Food For Life

INTRODUCTION Vital health and the consistent experience of contentment and happiness are states of being we all desire. While our efforts to satisfy these desires have accomplished so much it seems ironic that in the light of our technological surroundings (enormous cities, advanced educational/research facilities, accelerated global travel and communication) there also exists some looming dark clouds: degenerative diseases, pollution, environmental destruction, hunger, violence and war. Within this often chaotic atmosphere of extremes, a growing number of individuals seek ways to create a better balance. From (a)romatherapy to (z)en meditation, holistic health offers an abundance of effective alternatives that facilitate both personal and global wellness. Commonly overlooked and often avoided in our box of transformational tools is the daily food that provides the fuel and energy for any activity we pursue. While many people deny the power of nutrition, more and more are realizing that what we put into our bodies greatly influences the quality of our lives. For us, the phrase “you are what you eat” continues to provide a metaphoric reminder that food choices influence all of our personal actions. This guidebook will share my experience with macrobiotics: how delicious, natural, quality food can help one to enjoy and accomplish any task or goal, and most importantly “Be” in our shared dream of vital health and inner happiness. The word macrobiotic originated in ancient Greece: macro meaning great/large, and biotic meaning life. Aristotle, the philosopher, and Hippocrates, history’s best-known Western doctor, used the word to describe lifestyle practices, such as diet, that could rejuvenate a human life. George Ohsawa (1893 to 1967), a Japanese man considered to be the father of macrobiotics, combined these principles with ancient Eastern philosophies, and formulated many concepts of natural living, using dietary, exercise, and philosophical practices to help attain this goal of a Great Life. Just as the name Great Life implies expansiveness, macrobiotic eating embraces the view that because of our position at the top of the food chain, humans are the only species on earth that have the luxury of eating any food we choose. There is literally nothing on this planet earth that is forbidden in the macrobiotic diet. Perhaps those of you who have read or heard about macrobiotics may be surprised by this statement. It’s the “You Can Eat Anything You Want” diet, that entails an awareness of consequences related to the ups and downs that result from food and lifestyle choices. Macrobiotics focuses on the balancing principles found in nature to determine which foods will best support one’s health and lifestyle. Our nutritional needs vary depending on our personal health condition, climate, lifestyle, ancestral influences, etc. A comedian in Hollywood requires different food than a native mountain guide living in Alaska. Unfortunately, the earliest books on macrobiotics were written in a very judgmental, black and white, right or wrong writing style. Also, many people who became ill reversed their conditions by eating very simply. These influences have contributed to a common misconception that the macrobiotic diet is a narrow, confining style of eating.