In the 1880s a Japanese doctor, Sagen Ishizuka, claimed that he could
treat many common health problems with a diet based on wholegrain
cereals and vegetables, and published his ideas in two books. Early in
the twentieth century, the American-Japanese writer George Ohsawa tried
the diet for himself and believed that it was responsible for curing
his tuberculosis. He went on to develop a dietary system based on
Ishizuka's ideas and called it macrobiotics - from the Greek words for
'large' and 'life'. He believed that the diet could increase energy and
offer greater resistance to illness, enabling its followers to live
life to the full.
Macrobiotics is largely based on the Chinese philosophy of two opposing
yet complementary forces of nature - 'yin' and 'yang'. Yin is the
female force, representing darkness, the cold and tranquility, while
yang is masculine and represents light, heat and aggression. People who
are predominantly yin tend to be calm, relaxed and creative;
predominantly yang people tend to be active, alert and energetic.
The health and harmony of both body and mind are said to depend on a
balance between the two forces, and the macrobiotic diet therefore
needs to be tailored to the needs of the individual by a macrobiotic
nutritionist.
According to macrobiotic philosophy, foods also contain the yin and
yang qualities. Certain foods are predominantly yin or yang and should
be balanced. For example, foods with a high yin content include sugar,
tea, alcohol, coffee, milk, cream, yogurt and most herbs and spices.
While foods with a high yang content include red meat, poultry, fish
and shellfish, eggs, hard cheeses and salt. Foods that are thought to
contain a harmonious balance of yin and yang are: wholegrain cereals,
fresh fruit, nuts and seeds, leafy vegetables and pulses (beans, peas
and lentils)
There are seven levels of macrobiotic diet. The less extreme levels are
mainly vegetarian (although some may contain fish), consisting of large
amounts of unrefined cereals and small amounts of seasonal and locally
produced fruit and vegetables. The most extreme, now rarely followed,
consists of brown rice only which has led to several deaths as it
contains too few nutrients.
Because the macrobiotic diet is low in calories and saturated fats, and
high in fiber, it can help to reduce the risk of obesity, raised
cholesterol, high blood pressure and constipation. However, you would
get much the same benefits from a well-balanced Vegetarian diet, which
is easier and safer to follow.
The macrobiotic diet should never be used by pregnant or breastfeeding
women, people who are ill or anyone with special dietary requirements.
It is also unsuitable for children - the bulky nature of the diet can
lead to malnutrition in youngsters, and slow growth rates through to
adolescence.
