American actress Gwyneth Paltrow has consumed a macrobiotic diet. She claims it to be the secret to her beauty and health. What is a Macrobiotic diet?
Gwyneth Paltrow and her food styles
The gorgeous actress from Hollywood, Gwyneth Paltrow, 49 is extremely health conscious. She was on a strict macrobiotic diet for many years.
She once revealed that it was her friend, Leonardo di Caprio who motivated her to switch to it. Gwyneth said:
“I hung out with Leonardo DiCaprio when I moved to New York. He was vegetarian and he’d talk about how dirty meat is and how bad factory farming is. I haven’t eaten red meat in 20 years and although Leo’s not totally responsible he definitely planted a seed,”
“When I turned seriously macrobiotic, it coincided with my father having been diagnosed with cancer [in 1999]. I felt I could heal him by proxy.”
She added a Paleo diet during her pregnancy with her son. Gwyneth stated:
“I ate the most when pregnant with my son. I couldn’t stop,”
Adding:
“I was starving, the whole time. During a good portion of my pregnancies all I wanted was grilled cheese sandwiches, Baskin Robbins Jamoca Almond Fudge ice cream, yoghurt and lots of apples.”
What is a macrobiotic diet?
It is a fad diet inspired by Zen Buddhism. It stresses harmony and balance in life. There is no scientific basis behind this diet. But people following its claim that it helped in improving their health and well-being.
The focus of this diet is on natural organic food. There are no animal products and it is predominantly plant-based.
Whole organic grains constitute 50% of the daily good consumption. The good grains included are buckwheat, brown rice, quinoa, bulgur wheat, and wild rice. Processed food intake is limited.
30% of food per day includes locally grown vegetables and fruits that are in season. Stress is on kale, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, green cabbage, etc.
Beans, soy food products, sea vegetables, pickles, natural seasonings including sea salt, and vegetable oil form the rest of the food. Meat, eggs, dairy products, potatoes, caffeinated drinks, sugary products, and alcohol are to be avoided.
It also involves steaming or sauteing food rather than direct cooking. Food in soup forms is encouraged. Eat mindfully with no distractions.
Disadvantages of the macrobiotic diet
The macrobiotic diet is a fad and not scientifically proven. It seems to help some in boosting health being. The lifestyle change includes exercise and behavioral changes.
But there are also others who find this diet very restrictive and strict to follow. Many food items in it are high in sodium. Hence it might not be safe for people with raised blood pressure or kidney disease.
The food style also might lead to deficiencies in certain nutrients such as calcium, vitamin B12, and proteins. The diet can cause a sudden and severe reduction in body fat in some individuals.
Gwyneth switched out of a macrobiotic diet during her long haul of covid symptoms.