Traditional Diets

[Johnnyzen]

Macrobiotics claims to be based on traditional eating world-wide. How long has white rice been used in India? What about tomatoes? I love Indian food, but it is all white rice and nightshades. Can you make Indian food according to Macrobiotic principles? Was the original Indian diet Macrobiotic? When were nightshades introduced to Indian, Italian and Mexican cuisine?

[MJS]

I think white rice, no matter how long it's been used in a culture, is never "traditional" food. And refined grain products always require animal foods in the diet for strength, right?

Indian food is macrobiotic in India. Spices provide relief from a hot climate. Dairy (big in India) is an antidote to hot spices.. Most poor people in India eat a macro-style diet, I think, only problem is they are eating white rice and white flour nan. Otherwise lentils, cooked vegetables, these things are the norm.

[Johnnyzen]

Yes, white rice is relatively new. I checked into it. It was invented in the 1800s, so teh traditional Indian and Chinese diet is brown rice!