Macro-Diet Foods
The Yin and Yang of a Balanced Diet by Wayne Brekke

For those who believe that good eating is good living, the vegetarian-heavy macrobiotic lifestyle promotes ideals of a healthy body, clean mind, and heightened spirit. The balance of Yin and Yang creates the foundation to a system of food preparation and healthy diet that many say can cure disease and encourage the body to heal itself.

This way of ingesting food is often described as a "Journey for longevity and personal health." Part of the macrobiotic philosophy is based on the thought that the human body is designed to process certain foods more effectively, incorporating the valuable nutrients into its system to help regulate overall health and well being. It teaches that health is more than curing a sickness; it is a profound way of living that prevents illness from occurring. Preparation of certain foods is carefully regulated to achieve the highest nutritional benefit from each meal. Macrobiotics teaches that food is more than just fuel for our body; it can be used to improve our mental, physical and spiritual health. It develops respect for our body and environment as organic or locally grown foods are encouraged.

The Micro-diet consists of carefully prepared foods such as whole cereals and grains, organic, locally grown or cultivated sea or land vegetables, miso, soups, tofu, fish, nuts, seeds and small amounts of fruit. Cooking for a Macrobiotic typically consists of lightly preparing all foods by steaming or eating raw. It is suggested to consult a trained Macrobiotics nutrition counselor before switching diets to learn the proper methods of food preparation and transition.

Bob Carr is an expert on Macrobiotic foods and is currently the director of East West Center of Cleveland and is the founder of the Cleveland Tofu Company. He is also the author of the book, The Energy of Food as well as an instructor at the renowned Kushi Institute of George Ohsawa Macrobiotic Foundation. An international student of macrobiotics and the practice of Shiatsu, Carr’s long list of credentials make him a foremost authority on the benefits of the Macrobiotic lifestyle. After coming around to the theology of macrobiotics, Carr started to study the relationships between food and the body. Traveling the world he eventually landed back in the states where he uses his vast knowledge to practice Shiatsu and macrobiotic living. “I learned more in five seminars than I did in five years at an Ivy League college," Car said. "Macrobiotics is keeping your body in a careful balance, like Yin and Yang, each food has different properties that affect your body in a variety of ways.” Even for those that consider themselves strict carnivores, Macrobiotics allows the body to use food to revitalize itself and it shines a new light on the old saying “You are what you eat.”

For more information on Bob Carr or the East-West Center of Cleveland visit: http://junior.apk.net/~rncjr/eastwest.htm