| It sounds a modern fad but macrobiotics is no | | | | correct balance. It is mostly a vegetarian plan but |
| passing trend, it was first mentioned in the | | | | it does allow you to eat fish and even meat |
| writings of Hippocrates almost two and a half | | | | occasionally. |
| thousand years ago. He used the word | | | | There are also rules which must be adhered to |
| macrobiotics to describe people who were healthy | | | | regarding eating, cooking and lifestyle practices, it |
| and lived long, indeed the word itself comes from | | | | is far more than a diet, it is considered more an |
| the Greek for great life, macros equaling great | | | | approach to life than an exact food plan. Foods |
| and bios equaling life. | | | | should be consumed as close to their natural state |
| Disciples of macrobiotics advocate the belief that | | | | as is possible and processed foods are not to |
| food quality seriously affects health, well-being and | | | | eaten at all. Other foods which are removed |
| happiness. They emphasise locally grown whole | | | | include - fatty meats, most dairy, sugars, coffee, |
| grain cereals, pulses, vegetables, seaweed, | | | | caffeinated tea, alcohol, chocolate, very hot |
| fermented soybeans and fruit. These foods are | | | | spices, potatoes, poultry, chemicals and |
| combined into meals according to the principle of | | | | preservatives. Other guidelines which macrobiotics |
| ying and yang, meaning balance. Yin foods are | | | | recommend include - eating only when hungry, |
| cold, sweet and passive while yang foods are hot, | | | | proper chewing (around fifty times a mouthful), |
| salty and aggressive. Some foods are prohibited | | | | eat with good posture and in a relaxed manner, |
| because they contain toxins or fall outside the | | | | do not eat three hours before bed-time and retire |
| spectrum that make it too difficult to achieve the | | | | before midnight. |