% will come from locally grown vegetables.
More Information
- There really is no official website for macrobiotics, but the Macrobiotic Guide (a UK website) has great information to help get you started: http://www.macrobiotics.co.uk/
Negative Press
- Macrobiotic Diet What Should I Know About It?
- Diet is somewhat pricey and inconvenient if you do not have access to local farmers.
Positive Press
** Provided for information only. This is not an ad but an excerpt from Amazon.com so you can read more about this book. **
The Complete Macrobiotic Diet: 7 Steps to Feel Fabulous, Look Vibrant, and Think Clearly
By Denny Waxman, Michio Kushi
In this superb volume of his core values and practices of the macrobiotic lifestyle, acclaimed expert Denny Waxman offers readers a fresh, balanced approach “to loving yourself from the inside out” as a way of life to nourish body, mind, and spirit.
Readers will find that making healthy food choices is delicious, easy, and fun with the expanded vegetarian recipes and simple menus developed by macrobiotic teacher and chef Susan Waxman.
Using a clear and adaptable 7 Step Lifestyle Plan based on nature’s rhythms, everyday wisdom, and common sense, this invaluable resource addresses topics such as gluten sensitivity, the spiritual aspects of health, as well a brief history of food. This holistic, accessible plan shows you how to look and feel fabulous while improving your mind―to help guide you to the best possible physical and mental health.
Health Concerns
This diet is generally considered safe, however, soy products may be unsuitable for people with hormonal imbalances or other health conditions. Be sure to talk to your doctor about whether or not a macrobiotics diet is right for you. You should also consult a nutritionist to make sure you are getting the proper balance of protein.
