The Hip Chick's guide to Macrobiotics

by Jessica Porter

I really wish I had the will power and the time to eat like this author recommends. 60% vegetables and 25% whole grains. (Don't ask me about the other 15%, because I never quite figured that out.)

If I lived alone, I could probably do it. However, my husband and kids would never eat like this, so it seems impossible for me. I would have to prepare two meals which would take too much time, plus watching them eat other things would make me want them too.

Many recipes depend upon a pressure cooker too...something I never planned on buying, and they all had ingredients I've never even heard of!

Her ideas about milk did make sense to me though. Baby cows and other mammals don't drink milk their entire life, so why do humans? She said that it isn't healthy and really causes health harm. I'm not sure I want to push that idea on my children who all love milk, but I do know personally that as soon as I have a lot of milk products, my skin breaks out!

Her thoughts about sugar:

1. It leaches healthy minerals from your bones.
2. It causes mood swings and depression.
3. It produces acidic blood. Sugar doesn't just rot your blood; it rots everything!
4. It is yin and creates expansion in the system. (Think inflammation.)
5. It is addicitive.
6. It messes with your intuition.


Her section on genetically modified foods chilled my blood and reinforced everything else I've read. Humans in companies have basically started us on the road to extinction by messing with the food!

Lifestyle suggestions:

1. Do a whole body scrub (except eyes and privates) using a clean hot washcloth. It should take about ten minutes and turn your skin pink.
2. Avoid eating at least 3 hours before bed.
3. Drink only when you are thirsty.
4. Use only natural products on your skin. (Note to self: Read Glow by Christina Pirello.)
5. Use sheets, towels, blankets, rugs, and clothes made only of natural materials.
6. Keep fresh plants in the house. (I wish, mine always die!)
7. Open windows to circulate air- even in winter.
8. Minimize electric machines close to your body: cell phones, hair dryers, electric toothbrushes, etc.
9. Throw out the microwave.
10. Keep TV watching to a minimum.
11. Walk in nature.
12. Stay active.
13. Be grateful.
14. Teach others.
15. Use home remedies.

For hangovers or diarrhea: Une-sho-Kuzu
1 cup water, 1/2 umeboshi plum, 1 heaping teaspoon kuzu diluted in 1/4 cup cold spring water, a few drops shoyu (bring water and plum to a boil & simmer 3 min. add kuzu & stir constantly to avoid lumps, drink/eat when temp. is comfortable.)

Once a week to desludge diet:
carrot-daikon drink
1/2 cup grated carrot, 1/2 cup grated daikon, 1/4 umeboshi plum, 1 c spring water, 1/4 sheet nori ripped into small pieces, a few drops shoyu (bring c, d, plum and water to boil. Let simmer 3 min. add nori. Remove from heat and eat/drink when cool enough.)

etc.