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Hi Gustav. Thanks for providing the link to said articles on Vit B12 deficiency in macrobiotic children. First off I will say that I agree with the research which states that macrobiotic children should not eat "strict" macrobiotic diet. The strict versrion should be reserved only for severe illness.
It is interesting that the authors of the article make the grave error of saying that B12 is only in meat and dairy. This is not true (see revised Nutrition Almanac and also Bowes & Church's Food Values of Portions Commonly Used -- any edition). You will see that many foods contain B12 in small amounts and that most seafood contains just as much or more B12 pound for pound than red meat. Oysters and steamed crab have the highest levels of B12 of all foods!
Also an error is made when then the authors say that macrobiotic is NOT an omnivorious diet. True macrobiotics can eat anything they want and know how to make balance in any given situation!
Note the authors cited that there was a lack of B12 in the serum of the children but it not not say that the children showed any signs of neurological or other problems associated with B12. Only a tiny amount of B12 is required for normal body/brain functioning in all people.
That macrobiotic children given B12 supplementation showed inability to raise B12 levels is interesting and in itself shows that
B12 is not making B12 and that B12 may really not be a reliable indicator of what this vitamin is supposed to do. I have been macrobiotic for nearly 35 years now and have 4 children that
range in ages 9 to 26. None of us have B12 deficient symptoms.
In short, the report does not provide us with any reliable information but does sound a wake up call for macrobiotic parents who are passing on strict macrobiotic habits to their children, which may in the long run may not be a healthy practice.
Ohsawa never said macrobiotics could not eat animal food -- but depending on the climate amy do so in moderation. Same with Hufeland who founded macrobiotics -- he never said no meat, but rather to use it in moderation. I think in the Netherlands more animal food can be tolerated. Dairy products are really not needed by humans but can be take on occassion as a pleasure food, again in moderation. I feel more and more macrobiotics are becomming less rigid in their diets. In Sweden they are eating a little egg, more fish and some cheese. I think this is OK for the northern climate but care must be taken to cut down on these products when weather warms up. Conversely, in the more temperate and tropical climates animal food should be kept to a minimum.
In peace, Roy
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