Today I was interviewed for www.macrobiotics.co.uk, to give perspective as a young person following a macrobiotic diet and way of living, as there seems to be an increase in young macros these days.

Truthfully, I am not that young of a macro follower- expect for the time frame in which I have been macro (less than a year) and my knowledge surrounding it.

What I can contribute is a passing along of the resources that were given to me and tid bits that have made being macro mine.

The first exposure I had to macrobiotics was through a good friend who sweetly sent me a macro book in the post to help heal my chronic ailing stomach aches.  The Hip Chick’s Guide to Macrobiotics by Jessica Porter was an excellent introduction.  She explains the philosophy with her own journey and then offers ways for assessing where you are as well as how to get where you want to be- balanced.

I have also been recommended Modern Day Macrobiotics by Simon Brown.  It provides an easy way to identify and combine macro ingredients in various ways to really create a lifestyle change in how you eat rather than just formulate a diet.

Changing to a macrobiotic lifestyle is really about cutting out preservatives and eating a more whole and natural diet. Created in Japan by George Ohsawa, macrobiotics incorporates a diet rich in whole grains (especially brown rice), vegetables, sea vegetables, beans, fruits and nuts.  It is about balancing the yin and yang energies that certain foods carry. Many people subscribe to the macro lifestyle to promote or restore health, while others use it as a tool to jump start weight loss and develop a healthy way of eating.  It is popular with both Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow.

For anyone who is curious about macrobiotics, I would recommend these two books as well as the listed macro website. The first step is really listening to your body and trying to decide how much to eat, when to eat and what to eat- because yes, food is fuel, but you are also what you eat. Start by eating seasonally and locally. Fruits and vegetables grow naturally at different times of the year and in different climates depending upon their location. It is a simple rule to follow and you will guarantee diversity in your diet as well as reap the benefits of getting necessary nutrients.

I hope you will explore macrobiotics- it has significantly changed my views of food, consumption, health, sense of self and relation to others… and I am still on the tip of the iceberg.