If you have been studying various diet plans that can help you lose weight then perhaps you have heard about the macrobiotic diet. Before you can learn about what the macrobiotic diet is and how it works, you should know that the macrobiotic concept is more of a lifestyle guide instead of a simple diet. Here is more information on how you can shed pounds with the macrobiotic diet.
Achieving the Right Balance
The concept behind the macrobiotic diet actually originates from Japan. Today, the diet basically combines a Western-type vegetarian diet with beliefs of Zen Buddhism in the East. The macrobiotic diet is much more than a collection of recommended diet foods. Instead, it also transcends to your attitude and lifestyle. The macrobiotic diet promotes the belief that you can achieve weight loss and optimum health by learning to balance the foods you eat. This is where the concept of yin and yang comes in. Foods under the yin category include foods that are sweet, cold and considered passive. On the other hand, yang foods refer to foods that are salty, hot and considered aggressive.
Recommended Foods
The macrobiotic diet recommends whole foods that are not only low in saturated fat but also high in nutrients. This is very positive since many of these whole and natural foods are not present in the modern Western diet. Whole grains make up the biggest part of a macrobiotic meal. Whole grains include rye, barley and corn. Brown rice is the most common type of whole grain consumed under the macrobiotic diet. Vegetables are also a significant part of the diet. Some of these vegetables should be consumed raw. If you prefer to cook your veggies, do so by steaming, baking or boiling. The diet also recommends regular consumption of beans. If you can’t access whole beans on a regular basis, you can also eat foods that are derived from beans. For instance, you can enjoy a bowl of miso soup every day. Miso is made from soybeans that have been fermented.
As you can see, the macrobiotic diet puts more emphasis on healthy and fiber-rich foods. Fiber is necessary in providing you with a full feeling and curbing your hunger pangs. Meats, dairy products and sweets are eliminated from the diet or consumed only occasionally. The diet also requires you to use healthier cooking methods like baking and steaming – methods that will not add extra calories to your dishes while preserving nutrients.
How to Make the Diet Work For You
If you are planning to try the macrobiotic diet, then it’s also important to be aware of the factors that you need to consider before undergoing the diet. These factors include your age, sex, level of activity, any health conditions that you might have and the season and climate in the area where you live. For instance, if you have allergies to any of the foods recommended under the diet then you might have to look for other substitutes. If you’re a woman going through menopause then you may want to increase your intake of soy products to help relieve menopausal symptoms.
