[Nancy]

chipchewmunk,

To answer your question about using other grains on the "10 day rice fast diet". A BIG, YES, it is okay! The original "diet" this regimen is based on is George Ohsawa's, "# 7", as the highest grain diet, 100% grains, with limited liquid, preferably Kukicha "Twig" Tea made from the twigs of the green tea plant, with very little caffeine.

Personally, I DO NOT subscribe to limited liquid on a cleansing fast, as the body is detoxing and throwing off toxic substances into the blood stream. Drinking as much purified water as needed will help this process.

There is also a fast that includes NO food, and NO water, which I would not recommend to anyone for the same reason.

The "# 7" is NOT really a fast...as you can eat ALL THE GRAINS YOU WANT TO EAT! For a 10 day period of time, this will not hurt but HELP the vast majority of people detox harmful additives and toxins from their body.

I have done the # 7 using oatmeal and it is a very cleansing, soothing, healing, pleasant, peaceful, and effective way to do # 7.

If anything, Macrobiotics teaches to AVOID the extremes...in this case going beyond 10 days is NEVER what Macrobiotics has recommended for the 10 day regimen and, as always, each person is responsible for their own healing and choices. Self-healing is YOU experimenting with what works best for you, making the wisest decisions for your own health and diet regimen...and because everyone's body is different...listening first and foremost to your own body.

Any whole, organic, grains are wonderful for the # 7 regimen,

Nancy