Popstar supporters aim to “detoxify the body” by consuming mostly local organic foods: whole grains (oats, brown rice), vegetable soups, seaweed and legumes.
Some options allow the consumption of organic meat or fish.
What does macrobiotics promise?
The diet’s founder, George Osawa, has claimed that it can prevent and even treat serious diseases, including cancer.
Although Cancer Research UK emphasises the lack of scientific evidence for cancer treatment, Research shows that a moderate macrobiotic diet can:
- reduce body fat.
- reduce cholesterol levels.
- reduce the risk of heart disease and some cancers (particularly breast cancer) associated with high fat diets.
It is important to remember that these benefits can also be achieved through a standardised healthy and balanced diet.
Disadvantages and risks
The macrobiotic diet has serious disadvantages, the main one being the risk of malnutrition. Due to restrictions on dairy products and some animal products, the body may not get enough protein, calcium, calories, iron and vitamins. This can lead to:
- unwanted weight loss.
- fatigue and weakness.
- increased susceptibility to disease.
Early strict versions of the diet, allowing only whole grain foods and water, even resulted in severe malnutrition and death.
In addition, following a macrobiotic diet can be quite expensive due to the high cost of organic produce and expert advice.
This material is for informational purposes only and does not contain any advice, diagnosis or conclusions regarding your health. if you need a diagnosis, medical advice or treatment, please consult a specialist.