Macrobiotic Diet Helps Balance Your Diet and Your Life

Macrobiotics devotees believe that food, and food quality, affects our lives more than is commonly thought. It is thought to affect our health, well being and happiness. They focus on moving away from processed foods, and moving toward more natural and more traditional methods of food preparation. They claim it is better to choose food that is less processed, more natural, use more traditional methods of food preparation for themselves and their family.

Macrobiotics emphasize locally-grown, organically-grown whole grain cereals, legumes, vegetables, fruit, seaweed and fermented soy products, combined into meals according to the principle of balance between Yin and Yang properties, rather than scientific dietary guidelines. Macrobiotic diets follow the idea of Yin and Yang. Cereals, fruit, beans, nuts and vegetables, and rice make up the main part of the diet and are considered neutral and are naturally balanced in terms of Yin and Yang. Foods which are either extremely Yin in nature or extremely Yang in nature are eaten very rarely if at all. Very Yin products include coffee, tropical fruit, sugar, soft dairy products, vegetables, alcohol and honey. Very Yang products include poultry, meat, firm dairy products like hard cheeses, and eggs.

The macrobiotic diet is high in natural, unprocessed foods, complex carbohydrates, and vegetables. It is low in saturated fats, whilst providing the essential fats. Food should be organically grown and eaten fresh. The Macrobiotic lifestyle also governs how food should be prepared. No microwave should be used - rice must be cooked in a pressure cooker. Food should be eaten and chewed slowly, in a relaxed manner.

Low-fat high-fiber diets are also believed to play a role in preventing some types of cancer. And the macrobiotic emphasis on fresh, non-processed foods may be beneficial to those dealing with certain food allergies and chemical sensitivities. Followers assert that the balance and harmony of the macrobiotic diet and lifestyle create the best possible conditions for health. They claim that the diet yields many positive health effects, including a general sense of well-being, and some studies actually show that people on the diet have a decreased risk of heart disease and some forms of cancer.

Peace of Mind towards Beauty Enhancement

Beauty is closely related to physical appearance. The shape of your body, the color of your skin, the shine of your hair, the clothes and jewelry that you wears are all factors used by the modern world to define the beauty of a person.

Many people have forgotten that beauty is composed of inner and outer beauty. What is inside a person’s heart and mind is manifested in the outside world. Beauty is the total impact of your views about a person’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual attributes.

Inner peace is a key component for achieving true beauty and health.

Peace
Having peace of mind is another key factor in achieving beauty inside and out. Peace of mind gives a person much needed space to enable them to see the beauty of everything around them. The way a person views the world depends on their inner peace.

Meditation
Meditating helps in achieving peace of mind, tranquility, and serenity. Anyone can engage in meditation. You don’t need to be an expert in yoga to be able to meditate. You can sit on a chair, close your eyes and free your mind of the thoughts of the past and the future. Focusing on the present is what yoga is all about. You should feel the air passing through the nose, entering and exiting the lungs. Meditation takes practice, which should be done regularly.

Other than knowing than art of meditation, there are ways of achieving peace of mind. Listed below are some of them:

-Forgive those who have wronged you

It may sound like a cliché but this is one of the basic lessons that people often take for granted. Holding no grudges against people will be very helpful in achieving peace of mind. Unloading all of your hard feelings and accepting past events is a major key toward inner peace.

-Say “I’m sorry”

Saying “I’m sorry” for the mishaps and mistakes that we make is necessary when trying to achieve inner peace. Inner peace is not achieved through pride; it is achieved by respecting the people around you.

-Pray

Praying for wisdom and courage instead of material things is a fulfilling experience. Peace of mind speaks of the soul and not of the material world.

Achieving peace of mind is a way of improving one’s overall image. Beauty is a two-sided coin; both inner and outer beauty should be improved and neither should be taken for granted.

Can Gardening Help You to Look Good?

Gardening and other outdoor activities can enhance your body metabolism. Outdoor projects help you to be active and enjoy your family. You may do gardening with your family to keep you away from being isolated in the living room watching television.

Working in the garden can be comparable to exercising. This will keep you from gaining unwanted weight and will give you a physically active body. Many experts agree that outdoor activities like gardening are a way to keep you busy and active. A regular physical activity in the work area will help you achieve a desired body shape. Here are ways gardening can help you look and feel good.

1. You may work on your wind chimes; there are many designs to choose from. Give your garden a patio or deck design that will complement the whole environment on a windy day. A pleasant environment will make you happy and look good.

2. Tend your plants every morning. Use the different tools available when watering, potting, and cultivating the soil. This is a form of weight-lifting exercises, which is good for your health and metabolism.

3. Gardening can help you breathe fresh air. This outdoor activity will not confine you inside your house. Gardening gives you a reason to go outdoors and enjoy the fresh air that is needed to keep you healthy.

4. Gardens may appear stark without large green plants and beautiful flowers. Flowers have been proven to release people from depression. The flowers that you see in your garden will release stress and relax you.

5. The fruits and vegetables you reap from your garden are essential in keeping you healthy. Gardening will allow you to eat healthy foods and they promote a healthy lifestyle.

6. Gardening is a leisure activity that will allow you to avoid unhealthy lifestyles like smoking, drinking alcohol, etc. Smoking and alcohol have been proven to make the skin dry and can cause diseases. Instead of wasting your time with these unhealthy habits, you can occupy your time by gardening.

Gardening is the best way for you to be actively working. You may not need to enroll in a weight loss program where you would be spending hundreds of dollars for the program. You can maintain your beautiful body figure as you work enjoyably in your garden.