Are there risks associated with macrobiotic diets?
If not properly planned, macrobiotic diets can lead to poor nutrition. The macrobiotic diet is not recommended for pregnant women or children and may not provide sufficient protein and nutrients for others. Is a macrobiotic diet the same as a vegetarian diet? Not necessarily. There is no underlying vegetarian philosophy in the concept of macrobiotics. Early versions of the diet did not include meats, but newer versions discourage the consumption of heavy meats and may include limited servings of fresh whitemeat fish. Not all fruits and vegetables are considered acceptable for a macrobiotic diet. Potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, asparagus, spinach, beets, zucchini, and avocados are examples of excluded vegetables. A macrobiotic diet also recommends consumption of locally-grown produce and avoidance of fruits that do not grow locally, such as bananas, pineapples and other tropical fruits. Does macrobiotics involve specific cooking and food preparation methods? Macrobiotic diets rec
