Is anyone here macrobiotic?

[BuelahWitch]

I'm posting here because macrobiotic diets are supposed to be good for cancer treatment. No, I don't have cancer (thankfully), but I need to lower my blood pressure and also try and get rid of my allergies. I'm sure my excess weight plus the Claritin-D are what is causing the high numbers. Plus I'm so tired all the time, I'd like to have some sort of energy. If you're doing it, or have done it, is it pretty expensive to keep it up? what did you eat for breakfasts?
I have a book that's coming from Amazon, but I always like to talk to real people too.

[WhiteTara]

1. I worked a macrobiotic diet int the 70s

and found that I lost lots of weight (not ntentioanallly)and if you subscribe to the diet it hs some very beneficial results.

[FirstLight]

2. I wasn't strict about it ...

But I was integrating alot of macrobiotic elements into my diet back in 99, and I managed to keep my autoimmune disease in full remission and was definately the healthiest I have ever been. I would love to get back into it, but it is a hard transition and when it is just me & the kids, their idea of gourmet is mac n cheese!

[BuelahWitch]

3. I have started eating brown rice for at least one meal, sometimes two

Don't really have the funds to get the teas and miso and sea vegetables, but I thought at least I could work with some of that and some other veggies and beans (staying away from tomatoes, of course). Once i am doing a bit better financially I will probably do more. I should have my beginner's recipe book by then as well...

[Why Syzygy]

4. Rice milk is good.

Last year I started a program that used a lot of rice, though it wasn't specifically macrobiotic.
I LOVE the rice milk with cinnamon and vanilla (I think?), Horocha .. something like that. And grew fond of the plain puffed rice cereal with that. I love rice cakes and got used to rice noodles.

I'm going to look it up, but what kind of teas do they recommend?

The cooking group at DU might have suggestions for specific recipes.

http://altmedicine.about.com/od/popularhealthdiets/a/Macrobiotic.htm

http://macrobiotics.co.uk/recipes.htm

(There's even a facebook group!)

[BuelahWitch]

5. Kukicha, or twig tea

Also miso soup. I heard that miso is really salty, but it helps the immune system.
I've also started eating the plain puffed rice cereal! My grandmother and I ate that quite a bit when I was a kid. It's kind of hard to find, you have to look for the store brands. I've also started using rice milk and trying to wean myself off dairy. Since I've used the rice milk with my cereal I don't get so queasy in the mornings.

[Why Syzygy]

7. That sounds yummy!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kukicha_tea

And so good for you. Congratulations on embarking on this journey. I think the current planet movements are making me yearn for a healthy diet. Maybe they will give you a boost too.

In Austin, I lived about two miles from wonderful Central Market. Out here, the closest one is about 30 miles :(
And I have no reliable transportation at the moment. Thank love for Internet shopping.
I had no problem giving up dairy. But, then I wasn't drinking coffee with an inch of cream at the time.

The book that got me started was this:
http://www.amazon.com/7-Day-Detox-Miracle-Revised-Life-Enhancing/dp/0761530975/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243580237&sr=1-1
I can't really recommend it, though. It has an awful lot of technical medical data that is dreary to read through. The eating method is sound, however, afaik. I've got an entire container of rice protein powder in the freezer. So, it wouldn't take much for me to get on with it.

Hope you let us know how the diet works out.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

6. A container of miso is about $5, but it'll go a long way and keeps forever in the fridge

[Cha]

12. This is true..it's well

worth the investment. South River Miso is the best, imo. Miso's always good for the friendly bacteria in one's colon and for B12 which is important to Vegans like myself.

"Fermentation to the Rescue"

"Fermented foods and drinks are a cornerstone of the Body Ecology program because they help build your inner ecosystem. When your inner ecosystem is healthy, it is full of friendly microflora (beneficial bacteria in your intestines), that help you digest and assimilate nutrients and boost your immunity.

In fact, healthy microflora actually go to work for you, creating the vitamins and minerals your body needs to stay strong and energized.

When you follow the Body Ecology program, you begin to create energy so that your body can correct digestion, conquer infections and cleanse. Once your systemic fungal infection is under control we recommend adding fermented soy foods like miso soup, natto and tempeh. Soyfoods are high in copper and we have found that high copper foods often are not tolerated when a person has candidiasis.

Amazing Miso

Miso has been eaten in Japan and China for many centuries and has been attracting the attention of many of us because of its health and anti-aging benefits. It's also quite delicious. When you aren't feeling well a bowl of miso soup can be especially soothing.

While it was once thought that soy was the reason for the low rates of heart disease, breast and prostate cancer in Asia, more evidence is now showing us that it is the consumption of traditional fermented soy products (usually eaten every day) that are providing the real benefits."

http://www.bodyecology.com/07/02/15/miso_health_and_anti-aging.php

[LaurenG]

13. Do you have any good recipies for it's use?

I can make a great gravy with it but somehow can't make a soup for the life of me.

[Richard D]

14. Miso soup is really east!

Traditional recipe contains onions, carrots, cabbage and tofu. First slice the onions on the round, so that you have thin circles of onions. Saute in olive oil (traditional is sesame oil, but I don't use it) till the onions become transparent. Then add the carrots, which should be cut in a way similar to how you would sharpen a pencil with a knife. Thinner the better. Watch the fingers towards the end.

Saute the carrots for a minute, then add water and cabbage. Enough water to cover the cabbage. Other vegies like broccoli, kale, collard greens, etc. can be added as well. Bring to boil and let cook till vegies are cooked, about 10 minutes. Turn off flame and let a 6 inch piece of kombu seaweed (if you have it) soak in the soup for a few minutes, then remove. put Miso paste in a bowl, about 1 tbs per bowl of soup, but start with less as you can always add more and different miso's have varying salt content. Add a little at a time of the hot broth to the bowl, stirring the paste into the liquid till it's pourable. Add back to pot of soup and let set for a few minutes till you devour it. If you need to reheat, never boil miso paste. Kills all the good stuff.

There's different types of miso. Best for soup is made with barley or rice.

[Chemical Bill]

8. I've had allergy and BP issues.

I cut down on, and finally stopped, eating wheat (except Ezekial bread, which is sprouted), corn, dairy, eggs, and most nuts. My digestion and also my nose are much better for it. That leaves brown rice, meat, veggies and fruits. I lost 20 pounds, but BP was still high. I went to an acupuncturist who told me to cut fruit to one or two a day. I had been eating lots of fruit each day for breakfast. So I eat brown rice, grilled chicken and veggies for breakfast now, and my BP dropped like a rock. I guess fructose is still a sugar, despite the people who say "eat lots of fruit". Anyway, I lost another 10 pounds and feel great. I am familiar with macro diets, but only eat seaweed and miso on special occasions. Michio Kushi smoked like a chimney, IIRC, so don't take his diet as perfect. OTOH, I have known several people who survived cancer by eating macrobioticly. Oh, one last suggestion, read some Annemarie Colbin:

http://www.foodandhealing.com/

Bill

PS, I let myself eat anything I want one day a week, no matter how sinful. I'm finding less desire to break my diet nowadays, and am not even tempted by "Death By Chocolate" cake anymore. Wheat free waffles with real maple syrup, on the other hand, are something to look forward to.

[BuelahWitch]

10. Thanks for the info

That looks like a pretty good diet you have. I guess you eat no fish at all?

[get the red out]

9. Quercetin for allergies

I have never tried a macrobiotic diet, but I do use Quercetin for my allergies. I get stopped up and can't breathe but many allergy medicines keep me from sleeping at night so I have been using the nutritional supplement Quercetin to unstop my nose. It does a credible job and I can still get my rest, and I doubt seriously it has the blood pressure effects that the "wired up" type allergy medicines have, like in anything with a "D" after it.

Just a supplement that has helped me quite a bit. :D

[BuelahWitch]

11. I tried that and it never really did anything for me

I had some last winter and noticed it didn't work. I take a supplement for my adrenals sometimes (I often forget) and that and vitamin B complex helps.
What brand of quercetin do you take? And does it have anything else with it, like Vit C?

[get the red out]

15. Source Naturals

I have been taking Source Naturals Activated Quercetin this summer, it doesn't have vit. C. (I get that with my B complex). Everyone's body is different. I also have to take a prescription (Allegra), which doesn't do enough, so I fill in the "gaps" with the Quercetin. It's funny, I have taken Claritin, which many people swear by, and it doesn't do any more for me than drinking a glass of water.

But I would still be sunk without the Quercetin because I used to use plain old sudaphed when the Allegra didn't do enough, which my Doctor suggested. But when I take any of that stuff I don't sleep, and the insomnia became miserable. I think it is the pseudophedrine (sp?) in medication with "D" at the end that can cause sleep and blood pressure problems.

Every person is so different, it has taken me a lot of experimentation to find things that help me and don't screw up my system.

Best luck!