[Nancy]

Welcome Hendrik,

Thanks for your contribution to the Forums here at Cybermacro. I think there is great truth to the cliche, "You are what you eat."

Naburo Muramota in the classic macrobiotic book, "Healing Ourselves" is a counselor who could tell just how long a former meat eater had abstained from meat, turning to whole grains and vegetables instead, by witnessing physical condition.

Unfortunately, in the case of people with severe disease conditions, many times they have failed to "listen to their body" as it began to deteriorate, perhaps irretrievably. A faulty way of eating and food consumption is continued. Rather than finding the root cause and correcting it, symptoms are treated and masked, often with prescription drugs. This results in further deterioration, especially yin drugs, to treat a yin disease condition. Thus, illness and decrepitation makes us and is caused by -what we eat-, in many cases.

Often stubborn weight in certain areas is from overconsumption of particular (and favorite) foods. Overconsumption of yang foods makes us behave in more yang fashion, just as the opposite, overconsumption of yin foods -- exemplified, in part, by yang/irritable/angry/aggressive, yin/silly/foolish/unfocused, etc. Meat eaters tend more towards aggression, vegetarians towards peace. Look at the dinosaurs: T. Rex carnivores versus mild mannered plant eaters. The configuration of the body and teeth follows suit.

Often couples do form a twosome of complimentary opposites, thus creating years of wedded bliss, stable home lives, blessed by many children and grandchildren. We do have our own character, but by what we eat it can be skewed towards aggession or peace.

Often, at macrobiotic camps, with macrobiotic people all eating communally, meals cooked in the same kitchen, -- harmony, peace, unity, and togetherness prevails during the camp experience.

Nancy