Macrobiotics and Mental Health

[Guest guest]

I just don't see how fruit can be detremental to you health? and for someone

like me that cane have no soy products what do I do?

 

C

[Guest guest]

, Christina

<cbmd3> wrote:

>

> I just don't see how fruit can be detremental to you health? and

for someone like me that cane have no soy products what do I do?

>

> C

 

Christina,

 

I believe the jist of the article in a roundabout way is basically

advocating that everything be eaten in moderation, leaning towards a

more balanced diet, helping to eliminate past excesses which may

have been detrimental to the vital organs mentioned.

 

Fruit, in excess may be problematic, especially in cases of advanced

cancer, candida, and intestinal problems. It is said that about 90%

of the population may be unknowingly afflicted with candida at any

given time. Candida " thrives " on sweets, even the more natural ones

such as citrus, molasses, honey etc.

It mentions tropical fruits as the ones to avoid.There is a world of

difference in various fruits in regards to the way they are

metabolized (blood sugar levels, etc). For this reason it is best to

experiment with several types of fruits, keeping a daily food

journal to document your success with them. I had to avoid citrus

for an extended period of time in order to achieve my goals.

Not everyone is the same though and I couldn't advise you without knowing more

about your health concerns.

 

Although everyone with a mental 'problem' may not be afflicted with

hypoglycemia, many of those who experience these mental disorders

also have problems with the pancreas that are frequently linked to a

refined foods diet and resulting mood swings.

 

The fruits that are mentioned in the article (tropical/citrus

fruits) are typically sweeter than others and implicated in other

diseases(IBS, Crohn's,Candida, etc). These excessively sweet fruits

may adversely affect candida, cancer and pancreatic function.

 

I believe that these are the main points of the article. We must

read between the lines sometimes in order to really understand the

macrobiotic concepts.

Regards, JoAnn

 

Hypoglycemia, chronic low blood sugar in the pancreas, is the

underlying cause of most depression and emotional turmoil.

 

The heavy fat from animal food and eggs, salted cheese, red-meat and

blue-skin fish such as tuna; shrimp, lobster, especially when taken

fried or with mayonnaise or butter,make the pancreas stiff and hard

and prevent anti-insulin, the hormone that raises blood sugar, from

coming out smoothly.

 

A South African doctor observed, " I can say that in the past 11

years I have not diagnosed a single case of schizophrenia in a

tribal African living on an unrefined carbohydrate diet,

whereas this disease is the commonest psychosis among the urbanized

Africans.

 

Dr. G. Daynes associated the rise in mental illness to the widespread

consumption of white sugar and refined corn flour. " (T.L. Cleave,

The Saccharine Disease; Bristol: John Wright & Sons, 1974).

 

Both extremes taken over a long period of time contribute to

paranoid schizophrenia and bi-polar disorders.

Dissolve the stagnation created by past eating. The key is in moving

away from extreme foods, turning your kitchen into a laboratory and

reflecting on the behavior and thinking that comes when you and

others take the foods you prepare.

(Ideally every family member should be a good cook.)

[Guest guest]

Macrobiotics and Mental Health

JoAnn Guest

Oct 22, 2005 20:56 PDT

================================================================================\

=======================================================By

 

Gale Jack GALE-

http://www.cybermacro.com/Macrobiotic_Articles/CyberMacro/Macrobiotics_and_Menta\

l_Health_By_Gale_Jack/

 

 

 

Many years ago I worked as a Licensed Professional

Counselor (LPC) as

well as a school psychologist in Texas where students

were referred for

psychological evaluations because of their behavior.

One such student

was labeled “autistic” and never spoke at all. The

behavior

modification

plan employed was to give him M and M candies as a

reward if he made

any

sound! Another was so hyperactive that he could not

remain in his chair

more than five minutes even on medication. One young

man in a special

class kept undressing himself day after day. Another

had an epileptic

seizure in my presence.

 

I was touched by their suffering and puzzled as to why

each one

exhibited that particular symptom or behavior. When I

began practicing

macrobiotics I began to inquire into the student’s

eating habits and

recommend simple dietary changes to the parents. These

ideas were not

well received. Some parents complained that I was not

a nutritionist or

doctor. They felt my “specialty” was the mind and

emotions.

 

After many years of eating a grain-based diet, I see

even more clearly

that mind and body are one and food has the power to

create mental

stability and feelings of well being as well as anger,

anxiety,

depression, fear, hyperactivity and many other

symptoms. Today, anxiety

attacks, eating disorders, depression, alcoholism and

many other

conditions are considered “ disorders of the brain”

that affect a

person’s moods and feelings and influence their

ability to relate to

others and enjoy day-to-day activities. The words

“schizophrenia” or

“paranoia” can strike a note of fear in the most

balanced person. Yet

mental balance can be restored with the macrobiotic

way of living and

eating.

 

One must understand which foods are yin and which

foods are yang, the

five transformations of energy along with the organs,

foods, and

conditions associated with each, whether a particular

“disorder” is

basically yin and yang or a combination of both and

finally, and how to

adjust the energy in the diet through proper cooking.

So let’s begin:

 

Yin foods that are detrimental to mental health:

 

Drugs, alcohol, milk, ice cream, whipped cream, sugar,

honey, fruits

(especially tropical fruits), fruit juices, raw oil,

mayonnaise, cider

and wine vinegars, potatoes, tomatoes, carbonated

beverages, carob,

canola oil, and (unfortunately for women) chocolate

(!) as well as

chemically processed foods home care and body care

products,

(especially

hair bleaches, colors and permanents.).

 

Yang foods that are detrimental to mental health:

 

These include meat, cheese, eggs, poultry, baked

flour—salt, hard baked

bread, deep-fried food, salty crackers and chips, as

well as too much

dry, pressure-cooked rice without balancing factors.

 

The Five Transformations Theory:

 

In this theory, life energy or Ki comes into and goes

out of existence

through five stages: the upward moving stages are

referred to as tree

and fire energy and the downward moving stages are

referred to as soil

or metal energy. Water is a floating stage where

energy is just

beginning to move like in the early morning hours.

 

Water energy is related to the kidneys and bladder and

is associated

with more floating, flexible, adaptable thinking.

Strong kidney energy

is necessary for self-confidence, high self-esteem,

the realization of

goals and dreams, -- making money, bearing and raising

children,

running

a business, managing social relationships and all day-

to-day

activities. Imbalances in these organs are associated

with timidity,

fear, hopelessness and paranoia. Foods that nourish

the kidneys include

buckwheat, beans (in moderation) and sea salt.

 

Tree energy is associated with the liver/gall bladder

gives birth to

feeling idealistic, happy, optimistic and romantic. A

person with a

healthy liver and gall bladder is patient,

persevering, hopeful and

optimistic, fun to be with, and looks easily to the

future. Such a

person an begin new projects at any time, learn new

skills, have

visionary ideas for creating a business, decorating

the home, planting

flowers and gardens and so on. . Imbalances in the

liver or gallbladder

give rise to irritability, anger, thoughts of

violence, and, in the

extreme, hatred and violent actions. Rapidly growing

young greens,

sprouts, a sour taste, fermented foods such as

sauerkraut and pickles

as

well as barley and wheat nourish this energy.

 

Active, upward, expanding Fire energy that is like the

energy we

experience in the middle of the day or middle of

summer is associated

with the heart and a bright, active mind. People with

this nature may

enjoy participating in many different sports or

becoming avid sports

fans or cheerleaders. They are intrinsically outgoing,

usually enjoy

music, videos, weddings, and many other social events.

They often

exhibit a passionate nature and enjoy affairs of the

heart as well.

Fire

energy is associated with the heart, small intestines,

brain and

central

nervous system. Extreme sensitivity, excessive talking

and nervousness

are caused by imbalances in this organ. Large leafy

greens, foods with

a

slight bitter taste such as burdock and watercress,

corn and some

fruits

nourish this energy.

 

The stable, downward energy associated with soil and

the

spleen/pancreas/stomach is a balanced energy and

creates a thoughtful,

considerate, compassionate, and a slightly more inward

type person.

This

person may prefer to read than go to a movie for

example. They are

often

also involved in activities related to the earth such

as food

production, food sales, teaching and writing about

diet and health, or

cooking. Anxiety, doubt, skepticism and worry are

associated with

imbalances in this area. Spleen energy is nourished by

the naturally

sweet taste of grains, especially millet, and round

vegetables such as

cabbage.

 

The condensed energy sometimes referred to as “metal”

energy is

associated with the lungs and large intestines and

creates a

self-reflective, orderly mind that can easily begin

and run a business,

master the computer, learn different languages easily

and guide others.

Stagnation in this area can contribute to sadness and

chronic

complaining in the initial stages but continued

imbalances can create

obsessive-compulsive behaviors as well as depression.

Rice, root

vegetables and foods with a slight pungent taste such

as leek, turnip,

and daikon nourish this energy.

 

There are two cycles that illustrate the interaction

between these

energies. One is the Cycle of Support – in which each

energy generates,

produces or nourishes the succeeding element. Wood

nourished fire, fire

produces earth, earth generates metal and so on. The

other cycle is the

Cycle of Destruction in which one energy destroys or

limits the energy

of an opposite nature. Fire destroys metal, soil harms

the kidneys,

tree

energy limits soil energy and so on.

 

Applying this to food, if a person takes too much food

that has with

downward, condensed energy (especially animal food but

also hard baked

flour) it will suppress tree energy and manifest

initially as

impatience

and frustration but if continued over a long period of

time, can create

anger, emotional outbursts and violence. It can also

contribute to the

formation of gallstones and the premature graying of

hair.

 

Excess energy in the kidneys from salty animal foods,

overly salted

beans, buckwheat, too many beans, tofu, tempeh, and

soymilk, cold foods

and drinks, will suppress the heart and can create

high blood pressure,

constricted arteries, or just a lack of a happy,

outgoing disposition.

Hyperactivity, excitability, excessive talking and

nervousness are also

symptoms of excess kidney energy while deficient

kidney energy is often

the cause of depression.

 

Too many fire nature foods such as alcohol, drugs,

tropical fruits,

spices (especially garlic and peppers) excess liquid

and fruit can

affect the lungs/large intestine and have a disturbing

effect on the

mind. Spices can also create sweet cravings as one

attempts to calm

down

the excessive energy.

 

Accumulation of protein and fat will lead to hardening

of the pancreas

and chronic low blood sugar, as the organ loses its

ability to secret

anti-insulin. Excess energy in the spleen/pancreas

weakens the kidneys,

lowers one’s self-confidence, creates cravings for

sweets, dairy and

fruits (especially in the late afternoon when the

atmospheric energy

begins to come down.) that in turn lead to feelings of

timidity, worry,

and sometimes mood swings. In the extreme, it can

create anxiety,

suspicion, jealousy and sleep disturbances.

Hypoglycemia, chronic low

blood sugar in the pancreas, is the underlying cause

of most depression

and emotional turmoil. The heavy fat from animal food

and eggs, salted

cheese, red-meat and blue-skin fish such as salmon and

tuna; shrimp,

lobster, tuna, especially when taken fried or with

mayonnaise or

butter,

make the pancreas stiff and hard and prevent

anti-insulin, the hormone

that raises blood sugar, from coming out smoothly

 

Healthy functioning of the lungs and large intestines

are necessary for

sound mental health. As a whole, the brain and central

nervous system

are yang—small and compact—and attract more yin

substances such as

drugs, medications, synthetic vitamins, food and

mineral supplements,

and other extremely expansive substances. Whole

grains, good quality

plant foods, including vegetables, sea vegetables,

seeds, nuts, fruits,

etc. are essential for the proper functioning of the

brain. Lack of

fresh, well-cooked plant foods will impair sensory

development.

 

If you would like to create a brilliant mind, then eat

foods with a

more

condensed energy over a long period of time including

hard boiled eggs,

hard baked bread or cookies, and take with lemon

juice. Just understand

that you may become self-centered, withdrawn,

isolated, stubborn and

uninterested in social activities. .

 

Conditions and Disorders:

 

Generally, psychosis, physical abuse, paranoia, and

lack of verbal

communication are caused by excess yang energy while

hysteria, suicidal

tendencies, and schizophrenia are from excessive yin

energy. A South

African doctor observed, “I can say that in the past

11 years I have

not

diagnosed a single case of schizophrenia in a tribal

African living on

an unrefined carbohydrate diet, whereas this disease

is the commonest

psychosis among the urbanized Africans. Dr. G. Daynes

associated the

rise in mental illness to the widespread consumption

of white sugar and

refined corn flour.” (T.L. Cleave, The Saccharine

Disease; Bristol:

John

Wright & Sons, 1974). Both extremes taken over a long

period of time

contribute to paranoid schizophrenia and bi-polar

disorders. Bi-polar

disorders, sometimes referred to as manic-depressive

disorders, are

characterized by mood swings between depression and

periods of

excitability and hysteria. The underlying cause of

prejudice and hatred

is hardening of the arteries, which contributes to a

narrow,

constricted

view of people of other races, religions, ages and

cultures.

 

Modern treatments such as psychological counseling

will temporarily

relieve the symptoms. Discharging your feelings with

an understanding,

sympathetic person can provide great relief but if you

continue to eat

the same foods, you will continue to recreate the same

problems and

concerns. Medication can also relieve symptoms but not

the cause and it

can create problems in other organs. Only by deepening

our

understanding

of yin and yang and the five transformations of energy

and applying

this

understanding daily to how we cook and take our food,

can we create a

balance mind in ourselves and guide others to create

it for themselves.

 

Practically speaking, it’s very difficult for first

generation

macrobiotic people with a long history of animal food

eating, drug use,

surgeries that weaken the immune system, lack of

family support, lack

of

financial resources, etc .to change their condition.

Proper cooking

takes mental focus, patience, and time. It also takes

time, special

drinks and remedies, and lots of chewing to dissolve

the stagnation

created by past eating. The key is in moving away from

extreme foods,

turning your kitchen into a laboratory and reflecting

on the behavior

and thinking that comes when you and others take the

foods you prepare.

(Ideally every family member should be a good cook.)

All journeys begin

with a single step and the first step is to reduce (if

one cannot

eliminate) animal foods and make whole cereal grains

the center of the

diet. In the meantime, I like what a friend said to me

recently,

“Everyone is doing the best they can under the

circumstances.” So given

our circumstances, let’s all continue to work together

to restore

mental

balance in ourselves and others and in that way make

our contribution

to

world peace.

 

Thank you.

 

Gale Jack

_________________

 

 

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets

 

 

 

 

AIM Barleygreen

" Wisdom of the Past, Food of the Future "

 

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets.html