Finding Caffeine Alternatives the Macro Way

Hi Everyone!  I know it has been a while since my last blog but I've been so busy with school that finding the time has been somewhat difficult.  But know that it has always been on my mind ;)  Based on my hectic schedule I've tried to find ways to keep my energy going and made a pact to stay away from developing a coffee addiction, like many other students in my cohort ;P  So I've tried different things and here's what I have to say.

When you're macrobiotic you try to avoid caffeine as much as possible, this includes heavier caffeinated teas like green tea and black tea.  But if your body is telling you that you need the extra kick every now and then to help you get through your long day, like me with classes from 8am-7pm with only 45mins lunch break in between :S, then having a caffeine fix is much needed.  However, try your best to stay away from coffee (120mg of caffeine per cup) since this is the most extreme source you can get it from.  Especially if you've been off coffee for a while it' best to start off in lower doses of caffeine to see which one gives the boost you need with the least amount.  

Black teas are are one of the strongest caffeine sources besides coffee.  This organic earl grey (always go for organic tea when possible) was mountain-grown in India or Sri-Lanka.  It has a wonderful aroma and banks in at 50mg of caffeine per cup.  It gets its flavor from natural bergamot oil, a citrus fruit grown in Bergamo, Italy.  

I thought this tea did it's job, but would of definitely tasted better with some sweetener in it.  Although it seemed to wake me up right away it left me with dry tongue and an unpleasant dizziness at the end the night.  So it definitely gets some getting use to but it's such a beautiful product.  Look at the individual tea bags it comes in!  This is a very elegant tea and maybe a little too formal for my taste.

Next up is Green tea.  This is probably the next step up from the traditional macro choice of Kukicha tea.  Only thing is that, like Kukicha which has some caffeine, I feel like green tea does not really do much for my energy.  It is a great option besides coffee though and very accessible, you can find it everywhere.  Don't get me wrong, the taste is amazing and it has a lot of health benefits.  Green tea has an antioxidant called catechins which has been linked to anti-cancer activities.
But for some reason I seemed to have the opposite effect where it relaxed me more than woke me up.

This bulk tea bag version is available at Trader Joe's!

Finally, the newest thing I've been trying is called Yerba Mate.  Known as having the same "strength as coffee, with the health benefits of tea, and euphoria of chocolate," this sounds too good to be true.  It's naturally caffeinated with 150mg/serving with essential vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin A, C, E, B1, B2, B3, 5 Complex, and Calcium, Manganese, Iron, Selenium, Potassium, and much more.  It's a powerhouse.  But with the highest caffeine content it's probably the least macro.  The taste is also very strong and distinct, with a woody/smokey flavor, not like tea at all.  However I found that this gives me just the right amount of energy and caffeine if I steep it for just a few seconds.  Definitely worth a try.


Be sure to monitor your energy level.  Don't routinely take these in the morning if you have adequate energy to begin with.  When your energy begins to fall is when you should take these.  Also try to alternate between these caffeinated and decaf alternatives to avoid desensitization.

If you're not a follower of Alicia Silverstone's blog The Kind Life, log on and see what she has to say about some caffeine alternatives.  Amazingly, I had no idea she would blog about this as well around the same time haha so it's great to have additional sources ;)

Probiotics the Macroveg Way

Why should I take Probiotics?

If you are under stress, taking antibiotics, traveling or simply want to promote your health, taking Probiotics daily will maintain the health-promoting good bacteria in your intestinal tract. This is important because the intestines are the largest immune organ in the body and promoting their health strengthens your body's overall natural defenses. If the balance is disrupted, this can leave a comprised immune response. Fortunately, taking Probiotics supplements can help sustain the digestive tracks balance by re-introducing beneficial bacteria. To help restore normal dermal Probiotic balances natural Probiotic based skin products can assist the process.

People with flourishing intestinal colonies of probiotics are better equipped to fight the growth of disease-causing bacteria i.e. pathogenic organisms.

Probiotics also produce substances called bacteriocin, which act as natural antibiotics to kill undesirable microorganisms e.g. fungus and yeast, viruses, parasites and bacteria.

Where can we get our probiotics? 
Here are my top 3 vegan ways to get my probiotics.

In my previous post I talked about how pickled veggies/sauerkraut is a great way to get natural probiotics.  This is definitely the most macroveg way, but it's also the most inconvenient because you have to slice up the veggies, make sure you have brown rice vinegar and/or ume vinegar, and you have to pickle it for at least 1-2 days.

Buying sauerkraut is the second most macroveg way and so much more convenient.  I've really grown to love this organic raw kim-chi from Rejuvenative Foods.  Really turns your macro plate into a yummy
bi-bim-bop!

Then there's kombucha, which is sooooo good and addictive (literally!)  Just recently they've been selling it as a 21+ drink because it has 0.05% alcohol content in it which naturally occurs from the fermentation process.  So you can probably imagine that this is the least macroveg option but I feel perfectly fine drinking it a couple of times a week and I know it works magic with others who drink it at least once a day (jealous!).  I like the original but have really like the trilogy flavor too.  I resort to this when I'm unable to get something pickled with my meal to help with digestion.  So you'll find me drinking this when I have lunch at whole foods or when I'm traveling I go ahead and stock up for the hotel.  

Have fun trying these out ;)

Autumn Jumpstart

Be sure to check out your local farmers market to get the dibs on some fresh autumn produce :)

Are you starting to feel a little off both mentally and physically?  Probably because your body is trying to adjust to the changing seasons.  It's starting to cool down as we welcome in the Fall, that means more warming and denser foods than summer ones.  We're still in the transitional phase so be sure to switch between this and summer cooking until the weather stabilizes.  Some common symptoms your may be experiencing are mood swings, skin breakouts, joint/muscle pains, increased fatigue, and digestion problems, but hopefully switching up your foods and cooking styles to more yang styles will help it stabilize.  Now if you're experiencing funky weather like here in LA (cold in the morning, warms up during the day, then drops back down at night) then it may be wise to eat both ying and yang right now depending on the temperature until it fully cools down throughout the day.  For instance, if you are still enjoying your light summer salads start eating it with a side of soup, miso soup cures all ;)  Here's a quick reference I made to help you adjust and jumpstart your macrobiotic autumn season.

Since it seems to be a lot cooler here in the morning, try this balanced macrobiotic breakfast menu for Autumn:

Bulgur Porridge with Scallions, Sauerkraut, and Grain Coffee
Boil 2 cups of water and add 1/4-1/2 cup of bulgur and pinch of sea salt.  Boil, cover, and reduce to medium-low to simmer for 30 mins until creamy.  Garnish with sliced scallions.  I like to top it with my sauerkraut but if it's too strong for you in the morning then pass.  Enjoy with grain coffee from my favorite Inka grain coffee.

Bending the rules for summer

Visit your local farmers market to see what's in season!

So many fruits and veggies fall into the "use sparingly or avoid" category because of its extremely yin qualities.  However, because it's local to some regions and in season right now, you can definitely experiment to try and see how your body reacts.  I admit, I did try to eat some of these earlier in the year but noticed that my body just did not seem to accept it.  But now that summer has started I decided to revisit them and I love it!  Key is to eat them cold, like in salads.  This will help cool down your body even more for summer.  I think it's so amazing how our body adapts to our surroundings.  So go ahead and read the list of forbidden fruits and veggies.  You'll see that they have vital nutrients that our body needs so take advantage of them now!

1) Avocados

This little green hulk is on a rampage right now.  It's everywhere!  Research shows that avocados significantly increases the absorption of lycopene and beta-carotene.  Yes, it's high in fat, but these heart healthy fats especially phytosterols helps inflammation.  I've been adding them on top of my salads.  I find that it gives it a really nice caesar dressing taste.  I usually just use half and store the other half in the fridge by squeezing some lemon on it (with the pit still in it) and warp it up in saran wrap.  It tends to last 1-2 days.  Another great way to use it is in brown rice sushi and wrapped in nori with some sprouts, carrots, and peppers.

2) Tomatoes

These have high antioxidant power, hence the deep red color, because of its lycopene concentration.  I haven't taken so kindly to tomatoes, however I find cherry tomatoes to be the big hit this summer and much better to digest.  I tend to have just a few in my salad which brings a nice red color to it ;)

3) Eggplant
Eggplants are really popular for summer grilling but I've pretty much stayed away from them.  You can go ahead and give it a try to see how you handle them, but I still get really heavy nightshade symptoms from it.  They are rich in phenolic antioxidant compounds, contains nasunin which has been shown to protect brain cell membranes from damage, and it's delicious.  If you're enjoying grilled eggplants right now with no problems then I envy you :P  Grilled eggplant brown rice sushi sounds pretty amazing right now.

4) Cucumber
The most cooling thing you can eat for summer.  Development of new anti-cancer drugs are currently looking into the use of cucumbers because of cucurbitacins A, B, C, D, and E all found in fresh cucumber.  It also has fighting power against cardiovascular disease because it contains lariciresinol, pinoresinol, and secoisolariciresinol.  I use sliced cucumbers in my salad, pickle them in some ume and brown rice vinegar, add it to brown rice stir fries, and of course make brown rice cucumber sushi.  Heck, use cucumber slices on your eyes while sun bathing!

5) Summer squash
These are one of the primary sources of beta-carotene and alpha-carotene, and one of the top three foods containing lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta-cryptoxanthin (three other health-supportive carotenoids). I do prefer winter squashes over summer ones, but when steamed they are quite refreshing.  Toss them with some cold stir fried soba noodles or slice them really thin to make some raw pasta.  These taste pretty darn good sprinkled with ume vinegar.  


6) Melons
Probably the most popular melon for summer is watermelon.  They have a high concentration of lycopene which helps fight against cardiovascular disease.  It's a very refreshing dessert to have, especially when pureed and chilled.  But I gravitate more towards honeydew and cantaloupes because they're less sweet for my taste.  Fruit salads with sliced up melons is great!

7) Peppers
A huge source of vitamin C, vitamin E, and six carotenoids (alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin)!  Great in stir fries, wrapped in nori, and grilled.  I love munching on them raw, especially red bell peppers.  You can also pickle them too which I have yet to try but imagine would be quite beautiful in color.  

Remember that everyone is different so go ahead and try out which of these works well with you.  You may find that what didn't work earlier in the year now just clicks for you as the heat rises.  Have fun!

Natural sunny summer must-haves

Macrobiotics is all about helping your body adjust to the seasons.  While you need to do it internally by eating macro foods appropriate to the seasons, it's important to do it externally.  This includes soaking up the sun!  Here are a few natural products that I've been using to help me through the warm summer weather.

Th best sunscreen I've come across is Sun Shield from MyChelle (thank you Karly for the recommendation!).  This lovely little shield is cruelty-free, gluten-free, vegan friendly, and comes in a recyclable container.  Can you get any more environmentally friendly than that?  Full spectrum UVA/UVB protection is covered in this little bottle by ZinClear while Titanium Dioxide shields the skin from UV exposure.  What I love the most about this is that it is not oily at all.  It absorbs into the skin well and is so light that you don't even feel like you're wearing it.  I usually put about a dime size amount on my face in the morning, let it absorb into the skin for 15-30 mins., and then apply my makeup over it (my mineral powder also has SPF15 so added protection! Expect a future post on ISUN cosmetics).

Don't forget sun protection for your lips!  I am a huge fan of Hurraw because it's an all vegan cruelty-free raw lip balm that comes in many yummy flavors.  They made one especially for sun protection with SPF15.  Like the MyChelle Sun Shield, this also blocks UVA/UVB rays but this time with Zinc Oxide.  It sits on top of your lips actually creating a barrier to deflect the rays from the skin.  They also made this Hurraw balm extra thick and creamy for long-lasting protection.  

I love to use Weleda's Sea Buckthorn body lotion.  Sea Buckthorn helps stimulate the skins vital processes with essential fatty acids that nourishes dry skin.  This is especially great for summer because its kernel oil and juice helps protect the skin from UV radiation and free-radical damage associated with aging.  I love using this in the morning after I do my daily body scrub before I leave the house.  This helps my skin prep for sun exposure and the uplifting smell wakes me up in the morning.

Say hi to my aloe vera plant "Bob" :D

The most natural and #1 thing that I think you should DEFINITELY get for summer is aloe vera.  The plant is not only a remedy for minor skin burns and treatment for skin irritations such as eczema, but holds many cosmetic benefits as well.  Its antioxidant content tones and nourishes the skin by increasing collagen and decreasing the appearances of fine lines, while it's anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties treats acne.  I've been putting the gel on my face every night for 2 weeks now and I can feel and see a difference.  My pores look smaller, skin feels tighter, acne scarring faded, and have not had any breakouts since.  Although you can buy aloe vera in a bottle beware of parabens.  If you can, try and get the actual plant.  It lasts a long time and nothing beats fresh aloe.  What I do is cut a whole leaf (use the outer outgrown ones) as close as I can to the base, slice off 1 inch of the leaf, tear the leaf in half so the gel is exposed, then I rub the gel on my face, neck, and outer hands.  If you squeeze/puncture the gel part of the slivered piece you'll see that it'll give you more aloe.  Just store the rest of the leaf with saran wrap in a ziploc bag and place in the fridge.  It lasts a long time and cool aloe from storing it in the fridge is so soothing.  Immediately you'll feel your skin tighten once it absorbs your skin ;)

Get out and enjoy the sun!  Feel happy and uplifted :D

My first trip to the Bay Area! Part-1: Liz's Mom's Macro Breakfast

Over the weekend I flew up to the Bay Area to reunite with my best friends from college :)  One flew in from Hong Kong, the other from Pennsylvania, and the other two were from the area (Oakland and Mill Valley).  My next few posts will be all about the amazing eats that I experienced in the Bay Area with reviews, tips, and of course recipes.  You'll see how to navigate eating macroveg through this awesome city with restaurant reviews, hit or miss dishes, tips on where to go and what to see, and how to order to make a vegan dish even more macro.   Because my experience was so expansive I've decided to feature my friends as guest bloggers!  You'll also read their review of some of the restaurants and vegan dishes on the trip, and because most of them are not entirely vegan, you'll see which would be great to have some of your nonveg friends try as well.  So if you live out in the Bay Area or are planning on visiting, you're not gonna want to miss these next few posts ;)

Mixed Barley with seitan, tempeh, kale, kelp, and umeboshi.

My first meal in the Bay Area started off with an amazing home cooked macroveg breakfast from my friend Liz's mom.  According to Liz, they prepared for my visit by stocking the fridge up with delicious seitan, tofu, and 2 different types of tempeh!  They went beyond what I expected, it was amazing :)

Barley with Mushrooms, Onions, and Carrots

1 cup Barley
1/4-1/2 cup dried mushrooms
1/4 cup dried onions
1 cup chopped carrots, 1/4 inch thick

Soak the Barley all day in the rice pot with 2-2.5 cups of water.  That night, reconstitute the mushrooms halfway in some water and add to the pot with the carrots and onions.  Cook and let steam all night.  Serve next morning with an umeboshi plum and some dried seaweed.

Kale with Balsamic Vinegar
According to Liz and her mom, cooking kale with some vinegar will help diffuse the bitterness taste that you usually get from raw kale.  That morning the kale was cooked with balsamic vinegar which give the kale a very rich taste.  Liz also said that you can cook it with any type of vinegar.  I can't wait to try it with ume plum vinegar ;)

Broiled Tempeh and Seitan
Liz's mom sliced the tempeh and seitan, placed them on a pan, then drizzled soy sauce for taste.    The pan was then placed in the oven under the broiler for approximately 5 mins until it was nice and golden brown.  This was a great way to cook tempeh that I have yet to try.  Usually I cook it in a pan, but this really gave the tempeh a different texture and was very easy.  Will definitley be cooking my tempeh like this more often.  The tempeh brand used was Turtle Island Brand and the seitan brand Sweet Earth, both can be found at Whole Foods.

Homemade Umeboshi Plums, Umeboshi Paste, and Dried Kelp
I think I nearly died when I heard that they had homemade umeboshi plums, paste, and dried kelp!  A friend of the family apparently has an umeboshi tree.  All three were amazing and really helped give me the upper that I needed for our big day of SF galavanting.  Just sucking on an umeboshi plum alone will help give you so much energy ;)  Great travel tip:  travel with umeboshi plums!  They help you regain your lost energy.  This was a great way to balance off the yang in the barley as well.  Now if only I could get the details on how to make homemade umeboshi and dried seaweed myself!

I was able to enjoy this breakfast two times during my stay at Liz's house.  I found myself waking up looking forward to this breakfast!  Now I miss it!  Thank you to Liz's mom! for making such an amazing macroveg breakfast.  What made it even better was the company :)

Doesn't get any better than this ;)

What's the deal with brown rice?

Short-grain has more of a contracting energy than long-grain, and therefore may be more suitable for more colder days,  Long-grain is more yin and should be eaten more during warmer seasons.

Brown rice is the center of every macro meal.  I try my best to have it at every meal in the day. It helps with keeping me balanced and gives me so much energy.  Sometimes I eat nothing but brown rice porridge for 4-6 days straight to detox and regain balance.  If you find that eating brown rice all the time is boring you try mixing it with other whole grains such as forbidden black rice or red bhutanese rice.  You can even cook it in a variety of ways--regular rice, to a porridge, even into cornbread.  Don't underestimate the power of this little grain, it's a major fuel house ;)   

Nutrition

Brown rice is the grain with the inedible husk removed but the bran layer preserved.  The bran layer contains B-group vitamins, minerals, and fiber.  It is an excellent source of manganese and a good source of minerals selenium and magnesium.  When cooked, it expands to at least twice its size.  Eight percent of rice is starch; when eaten and digested, this starch is converted to glycogen in the bloodstream, providing an excellent supply of muscular energy.  Rice also contains a number of useful proteins.  All the grain's proteins and vitamin content is maintained during the cooking phase.

Cooking Brown Rice in a pot

2 cups short grain brown rice soaked overnight.

4 cups water

2 pinches sea salt

1. Add cooking water and bring o a boil, uncovered over medium heat.

2. When it is boiling, add salt ,reduce heat to low, place on flame deflector, cover with heavy lid, and simmer 50 mins.

3. Turn off heat and let rice sit 5 mins.  Fluff with wooden spoon and serve.

Do you neti?

I really like this neti pot because it's ceramic and dishwasher safe.  This company also sells its own non-iodized salt packets.  You can find both at Whole Foods or other natural food/health stores.

According to macrobiotics our bodies react to the seasons.  I don't know about you guys but the constant weather changes from Fall to Spring has really been taking a toll on my sinuses.  I've been getting a lot of sinus headaches from the California weather jumping from 70 to 40 degrees in one day.  So I looked for a "non-motrin" solution and came across the neti pot.  At first I was very skeptical about it's effectiveness and quite frankly, thought it would be pretty gross and painful.  But I really needed a solution and gave it a go.  It totally trumped all my expectations and I've been using it daily for the past 2 weeks :)  After the first day I noticed a huge improvement!  I could breathe better and my headaches went away.  Oh and I have super smelling power lol!  It's painless, easy, and very effective.  For those of you having any sinus problems or just want to improve your hygiene try the neti pot.  Here's some more info for you guys to help make your decision ;)


What is Neti?
It's a practice of nasal irrigation that has been used by practitioners of Yoga and Ayurveda in India for over 5,000 years. Not only is it an ancient health secret that is used to move our energy through the nasal passages, opening them up along the way, but it is also recommended by doctors, naturopaths and other health professionals such as Dr. Oz.  The practice of neti, or nasal cleansing, is performed using a ceramic pot and a saline solution. Performed regularly, it can help clear mucus from the nasal canal, restore moisture to dried out tissues, tone nasal tissues and help the nasal passages remain clear and healthy. 


Who should use the neti pot?
As I mentioned before, it's a great way to improve your hygiene but also to alleviate certain discomforts in the sinus area.  It's been shown to help treat colds, allergies, post-nasal drip, and sinus headaches.  The nasal passages are lined with a thin layer of mucus that traps dirt, dust, and pollen and moves steadily to the rear of the nasal cavity and settles in the throat where it is swallowed.  Saline nasal rinses carry some of these impurities out of the body before they reach the stomach.  It also keeps the protective layer of mucus functioning properly. 


How do you use a neti pot?

1. I like to use water from my Brita filter.  What I do is pour 1 cup into a glass measuring cup that's microwavable.  Heat it in the microwave for 42 seconds.  You can also boil 1 cup water and wait for it to cool, or of course use warm tap water.
2. Stir in 1/4 tsp of the non-iodized salt into the warm water and pour into your neti pot.
3. Lean over the sink and tilt your head to the side until your chin is aligned to your shoulder.  
4. Insert the spout of the pet gently into the raised nostril and create a seal between the pot and your nostril.
5. Raise the pot slowly to develop a steady flow of saline solution through the upper nostril and out the lower nostril.  During the process be sure to breathe through your mouth.  You may need to adjust the angle of your head to avoid saline draining into your mouth.  Pour half of the solution in this side.
6. Reverse and til your head and repeat the process on the other side with the remaining solution in the pot.
7. Upon completion of the process, either exhale several times in the sink through your nose or  blow into a tissue (be sure not to pinch your nose if using a tissue).

Tips for using Neti Pot

• Make sure you measure out the right amount of water and salt.  A lot of times people think that putting just a dash of salt will help make the process less uncomfortable.  It's actually the total opposite.  Our body is made of salt and water and if there's an unbalance in the mixture you will definitely feel burning, trust me I made that mistake :P
• Always use warm water.  Test out the temperature with your finger.  It should be warm to the touch, not cold or hot.
• Only use non-iodized salt.
• Be sure to breathe through your mouth slowly during the process.
• Make sure after the process when you blow into the tissue to not pinch and close your nostrils.   Point is to blow the saline out of the passage.
• I like to use the neti once a day before I go to bed but people use it in the morning and sometimes both night and day.  I think it all depends on how much you feel you need to use it.  But don't use it more than 3 times a day.
• Don't try to watch yourself in the mirror while you do it! hahaha I know you will be tempted to see how ridiculous you look :)  But just stare down or straight ahead because if you try to look at yourself in the mirror you'll tilt your chin up and get some saline in your mouth because of the angle.

My post-workout meal

A great balance of carbs and protein with added kick of calcium and omega 3 and 6 fatty acids from kale.  Key ingredients for muscle repair!  This dish is so fast to make and gives you approximately 20-25 grams of protein.

So I've been doing a lot of weight lifting with my workout and have begun to notice that I may be needing a little more protein in my macro diet.  Big signs were my recovery time and of course the constant sore muscles and dizziness :S  So I decided to increase my tofu intake to 3 times a week.  I usually fall back on beans as my protein source, but sprouted tofu has so much more protein and it makes a great post-workout recovery meal.  Here's what i've been eating after hard weight training days:

Whole grain porridge with gomashio tofu and kale

1. Cook a mixture of 1/2 cup brown rice and 1/4 cup red bhutanese rice in the rice cooker on the porridge setting.  After porridge is cooked transfer to a pot, mix in 1-1/5 cups of finely chopped kale, and bring to a bowl.  Simmer for 10 mins.
2. For the tofu you can either use sesame oil or water (what I did) to fry the tofu.  Slice tofu into 1/2-3/4 inch slices, sprinkle with homemade gomashio on one side each and fry in pan both sides until brown.  If using water, be sure to keep adding water until cooked.
3. Transfer porridge to bowl, place gomashio crusted tofu on top, and garnish with sauerkraut.

If you have a choice, go with the sprouted tofu.  It gives you a lot more protein and I really like the firmness and texture.  I use Trader Joe's sprouted tofu, it's organic and conveniently comes in a twin pack!  There's 5 servings in each individual twin container with 9 grams of protein per serving.  Awesome choice for muscle building ;)

Why is the thyroid so important?

I take Gaia's Thyroid Support everyday and it has helped so much!  I take 2 in the morning before breakfast and 1 between lunch and dinner. 

The thyroid is your major hormone powerhouse.  Your endocrine system, which includes the pituitary gland, thyroid and parathyroid glands, and adrenal glands, releases hormones that influence the functioning of the organs and aids in digestion of food.  If you have the following symptoms the place to target may be the endocrine system:

• Rapid weight loss or gain
• Increased or decreased metabolism, including heart rate, blood pressure, nervous sensitivity, perspiration, sensitivity to temperature and pressure
• Muscle weakness
• Tingling, numbness, or tremors
• Rapid grown or cessation of growth 
• Tenderness in the gland of the neck
• Bulging eyes
• Thickened skin
• Abnormal blood pressure
• Fluctuations in blood sugar levels
• Abnormal sexual characteristics including hair quality, muscle development, sking texture and thickness, and voice quality

Interesting enough the endocrine glands are yang in form (small, dense, and compact) but attract extreme yin by metabolic energy.  In terms of the hormones released, yang hormones are tied to the functioning of the sympathetic nerves and ying to the parasympathetic nerves.  Therefore the production of hormones can be seen in two ways depending on your symptoms above:

• HYPOSECERTION (not enough) of yin hormones-->yang condition (sluggish, slow moving)
• HYPERSECRETION (too much) of yin hormones-->yin condition (hyper, anxious)

*Click on chart to see full image

So as you can see, the thyroid plays a huge health role so it's important to check into it once in a while.  The following is a macrobiotic remedy for thyroid conditions.  Follow the recommended ratio depending on how much you make:

Thyroid Drink

1. Finely chop up carrots (2 parts), lotus root (2 parts), kombu (1 part) and daikon greens or other hard leafy greens (4 parts) and add to pot.
2. Add 4 times as much water, boil, and simmer for about 15-20 mins.
3. Add pinch of sea salt at end of cooking or 3-4 drops of shoyu.
4. Drink and eat the residue every day, 1 cup, for 10-14 days.  Then every other day for an equal period.

Shoyu

 "The Champagne of Soy Sauces." It's 100% organic, non-GMO, aged four years, unpasteurized, and made by Ohsawa, the most trusted name in macrobiotics.

Shoyu is a soy sauce, also called tamari, which is a dark brown liquid made from soya beans that have undergone a fermentation process.  Natural shoyu employs the use of a centuries-old method of fermentation involving a special koji (Aspergillus oryzae), which converts hard-to-digest soy proteins, starches and fats into easily absorbed amino acids, simple sugars and fatty acids.  The best-quality shoyu is naturally fermented for more than 2 year and is made from whole soybeans, wheat, and sea salt.  It is important to use the real shoyu because commercial ones, although cheaper because they are ready in a few days, use genetically modified beans and enzymes and contains added colouring, preservatives and sugar.


In macrobiotics shoyu is added to foods during the last few minutes of the cooking process and is not added to rice or vegetables at the table. This makes it more digestible and prevents cravings for sweets or liquid that easily arise if it is eaten uncooked.  However it is important to use it sparingly.  Often times what you'll find in common asian cuisine restaurants is a heavy use of shoyu in stir fries (note: if your your stir fry is brown that should give you a hint).  It's poses an excess amount of salt into your diet which could lead to other complications.  How I like to use shoyu is in macro remedies like shoyu bancha tea.  This drink is good to strengthen the blood if an overly acidic condition exists, to relieve fatigue, to relieve headaches due to overconsumption of simple sugars and/or fruit juice, and to stimulate good blood circulation.  I drink it 3-4 times a week to help me feel balanced.

Shoyu Bancha Tea

1. Place one teaspoon of shoyu into a teacup and pour in hot bancha twig or bancha stem tea that has been made a little stronger than usual. 
2. Stir well and drink hot. Be careful to pour the hot tea over the shoyu in a cup, not the other way around (adding the shoyu to the pot).

Macro iPhone app!

Word has gotten out about a new iPhone app made just for macrobiotic shopping!  Grocery shopping can get very confusing especially when you need to plan ahead and you just can't remember which foods are allowed on a macro diet.  If you're like me you end up forgetting a few things here and there even with your own made grocery list :P  But with this new app you can have all the info needed at your fingertips.  You create your own grocery list from the basics of macrobiotic foods.  Under these categories you'll find which items are suggested for occasional/often use in macrobiotics.  I really like how you can add your own items to the list if it's not there.  Also when you check it off it saves into the checked off category so it's easy to access it again.  You'll find that you tend to buy the same things when macro shopping ;)

Kick the coffee bean and go with the grain!

Inka and Pero make great grain coffees with all natural ingredients and macro sweeteners such as Barley Malt.  

Why is caffeine bad for you?

Because caffeine overstimulates the adrenal glands and the heart, macrobiotics says that eliminating it from your diet is best to help balance your emotional and physical well being.  It has also been tied to mineral loss, breast cysts, gastrointestinal problems, cardiovascular stress, and nutritional deficiencies.  Although non caffeinated coffee may be better for you it is usually processed with chemicals and other unwanted additives.

What is grain coffee?

Teeccino is the most popular with a variety of flavors like vanilla hazelnut and mocha.   Although it is less macro because it contains carob,  dates and nuts, I definitely recommend this to those just weaning off coffee because it tastes amazing!  Also comes in travel tea bag ;)

Grain coffee is a ground up mixture of roasted whole grains that provides a nourishing alternative to regular or decaffeinated coffee.  A variety of grain coffees are available in natural food stores (look in the coffee or tea section).  Those made with 100% cereal grains, wild grasses beans, and other vegetable-quality ingredients and containing no honey, molasses, or other strong sweeteners and fruit powders are suitable for occasional consumption and a great dessert alternative.

How do you prepare grain coffee?

Because Inka and Pero grain coffee is instant, all you need to do is add 1 heaping tsp in water and mix well.  Teeccino on the otherhand should be treated like brewed coffee.  Use drip coffee makers, french press, or get even more creative with an espresso maker.  

Grain coffee is a great treat and really helps beat the coffee addiction, it did for my dad! He loves to make the Teeccino mocha flavor with almond milk froth on top.  You'll find that drinking grain coffee is so much more relaxing for your mind and body.  

It's a lifestyle not a diet

I was in the middle of bustling downtown Honolulu and decided to enact a little macro reflection into my lunch break :)

In addition to changing your food, macrobiotics encourages people to make lifestyle and environmental changes.  Macrobiotic way of life suggestions include:

• Develop a positive, optimistic attitude and visualize yourself the way you want to feel and be.
• Focus on your health and healing rather than your condition or disease.
• Cultivate an appreciation for everything you have, counting your blessings. Make the best of your present situation, while learning how to change your life for the better.
• Ask for support from your family and friends, as it is vitally important. Request assistance.
• Cook with a gas stove. Use a portable gas stove if necessary. Avoid electric or microwave cooking.
• Sing a happy song each day!
• Create peaceful and pleasant mealtimes.
• Finish eating dinner and all solid foods three hours before bedtime. Avoid lying down right after eating.
• Give thanks before and after each meal, remembering how fortunate you are to have this food and knowledge.
• Chewing very well is essential for proper assimilation to maximize energy and healing. 
• Try to wear items closest to your body (underwear) and dress your bed with 100% organic cotton.
• Avoid placing electric appliances (clock, radio, ceiling fan) above or around your bed.
• Stimulate your body daily with a hot towel body scrub, or at least massage your face, hands, and feet twice a day.
• Spend at least one hour outdoors daily, ideally two or three hours, avoiding the noon sun (10:00 am -2:00 pm).
• Several times a week, exercise moderately to the point of perspiring, as you dance, bicycle, garden, or perform any enjoyable activity.
• Take a daily walk outdoors at leas 5-10 minutes before breakfast and 20-30 minutes after evening dinner, preferably after each meal. When walking, breathe 3-5 steps inhaling and 3-5 steps exhaling, as comfortable.
• Communicate frequently with your parents, family, teachers, and friends, sharing your knowledge, experiences, and feelings.
• Go to bed early (ideally 10:30 pm) and rise early (ideally 6:30 am or at sunrise.)
• Put order in your home, car, and office by cleaning and organizing each area.
• Open up your house daily at least one half hour, to allow fresh air inside and stale air outdoors. Keep windows open whenever appropriate, while maintaining a pleasant temperature.
• Place live, green plants in each living area to enrich the oxygen content of your home.
• Avoid cosmetics and body care products that contain sugar, chemicals, heavy perfumes, or animal products.
• Use organic fertilizers and pesticides in your yard. Eat organic foods.
• Minimize television and computer viewing.
• Remove fluorescent lights from your home or office and replace them with "full spectrum" and energy efficient lights.
• Discover and utilize your talents and find a life-work that brings you satisfaction and joy!
• Love yourself!

What's the most macro bar out there?

This is my favorite flavor!  If you're lifting hard at the gym I suggest eating the Peanut Protein flavor within 15mins of your workout to help your muscles repair.

Jolanta Sonkin created MacroBars based on her own experience with macrobiotics and how it helped her mother's recovery from breast cancer.  These bars are macrobiotic, vegan, and made without any additives or preservatives, refined sugars, flours or dairy. This helps to create a pH-balanced environment in your body, leading to better absorption of minerals and other nutrients.  Because these bars are sweetened with grain-based sweeteners, the sweeteners take longer to digest, thus avoiding the blood-sugar spikes associated with refined sugars. The fats in GoMacro bars are healthy fats derived from nuts and seeds containing omega3 fatty acids, minerals and vitamins. Carbs are complex carbs from whole grains. These are slow-burning carbs that boost energy levels throughout the day. Protein comes from brown rice protein – a great high protein alternative to animal products and soy. 


You can find these in natural food stores or order them online in a pack of 15 at amazon.com.  These are great grab and go bars, perfect for pre and post workouts.  Choose from 10 awesome flavors like Tahini Date, Granola w/Coconut, and Almond Butter with Carob.

If you order a box of 15 on amazon it comes in this eco friendly sustainable box that you can replant ;)

Daikon

Daikon is high in vitamin C and folacin. Like its relatives broccoli, cabbage and kale, daikon is a cruciferous vegetable that offers cancer-protecting potential.

What is daikon?

Daikon is a long white radish that is used in many regular and medicinal preparations. It helps discharge fat and oil from the body. It is cooked fresh or dried and grated raw as a garnish for oily foods.  Raw daikon is used throughout Japan to complement the taste of oily or raw foods and, more importantly, to aid in their digestion. 

What are its benefits?

Laboratory analysis has shown that the juice of raw daikon is abundant in digestive enzymes similar to those found in the human digestive tract. These enzymes - diastase, amylase, and esterase - help transform complex carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into their readily assimilable components.  

Daikon juice actually inhibits the formation of dangerous chemicals in the body. Nitrosamines, a type of carcinogen, can form in the stomach from chemicals present in both natural and processed foods. Daikon juice contains substances identified as "phenolic compounds" that can block this potentially dangerous reaction. Thus, a diet including raw daikon may reduce the risk of cancer.

It also been shown to be effective as a diuretic and decongestant. As a diuretic, raw daikon promotes the discharge of excess water by the kidneys. The result is increased urination and gradual reduction of the swelling condition known as edema. As a decongestant, the enzymes in daikon juice seem to help dissolve mucus and phlegm in the respiratory system and facilitate their discharge from the body.  

How do you use daikon?

Traditional Japanese restaurants serve grated daikon in tempura dip to help digest oils, or shredded daikon with beans to help digest the protein. Grated daikon is a wonderful aid to people with a weak digestive system. It is important, however, to use grated daikon immediately. In just thirty minutes nearly 50 percent of its enzymes are lost.

A few drops of soy sauce and a tablespoon of grated daikon is a macrobiotic treatment for helping the body discharge old animal protein and fats. Cooking daikon with a kombu broth is said to help the body eliminate excess dairy products. A tea brewed from daikon, shiitake and kombu has been used as a folk remedy to reduce fever.

Daikon Drinks

I love using daikon in my nishime (like in my kabocha stewed veggies recipe) and stew it down till it is really soft and melts in your mouth.  However I find that using it in medicinal drinks is ideal.  Three excellent drinks can be made using daikon radish:

Daikon Drink #1:  

Helpful in reducing a fever by inducing perspiration.  

Mix 1/2 cup of freshly grated daikon with a tbsp of tamari soy sauce and one-quarter tsp of freshly grated ginger.  Pour hot bancha tea over the mixture and drink hot.

Daikon Drink #2:  

Used as a diuretic.  

Squeeze 2 tbsp of juice from grated daikon, using a clean cheesecloth.  Add a pinch of sea salt and 6 tbsp of water to the daikon juice, and boil.  Use this mixture only once a day and never for more than 3 consecutive days.  Do not drink the juice without first boiling it.

Daikon Drink #3:  

Helps dissolve excess fat and mucus in the body.  

Place 1 tbsp of freshly grated daikon and 10 drops of tamari into a cup.  Pour hot water over the mixture and drink.  The best time to use this drink is just before sleeping.  However, do not continue to use it for more than 7 days.