The meaning of the Greek word „macrobiotic“ is „long life“. The Japanese George Ohsawa developed the macrobiotic diet for optimal health. Brown rice and water are only important in his diet. It was Michio Kushi expanded and developed further on Ohsawa’s macrobiotic theory. He opened the Kushi Institute in Boston in 1978 and did lot of work with his wife Aveline to popularize the macrobiotic diet in North America.

The foods for the macrobiotic diet are:

• 50% whole grains
• 25% seasonal vegetables, cooked or raw
• 10% protein foods such as fish or seafood or legumes
• 5% sea vegetables
• 5% soups
• 5% fruits, nuts or seeds

Fresh organic foods are the best. Microwave should not be used for cooking. Rice should be cooked only in a pressure cooker.

You must take enough time to eat and the food must be chewed long and properly.

Sugars, meat, poultry, milk and diary products, eggs, all processed and junk foods and alcohol must be avoided completely.

The advantages of macrobiotic diet are:

• It is high in natural, fresh and unprocessed foods
• Has lot of fibres and complex carbohydrates
• Low in saturated fats and provides enough essential fatty acids
• It is low calorie diet and good for weight loss

It is feared that the macrobiotic diet can cause nutritional deficiencies for protein, minerals and vitamins in children and calcium and iron in adults.

My experience is that it is good for weight loss and small adjustments, if necessary, can be made according to individuals situation and needs. To achieve the goal of weight loss and weight maintenance we need individual suggestions and adjustments.