The above question was asked by someone on the Web even though he said that he had Carl Ferre's book, Pocket Guide To Macrobiotics (now revised and renamed Essential Guide To Macrobiotics). How could he have that book and not know what a macrobiotic centering diet is? What answer was he looking for that he didn't see in those pages? I decided to take a closer look at the book.
I realized that as I started to answer the question, I was actually learning something more than I might have learned if Carl Ferre had spelled everything out for me — more than he had already spelled out in his book. That's good. Finding your own answers to things is very good for you. It makes you think. And that lets you keep control over your own life.
A macrobiotic centering diet is usually followed for 10 days to 2 weeks or longer, as long as you are still benefiting from it. It corresponds to George Ohsawa's Diet #3, Diet #4, and Diet #5 — all three diets are ways to health and happiness. You decide which ones to follow and for how long. From Zen Macrobiotics, by George Ohsawa:
Diet #3 = 60% whole grains, 30% vegetable nitsuke, and 10% soup
Diet #4 = 70% whole grains, 20% vegetable nitsuke, and 10% soup
Diet #5 = 80% whole grains, and 20% vegetable nitsuke (no soup)
We're talking about whole grains here, with no processing done any more than to remove the husks from the grains. That means no flour, no pasta, etc. Vegetable nitsuke and soup also mean something specific in these diets.
Components of a macrobiotic centering diet:
12 Whole Grains
44 Vegetables
5 Beans
3 Sea Vegetables
Soup
Beverages
Cooking oil and seasonings
Table condiments
Notes:
You can get the books, Essential Guide To Macrobiotics, by Carl Ferre, and Zen Macrobiotics, by George Ohsawa, from the George Ohsawa Macrobiotic Foundation.
Related Blog Articles:
My Notes About The Macrobiotic Centering Diet
Ten Macrobiotic Diets By George Ohsawa
Diet #7 by George Ohsawa
Diet #6 by George Ohsawa (What Is Nitsuke?)
What Is True Fasting?
