By Rebecca Marli,
Project Weight Loss staff writer
August 19, 2007The macrobiotic diet may help you lose weight and help you maintain a healthy lifestyle. The macrobiotic diet is based on grains, vegetables, and sea weeds that should be consumed in their natural condition, without processing.
The recommended foods include whole grains such as brown rice, barley, corn, and oat. Whole grains must represent almost sixty percent of the foods consumed.
The recommended vegetables include cabbage, Chinese cabbage, broccoli, onion, pumpkin, cauliflower, carrots, turnip-rooted cabbage, or radishes. Mushrooms, cucumbers, and celery may be consumed for up to three times per week. Vegetable soups are also allowed.
Occasionally, dieters may eat carp, code, bream, stockfish, plaice, sesame seeds, nuts, peanuts, coconuts, almonds, and trout. Watermelon, strawberries, apples, apricots, cherries, grapes, peaches, pears, plums, raisins, bilberries, pickles, and raspberries may be consumed for a few times per week.
For the macrobiotic diet, the beverages allowed include green tea, apple juice, grape juice, wine, mineral water, or soy milk. Dieters must avoid sugar, white flour, meat, dairy products, chocolate, or sweet beverages.
The benefit of this diet is that, combined with physical activity, may lead to weight loss. It may also decrease the risk to suffer from heart disease or high levels of cholesterol.
However, many dietitians are concerned about the side effects of the macrobiotic diet. The diet is low in calories, vitamin D, iron, calcium, and all types of vitamin B. This diet is not recommended for children, pregnant women, or women who breastfeed.
Always talk to a specialist before starting a diet or a fitness program.
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