"let food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food"
-Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine, 460-377 BC
Around the same time I became vegan (october 2009) I also began looking into macrobiotics.
this article describes the basis of macrobiotics from which i've also excerpted below:
What is Macrobiotics?
The macrobiotic approach is based on the view that we are the result of and are continually influenced by our total environment, which ranges from the foods we eat and our daily social interactions to the climate and geography in which we live.
In considering all factors that influence our lives, the macrobiotic approach to health and healing views sickness as the natural attempt of the body to return to a more harmonious and dynamic state with the natural environment. As what we choose to eat and drink and how we live our lives are primary environmental factors that influence our health and create who we are, the macrobiotic approach emphasizes the importance of proper dietary and lifestyle habits. The macrobiotic diet is centered around whole grains and supplemented with other foodstuffs such as vegetables and beans, and avoiding the use of highly processed or refined foods and requiring that food be chewed thoroughly before swallowing.
Where does Macrobiotics come from?
The macrobiotic approach is based on principles, theories and practices that have been known to philosophers, scholars, and physicians throughout history. The term "macrobiotics" comes from Greek ("macro" meaning "large" or "long", and "bios" meaning "life") and was first coined by Hippocrates, the father of western medicine. The most recent development stems from Michio Kushi who was inspired by philosopher-writer George Ohsawa.
some good resources:
-hip chick's guide to macrobiotics by jessica porter- i also suggest you buy the book, this lady is super funny and relatable
-"modern-day macrobiotics" by simon g. brown- really breaks down all the key concepts and makes it all easy to digest (pun intended)
-"the kind diet" by alicia silverstone-if you haven't already figured out i am obsessed with this woman. she is amazing and her book is half information about health and veganism and the second half is all the best recipes. all in one place! i reference this book ALL the time. so go buy it! also
nowwww for some macro-vegan food porn:
macro-perfection! steamed kale and quinoa
oh, just some veggies chillin' in the steamer
carrot and burdock kinpira (page 272 of The Kind Diet)
brown rice, edamame and hijiki seaweed salad in my silly confetti bowl
gingered green beans with hijiki (page 259 of The Kind Diet)
alicia's magical healing soup (page 251 of The Kind Diet)
now i'm not sayin' that i'm anywhere near being perfectly macro. although, i wish i could say i live solely off of steamed vegetables, beans, seaweeds and brown rice chewed 50 times per bite. but in reality i'm busy and don't always have the time to cook, or even remember to chew when life gets really hectic. plus i love snacks! and vegan treats, and i don't think it helped that i had class on the same block as stogo last semester...but it's all a process right? i try to eat macro most of the time and love the benefits i get from doing so. it has made obvious to me the connection between what we eat and how we feel. when i eat sugar or caffein (yup, im talking to you licorice wheels and soy chai latte's!!) my anxiety goes haywire, i can't concentrate and feel unmotivated and sluggish. when i start my day with a warm bowl of brown rice and some steamed kale, i feel centered, happy and energetic. some other added bonuses i've noticed from eating macro:
-more sensitive taste buds. since seasonings are minimal you really begin to actually TASTE every subtle flavor
-it's surprisingly cheaper (if you buy grains and beans in bulk, produce seasonally and avoid packaged, processed food)
-help the environment-check back for a nice, juicy post on this to come! (TKD page 22)
-help the animals (do i need to say that killing is a pretty big deal, and by choosing NOT to consume animals, also choose NOT to support the totally inhumane meat production industry)
-help yourself!! duhh! this should really be first on the list. i'm slowly starting to realize more and more that you can't help anyone (human or not) unless you help yourself first. if you fell like shit, how can you accomplish anything in this world? plus, when you don't get sick as much (because you are feeding your body actual nutrients, NOT junk pumped unpronounceable fillers!) you have so much more time to do the things you love, with the people you love (because you don't have to worry about being all contagious and sneezey and gross :)
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