Macrobiotic diet

What is the macrobiotic diet?
The macrobiotic diet is (according to some people) an extreme, restrictive sort of diet. That is, it's a harsh diet, a diet that requires a lot of discipline. Now, words like "harsh" and "extreme" are divisive - not everyone agrees on them. Some see the macrobiotic diet as the perfect diet. They point to its positive results - greater energy, lower body fat, and even the prevention of some forms of cancer. The macrobiotic diet has been described as a diet with great spiritual side effects. People who seek the macrobiotic diet are usually seeking a cure for the ailments of the mind and soul as well as for a cure for the ailments of the body. In fact, the people who advertise the macrobiotic diet as being a lifesaver usually think of body and mind ailments as going together. Heal the mind, heal the body, and vice versa.

What does the macrobiotic diet consist of?
First of all, with the macrobiotic diet you're not going to be eating a lot of fattening, greasy foods, a lot of starchy foods, a lot of processed foods. You're not going to be pulling up to the fast food joint every day and ordering an extremely large and fattening meal. The macrobiotic diet frowns severely on behavior such as this. The macrobiotic diet focuses on natural foods, that is, foods that grow out of the earth. The macrobiotic diet focuses on fruits and vegetables and on whole grains; the macrobiotic diet focuses on foods that are high in fiber.
What's wrong with eating fast food?
With fast food, you're getting a lot animal products. You're getting a lot of meat and butter and milk and cheese and cream. You're not only getting a lot of these, you're getting them prepared in the unhealthiest way possible. You're compounding the problem, as it were. Animal products are high in fat and lead to high cholesterol. High cholesterol, in turn, leads to heart attacks, strokes, paralysis, death. A diet high in animal products usually leads to a feeling of tiredness, listlessness, depression. The macrobiotic diet, for these reasons, turns away from animal products toward natural products. Fruits and vegetables, beans, unrefined vegetable oil - these are the kinds of foods that the macrobiotic diet chooses to focus on. The macrobiotic diet is almost a vegetarian diet. The protein that you get comes from legumes and - in moderation - some nuts and seeds.
What are the pros and cons of a macrobiotic diet?
Let's do a simple scale or rating system for this question.
Health - 7. The macrobiotic diet is a healthy diet, by most accounts. You're eating a lot of fruits and vegetables. You're eating a lot of grains. Some doctors, however, say that the macrobiotic diet is a little too restrictive. You're not getting enough kinds of protein, they say.
Cost - 10. It's not expensive to live on the macrobiotic diet. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains - these things are usually priced relatively affordably. And not eating out a lot, not eating a lot of fast food, will really save you money.
Ease of implementation - 7. It's not easy to make such a dramatic lifestyle change. To go from a diet high in animal products and processed foods to a diet high in raw foods can be a difficult matter.
Ease of adherence - 8. For many people, the longer they stay on the macrobiotic diet, the easier it is survive. And not only survive - flourish. Other options become unattractive.
Speed - 9. You'll feel the results of the macrobiotic diet pretty quickly.
Long-term potential - 10. The macrobiotic diet is one you can stay on consistently for a very long time.
Busy lifestyle rating - 8. Once you get used to it, preparing all your meals at home and eating lots of fruits and vegetables is convenient and quick.
Family friendly - 7. Kids these days like to eat out, like to eat what their friends are eating. They may not adjust to the macrobiotic diet too happily.

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