Self Improvement, increased physical endurance, improved mental abilities - these are all current fascinations that show no signs of fading. Food and nutrition analysts and practitioners see a spike in food trends that offer health benefits, as some of us strive to achieve better health.
Food diets that offer us a life of health and wellbeing all seem to have one thing in common – whole foods, increased fruit and vegetables, less processed foods and a lifestyle that encourages a deeper connection with our spiritual side. These health beneficial food trends have been found to be on the up. These include:
- Whole food diets such as the macrobiotic diet
- A diet with Eastern influences
- Back to basics diets such as the paleo diet
Macrobiotic Diet
People who follow the macrobiotic diet, pursue a diet and lifestyle based on the Yin and Yang principles. There is an understanding that in order to create a balance in overall life energy, an equilibrium of food energies be maintained. It focuses on a diet, therefore based on both yin and yang creating a balance of life energies or chi. The macrobiotic diet goes further to state that if there is a balance on yin and yang in our life and diet, when we are at balance, we are holistically healthy.
The macrobiotic diet is centred around natural, whole foods and preferable organic. Foods are prepared in the traditional manner. This includes boiling, steaming, baking. The basis of the macrobiotic menu plan includes wholegrains, beans, vegetables, fermented soy such as tempeh and soups. Small amounts of fish, nuts, seeds and fruits are included. Meats are allowed occasionally.
Macrobiotics is not just the choice of food we make; it begins in the kitchen where every element of food is understood.
Eastern Culture Influences
Japanese cuisine, Vietnamese cuisine, Chinese cuisine all seem to have one thing in common – lots of rice, lots of vegetables and lots of fish and seafood. It is no wander that people from these cultures experience a reduced amount of the "lifestyle" diseases such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes. As our minds open up along with our palates, we can now enjoy these new spices and side dishes thus overcrowding the need for processed foods that now seem to be taking over the aisles in the supermarkets.
Now is the time to take responsibility for our own health and our own lifestyle. Very often, we find ourselves reversing our bad eating habits when we are in dire straits, when we are given a warning that the road we are travelling on is taking us in the wrong direction. A nutritionist or dietitian can guide you on the path to health and wellbeing.
Originally published on Mar 06, 2012
