|
calories/exercise:
Hi Lisa. No need to worry about calories on the macrobiotic diet. Standard macro fare gives you about 5 times more bulk than the average American fare (since their fiber has been removed). Most Americans eat too many foods with "empty" calories. Over 2,000 is too much. Macro foods have about 12 per cent of the total caloric intake from protein, 15 per cent from fat and almost 75 percent from COMPLEX carbohydrates. This all equates to more efficient use of nutrients and more efficient way to eliminate food (waste) the body does not use.
Regarding exercise: Since you are studying a lot and in sedentary position a lot of time it is advisable to take frequent walks out doors. A good hour per day should help you. Stretching and bending/deep breathing will help oxygenate blood as well. No need to over do it.
Don't worry about what fellows at med school think of your eating habits. Later when they become doctors they will see that the world is made of nearly 1/3 vegetarian peoples and that diet does help stabilize many conditions.
I had lunch with my blind friend yesterday and I asked him how his sugar level was (he had diabetes before turning to macro). "Oh very well", he said. I asked him what his doctor said about his condition. He replied: "She told me to keep eating the brown rice, garlic and parsley tea." He has controlled his own diabetes for over 13 years and proved to his doctor that food works. She is now a believer. He is 71 years old. Unfortunately his wife also suffers from diabetes but refuses to eat macro food. He had to put her in a nursing home 6 years ago because she only gets worse eating empty calories, simple carbohydrates, and other junk. Keep the faith. The world is changing rapidly.
I gave a lecture to the VA Hospital a few years ago on macrobiotic and alternative healing. I was amazed how many doctors, social workers, and nurses were eating macro and vegetarian foods! They wrote me a nice letter of thanks. Brown University Medical School is affiliated with the Providence VA and many resident students train there.
Two years ago Brown Medical School asked me to help them out by allowing their students to interview me as they know of my alternative healing leanings. Many medical schools are quite open to alternative therapies. Even the VA uses cutting edge alternative ideas, like packing open wounds and bed sores with leeches to eat infection… You will be amazed to know how much the mainstream doctors know about herbal interactions with mainstream meds. One VA hospital physician actually wrote a book on the subject.
About 40% of all pharmecuticals utilize plant compounds in their formulation.
I hope this helps.
In peace, Roy
|