Macrobiotics is a specialized diet that originated in Japan with a man named George Ohsawa. He created the diet based on the ancient yin-yang concepts of China and on the teachings of Sagen Ishizuka who pioneered the concepts of shokuiku (food education) and first explored the nutritional value of whole grains, sea vegetables, and other staples of the East Asian diet.
A macrobiotic diet is restrictive by common standards and excludes meat, dairy, flour, and sugar. Depending on the strictness of the diet, plants from the nightshade family (tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, eggplants) may be excluded. Staple foods are whole grains, beans, seaweed and vegetables. Some people who follow the diet will eat fish. Food is both raw and cooked but must not be cooked in a microwave. Sodium should be either sea salt or unpasteurized soy sauce.
Another component of the diet is that food be well chewed. Well chewed food is easier to swallow, digest, and extract nutrients from. The longer the food is in your mouth, the longer you have to taste it which, not only maximizes enjoyment but also communicates to your body what digestive juices to release. Another way to help your digestive system is to refrain from washing food down with a beverage. This will help your body increase the production of saliva which helps to break down food in the stomach.
The purpose of the macrobiotic diet is health and longevity and many people choose this diet to aid in the treatment of cancer and other long-term illnesses. Eating the whole grain delivers more of the nutrients contained in the plant and lowers the risk of chronic disease. Beans are an excellent source of protein that contain less saturated fats than meats and dairy products. Sugars, especially refined sugars, are included in many prepared foods and contain no fiber, minerals, proteins, fat, or enzymes. In order to metabolize sugar, the body must borrow vital nutrients from healthy cells. Nightshades are acidic and, of not balanced out, draw on the body's calcium reserves.
Recognizing the health benefits of many aspects of the macrobiotic diet, Alpha Beet is proud to serve whole-grain, brown basmati rice in our rice bowls, whole soybeans in our tempeh bacon, and whole beans in our Red and Black Bean soups. All of our sauces are prepared in-house and not prepackaged or processed. We cook with only high-grade sea-salt. Our juices and smoothies have no added sugars (except the tbs of maple syrup in the Nutty Professor) and, because they are blended, aid your digestion. We also serve a wide variety of blended soups. Delicious and healthy!
Bon Appetit!
Liz
Rider of Self-Propelled Devices
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