[Ohio]

It is perplexing that many people who lead a healthy macrobiotic lifestyle, seem to die young, even before the average life expectancy. I am semi-macrobiotic, and am at a loss as to how to respond, when asked about this. Even the leader of the macrobiotic movement, Michio Kushi, lost his spouse and a child to cancer, the one disease he is known to help alleviate in so many people. His sposue, Aveline, certainly adhered to a macrobiotic diet (at a minimum, she did not eat steaks, fast food, dairy, etc.). And yet, I (and most people) know many people who have lived longer than she, while indulging in foods which are known to cause medical problems. If she (and others in the movement) were not eating so good, why could they not have eaten strictly - as they probably did - with more positive results?

Any suggestions on how to respond to people who raise this question (?)