for ppl transitioning

[VeganVixen]

I was wondering if a macrobiotic / raw plan would be good for people either transitioning to raw from A VERY SAD diet,or people with special concerns (like pregant ,sick,or need time to adjust)......I know it is a bit contradictory with the cooked veggies -but it tends to be more basic and wholesome ,and defines what non-raw food are good to transition.......like steamed brown rice,mung beans,adizuki beans,steamed veggies ect.......

[rayelynn]

I am certainly very sad and pregnant!! :-)

I am also very new at this. What does a macrobiotic diet consist of? I am certainly not going to go 100% raw until after that baby is born. I know my detox will be severe. I tried a master cleanse for 1 day last year and ended up vomiting within a few hours. i quit soon after, it scared me.

I know I am very toxic and while I would love to be raw, I cant put my baby through it right now. I am very interested in what you are referring to. Thanks for your concern and help!!

raye Lynn

[Revvell]

I did macrobiotics for a short time. It seemed to be helpful for me when I was going through a cleansing. How about this? Since there is/are so much in the way of grains, how about sprouted instead? Say, sprouted wild rice made into a pilaf w/ fresh tomatos?

The one thing I did not much care for in macro is ~ not enough fruits and not enough raw greens. Other than that, I LOVED the mochi and miso soup.

Although many have found macrobiotics to be healing, it seems to me to be a better way to eat for folk who come from a country where rice, fish, etc. is more prevalent.

Anyone else have ideas on this?

Injoy ~

Revvell

[VeganVixen]

here are some componants of the mac diet(I would do the veg. type if I were you ,they recomend this -but if you must they encorperate some fish and egg in it ,I dont recomend this so limit if you do) Sea veggies are a great tool-and a staple in this program...also as revel said mochi:

Mugwort mochi: Sweet rice that has been combined with the herb mugwort and pounded into mochi. This food is useful for pregnant and nursing mothers and conditions of anemia. Sweet rice is higher in protein and fat than regular brown rice.


there are 5 componants to the mac diet fire,soil,metal,water,and tree

FIRE
Taste: Bitter Foods: Bitter greens, Kale, Collards), toasted seeds
Organs: Heart/Small Intestine
Season/Color: Red/Summer
Energy direction: Outward
Cooking Method: Stir fry, Dry Roasting

SOIL
Taste: Sweet
Foods: Winter Squash,carrots
Organs: Stomach/Spleen, Pancreas
Season/Color: Early Autumn/Orange
Energy direction: Downward
Cooking Method: Boiling

METAL
Taste: Sharp or Pungent
Foods: Ginger, Garlic, Mustard, raw Onion
Organs: Lungs/Large Intestine
Season/Color: Late Autumn/White
Energy Direction: Inward
Cooking Method: Pressure Cooking/Baking

WATER
Taste: Salty
Foods: Sea Vegetables, Beans
Organs: Kidneys/Bladder
Season/Color: Winter/Blue, Black, Deep Purple
Energy Direction: Floating
Cooking Method: Pickling

TREE
Taste: Sour
Foods: Sprouts, Lemons, Sauerkraut, Vinegars
Organs: Liver/Gallbladder
Season/Color: Spring/Green
Energy direction: Upward
Cooking Method: Steaming








Carbohydrates - whole grains, beans, vegetables, seeds, fruits;

Proteins - beans, bean products, seeds, nuts,fish(limit)

Fats and oils - cooking oils, nut butters, nuts, seeds

Minerals - salts, sea vegetables, vegetables

Vitamins - vegetables, fruits, sea vegetables;

Enzymes - fermented foods, raw vegetables and fruits;

Water - spring water, vegetables, fruits;


Grains: amaranth, barley, buckwheat, corn, millet, oats, quinoa, rice, rye, spelt, sweet rice, teff, wheat, wild rice;
Grain products: fu, mochi, seitan, whole-grain bread and pasta;


Organic Beans and Bean Products:
In general, the body requires more carbohydrates than proteins because carbohydrates are used for daily activity and protein is used for maintenance. This ratio, however, is dependent upon one's level of activity, age, climate, health condition, body 'goals' and other factors so it must be determined individually.

Beans: adukis, black-eyed peas, black turtles, black soybeans, garbonzos, great northerns, kidneys, lentils, limas, navies, pintos, split peas;

Bean products: miso, natto, limit processed soy products,

Organic Nuts and Seeds:
Excellent sources of protein and fat, nuts and seeds are plentiful. When un-shelled they are easy to store for a long time. Once shelled, however, they are susceptible to rancidity if left at room temperature unless preserved with salt or shoyu.

Nuts: almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, chestnuts, hazelnuts, peanuts, walnuts;
Seeds: pumpkins, sesames, sunflowers, flax;

Organic Sea Vegetables and Land Vegetables:
Rich in minerals, trace elements, vitamins and fiber, sea and land vegetables build bones and muscles, nourish the skin, cleanse and revitalize the body.

Sea Vegetables: agar agar, arame, dulse, fresh-water algae, hiziki, kombu, mekabu, nori, sea palm, wakame;

Land Vegetables:

roots: burdock, carrot, daikon, jinenjo, lotus, parsnip, turnip, rutabaga;
ground rounds: broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, onions, squash;
leafy greens: bok choy, collards, kale, lettuces, leeks, spinach, sprouts, mustard greens, chard, lettuces, radicchio, arugula, frisee, mizuna;

Organic Fruits:
An important source of vitamins and water and enzymes, the use of fruit as a food source depends upon what is growing in the local area in season.

Temperate climate: apples, apricots, berries, cherries, melons, peaches, pears, plums;
Tropical climate: bananas, grapefruit, mangoes, oranges, papayas, pineapples;
Knowing that the food components necessary for health are available in a whole foods diet, how do we adapt the diet to meet personal health conditions, activities for the day and climate variables? I've found it wonderfully helpful to understand and use the distinctions of the Expansive (Yin) and Contractive (Yang) forces found everywhere in Nature.

[VeganVixen]

I would pair this with a raw diet high in fresh veggies and fruit

[Revvell]

Actually, it's fire, earth, metal, water and wood ~ which is also the basis for Traditional Chinese Medicine.

And mugwort mochi is the best!!!! Oh my! You are such a tease VV!!! Stop! :D

Revvell

[VeganVixen]

oops ~silly fairy!

[growinhealth]

veganvixen! YOu Rock! I appreciate so much your information in this new area of my life thanks for sharing! I got good tips!

[Punky]

I think Macrobiotics would be an excellant transitional diet.
It is a whole food based diet, even though it includes cooked foods.
I would be careful and limit fish to occasionally if pregnant, because
of the heavy metals and pollution in our oceans and water...
so sad, sad sad that we have done this to our planet :(
But from personal experience (wish I had known more when I was pregnant),
my oldest son has heavy metals in his body (from various sources, not
just seafood) which showed up on blood
tests....he has/had behavioural problems which a much milder now than they
were thru a very strict diet, etc.....
Anyways, if you include fish research the sources for lower
mercury/pollution contaminants in the water. Whole Foods stores sell salmon
which is wild alaskan which I believe is a better choice as far
as pollutants go. Or you may decide to exclude fish and take a fish oil supplement that is pollutant free. PM me if interested in some Omega-3
fish oil brands that make sure there is no contaminants and heavy metal.
Also I just started taking a vegan source supplement w/Omega-3's
called "O-Mega-Zen". It's an Omega-3 source from marine microalgae oil. www.nutru.com
Anyways, back on topic...I think with some tweaking as suggested by other
posts this kind of diet would be excellant transition to raw and might
slow down detox to limit exposure to baby.