Why It is Important to Balance Yin and Yang with a Macrobiotic Diet

The diet we choose creates harmony (or dis-harmony) through deeper levels of the body. If we eat a balanced diet the benefits progress through our body’s entire systems. To begin with, food is absorbed by the blood where balance occurs between acid and alkaline, sodium and potassium and other chemicals. The next level of balance created is in the cells which are fed by the blood. Once the cells are balanced, harmony is brought about through the various hormones within the body as well as the nervous system. This balance spreads through the deeper levels of the body’s systems allowing for more and more health benefits as we continue to eat a balanced diet.

If, however, we eat a diet that is either overly yang (salt, meat, eggs, poultry etc.) or overly yin (sugar, honey, coffee, tea, alcohol, herbs, spices, fruit juices etc.) over time, our body will shows signs of physical, mental and emotional imbalance.

Over consumption of yang foods will result in parts of the body becoming contracted and hardened leading to improper functioning. Too much salt (yang) causes the small arteries to contract causing high blood pressure. Too much saturated animal fats can ultimately lead to arteriosclerosis. Arteriosclerosis occurs when the walls of the arteries become coated in fat. This causes a thickening of the walls having the result that less blood can flow through. The main cause of this condition is through eating excessive amounts of saturated animal fat found in yang foods such as: meat, eggs and cheese. Energy concentrates deep in the body causing deep tension; making the person feel up-tight, irritable and finding it difficult to relax. Deep tension can make the person feel uptight, irritable, angry and impatient. The person may feel the need to be busy or always doing something making it impossible to relax. And also finding it difficult to express feelings or emotions and even denying or repressing them.

In the extreme, over consumption of yang foods can lead to severe emotional disorders such as paranoia.

A predominantly more yang diet can also cause:

* appendicitis                                     * duodenal ulcers

* gout                                                 * headaches at the back of the head