Macrobiotics is a complete dietary system claimed to be a cure for many diseases, including cancer. Macrobiotics involves a holistic approach to diet, maintaining that the foods we eat affect our state of compatibility with the universe.

The macrobiotics principle helps you discover and understand your place in the grand order of life. Dealing with diet, it encourages you to treat your food as a healing influence in your life, rather than something you just put in your mouth.

The guiding principle used in macrobiotics is yin and yang, present in all things that complement and balance one another. Hot and cold, dark and light, life and death are examples of what we often call opposites. Based on ancient oriental philosophies, the yin-yang concept has been popularised in the West.

The idea of yin and yang relates not only to food, but, to all aspects of life, such as climate, temperature and movement. Hence the macrobiotic eating plan is an individual one, balancing the food you eat with the life you lead. You know you have the right balance for yourself because of the powerful sense of health and wellbeing experienced.

Very similar to the nutritional intake recommended by the American Cancer Society, the Macrobiotic diet should be low in fat and high in complex carbohydrates and fibre.

Macrobiotics advocates a diet of in-season, wholefoods which have been grown locally. The staple food of the macrobiotic diet is grain – rice, barley, wheat, rye, oats, millet – which makes up at least 70 per cent of the macrobiotic diet.

Pulses and lentils are also important, as are seaweeds and local fruits and vegetables. Extreme foods are avoided, such as sugar (extreme yin), salt and meat (extreme yang).

Rice Balls
Cook up a pot of brown rice and allow it to cool. Wet your hands and press into one palm. Place an umeboshi plum (see below) in the centre of the rice and place another spoonful on top. Mould into a ball and place to one side. Repeat until you have enough.

Toast one sheet of nori (see below) for each rice ball. Hold over a low flame until the nori turns a brighter shade of green. Place one rice ball in the centre of the sheet of toasted nori and wrap. The nori will stick to the rice. It may crack in places, but press firmly to cover the rice.

Wrap in non-PVC clingfilm and refrigerate until ready.

Umbeoshi
The ume plum is a Japanese product which has been used to thousands of years as a food and medicinal product. The pickled salty plum stimulates metabolic activity and helps to eliminate toxins from your system.

It is available in plum or paste form from wholefood shops.

Nori
This is a delicate sea vegetable, famous for its use in sushi. It can be bought shredded or in sheet form. In sheet form, nori is used to make rice balls and various sushi dishes.

© The Internet Health Library 2000