Simple sugars, dairy, and most animal products (except fish) are omitted from the beginning "basic" and "centering" macrobiotic diets because of their extremely yin or yang qualities. (See Essential Guide to Macrobiotics, by Carl Ferre.) They mostly fall in the two acid-forming categories with a few exceptions, like eggs and honey.
Here is a list of foods, starting with the most yin at the top, that are not on the beginning macrobiotic diets, to which I’ve added their acid-forming or alkaline-forming properties. (See The Acid And Alkaline Dimension Of Food, Part 1 for the list of foods that are on the diets.) Foods marked in bold are from the original list in Zen Macrobiotics, by George Ohsawa. (See The Yin and Yang Spectrum Of Food, Part 2.)
Note: The c and k values listed below represent the overall average in a range where the specific food usually falls. Carl Ferre uses a numbering scale of 0-9 and the words slightly, mildly, fairly, generally, moderately, highly, strongly (or stronger), exceedingly, and severely (or extremely) to describe the ranges of acid-forming and alkaline-forming qualities.
References:
Acid Alkaline Companion, by Carl Ferre
Essential Guide to Macrobiotics, by Carl FerreAcid and Alkaline, by Herman Aihara
Comparison of Foods Omitted from the Beginning Macrobiotic Diets by their Yin, Yang, Acid-Forming, and Alkaline-Forming Qualities:
[MOST YIN]
Sweeteners
• Honey — 3 yin [omitted] [raw, k2—mildly alkaline-forming]
• Molasses — 3 yin [omitted] [c4—generally acid-forming]
• Molasses — 3 yin [omitted] [sulphured, c5—moderately acid-forming]
Beverages
• Drinks containing sugar substitutes — 3 yin [omitted] [c4 to c9—generally to severely acid-forming]
• Tea containing dye — 3 yin [omitted] [additives, c4 to c9—generally to severely acid-forming]
• Armoise (mugwort, yomogi) — 1 yang [omitted]
• Chicory — 1 yang [omitted]
• Haru tea — 2 yang [omitted]
• Dragon tea — 2 yang [omitted]
• Yang yang tea — 2 yang [omitted]
Dairy
[The entire category of dairy foods is omitted from the beginning basic and centering diets.]• Yogurt — 3 yin [omitted] [aged, c7—strongly acid-forming]• Yogurt — 3 yin [omitted] [dextrogyre, c7—strongly acid-forming]
• Yogurt — 3 yin [omitted] [frozen, c8—exceedingly acid-forming]• Yogurt — 3 yin [omitted] [live culture, c2—mildly acid-forming]• Yogurt — 3 yin [omitted] [plain, fresh, c2—mildly acid-forming]
• Yogurt — 3 yin [omitted] [soy, c4—generally acid-forming]• Yogurt — 3 yin [omitted] [sweetened, c6—highly acid-forming]
• Sour cream — 3 yin [omitted] [c3—fairly acid-forming]
• Sweet cream — 3 yin [omitted] [fresh, raw, kc0—neutral]
• Sweet cream — 3 yin [omitted] [fresh, processed, c3—fairly acid-forming]
• Cream cheese — 3 yin [omitted] [c5—moderately acid-forming]
• Butter — 3 yin [omitted] [processed, c3—fairly acid-forming]
• Butter — 3 yin [omitted] [fresh, unsalted, k1—slightly alkaline-forming]• Butter — 3 yin [omitted] [clarified ghee, k2—mildly alkaline-forming]
• Milk — 2 yin [omitted] [cow's, homogenized, pasteurized, c2—mildly acid-forming]• Milk — 2 yin [omitted] [cow's, raw, ck0—neutral]• Milk — 2 yin [omitted] [shakes, commercial, c8—exceedingly acid-forming]
• Camembert — 2 yin [omitted] [c5—moderately acid-forming]
• Gruyere — 2 yin [omitted] [hard cheeses, cow's milk, c8—exceedingly acid-forming]
• Roquefort — 1 yang [omitted]
• Edam cheese (Dutch) — 1 yang [omitted] [hard cheeses, cow's milk, c8—exceedingly acid-forming]
• Goat milk — 2 yang [omitted] [homogenized, c2—mildly acid-forming]• Goat milk — 2 yang [omitted] [raw, k2—mildly alkaline-forming]• Goat cheese [omitted] [c2—mildly acid-forming]
Oil
• Margarine — 3 yin [omitted] [hydrogenated, c6—highly acid-forming]• Margarine — 3 yin [omitted] [vegetable, nonhydrogenated, k1—slightly]
• Sunflower oil — 1 yin [omitted] [cold-pressed, ck0—neutral]
• Corza oil — 1 yin [omitted]
• Egoma (most yang sesame) oil — 1 yin [omitted]
Fruits, Nuts, and Seeds
[Fruits are the most yin, then Nuts, and then Seeds are the most yang of the three categories] [Most fruits contain high amounts of acid and can be acid-forming for some people]
• Lime — 2 yin [omitted] [k8—exceedingly alkaline-forming]
Seaweed (Sea Vegetables)
Vegetables and Beans
• Coltsfoot — 2 yang [omitted]
• Dandelion root — 2 yang [omitted] [k4—generally alkaline-forming]
• Jinenjo potato — 3 yang [omitted] [k5—moderately alkaline-forming]
Fish
• Eel — 1 yin [omitted]
Salted Cheese
[The entire category of Salted Cheese is omitted from the beginning macrobiotic diets. See also the more-yin category "Dairy," above]
• Cheeses, hard [c8—exceedingly acid-forming]
• Cheeses, soft [c4—generally acid-forming]
Animal Products
[The entire category of Animal Products is omitted from the beginning macrobiotic diets.]
• Snail — 2 yin [omitted]
• Frog — 2 yin [omitted]
• Pork — 2 yin [omitted] [c7—strongly acid-forming]
• Beef — 2 yin [omitted] [hamburger, c8—exceeding acid-forming]
• Horsemeat — 2 yin [omitted]
• Hare — 2 yin [omitted] [rabbit, c6—highly acid-forming]
• Chicken — 1 yin [omitted] [c5—moderately acid-forming]
• Pigeon — 1 yang [omitted]
• Partridge — 1 yang [omitted]
• Poultry [ c5—moderately acid-forming]
• Duck — 1 yang [omitted] [wild, c5—moderately acid-forming]
• Turkey — 1 yang [omitted] [c5—moderately acid-forming]
• Egg — 2 yang [omitted] [chicken, whole, c2—mildly acid-forming]• Egg — 2 yang [omitted] [chicken, whites, c1—slightly acid-forming]• Egg — 2 yang [omitted] [chicken, yolks, k1—slightly alkaline-forming]
• Egg — 2 yang [omitted] [duck, ck0—neutral]
• Egg — 2 yang [omitted] [quail, k1—slightly alkaline-forming]
• Pheasant — 3 yang [omitted] [c7—strongly acid-forming]
[MOST YANG]
Related Blog Articles:
The Acid And Alkaline Dimension Of Food, Part 1
The Yin And Yang Of Acid And Alkaline
Four Basic Food Groups — YIN—YANG—ACID—ALKALINE
The Yin and Yang Spectrum Of Food, Part 1
The Yin and Yang Spectrum Of Food, Part 2
The Yin and Yang Spectrum Of Food, Part 3
What Is The Macrobiotic Centering Diet?
My Notes On The Macrobiotic Centering Diet
