becoming whole

Limited? Not at all!

I hear a lot of comments and questions about the macrobiotic diet being limited. But ... it's anything but!

I cook three meals a day for myself and my family, and know personally that there's an incredible variety of food to eat. It may seem limited to some who haven't explored or read about what a varied diet this can be. And I can say that for people who subsist on only non-nutritive "junk foods," overly processed chemicalized foods, or fast foods, macrobiotics would appear limiting, as these foods are not recommended.

I received a nice e-mail that brings home my point after hosting a macrobiotic potluck last Saturday. Here's an excerpt:

We had a great time tonight! ... Instead of feeling tired and sluggish (after a conventional pig out ...) we feel nourished and full of energy.  What a beautiful table of food, the colors and variety!  It's funny how some people will view it as such a "limiting" diet when in fact the opposite is true. Those desserts!!! I had 2 plates of food and 2 plates of dessert and I don't feel guilt one bit. :-)  I'm looking forward to your next one!

Have a great weekend!

Moving on ...

I wrote a post this morning that caused a stir. After a lot of consideration, I decided to remove it. I don’t want to get into a lot of the back and forth that went on, because that’s not what this blog is all about. But here’s the upshot ... and then let’s move on!

My sister Ruth heard something yesterday on the WYNZ-FM 100.9 morning show that upset and offended her. Ruth doesn’t take offense easily, and she’s got a great sense of humor. But she was left feeling that radio show host Eva Matteson was ridiculing people who practice macrobiotics, and Ruth eats macrobiotic food herself. (The diet I follow, which is based on whole grains, vegetables and beans.) Ruth has always loved Eva’s show, but did not appreciate the tone of the comments.

I contacted the radio station yesterday, and Eva sent me an e-mail this morning, saying she wanted to clarify her feelings about macrobiotics. Eva is a fellow breast cancer survivor who, in fact, practiced macrobiotics herself during her recovery. Later this morning, she apologized on the air if any offense was taken.

That’s enough for Ruth and me. So thank you, Eva, and I wish you well.

Sugar & Cancer

When I first started following a macrobiotic diet (based on organic whole grains, beans and lots of fresh vegetables) for breast cancer almost nine years ago (after exhausting most conventional options), I was advised to get sugar out of my diet. This included white sugar products, such as cakes and cookies, and soft drinks. And even juice was limited.

I was advised to get my "sweetness" from sweet vegetables (lots of them), and once or twice a week a simple fruit dessert was recommended. I had been plagued by candida (an overgrowth of yeast) at the time, and this way of eating helped clear this up quickly. Yeast loves sugar. So, it wasn't a stretch for me to believe that decreasing my sugar intake would help not to "feed" my cancer as my macrobiotic teachers suggested.

I subscribe to this great magazine called Breast Cancer Wellness. I like it because it has many survivor stories and a lot of good information on diet (most breast cancer magazines don't). A recent issue includes an article by Dr. Kim Dalzell, Ph.D., a dietitian/nutritionist. It includes a Q & A. One of the questions asked is, "Does sugar feed cancer?" She answers with some good scientific knowledge that helps explain this in a SHORT, but clear and easy-to-understand way. I encourage you to please read it.

Many people say they don't eat sugar, but anyone who follows a standard American diet eats lots of it. If not staight-out white-sugar products (as in desserts), it's in salad dressings, canned and packaged foods, and restaurant foods. Check labels for its many names.

Lois' Natural Marketplace

Dominique DiMatteo, of Lois' Natural Marketplace

I was waiting in line to pay for my groceries at Lois' Natural Marketplace in Scarborough (Maine) last week. And thinking about how much I appreciate employee Dominique DiMatteo's cheerful attitude. I like shopping at stores where the people are nice! I tried to get a candid of her (but I'm not as quick as my sister Ruth!). Dominique is ALWAYS pleasant, helpful and cheerful. When someone is genuinely nice, it makes my day!

I was stopping by to check to see if it was Burrito Day (usually Thursdays) at Lois' deli, and it was indeed. I recently discovered that Chris and the gang there make a fabulous vegan burrito!

I'm doing a "lunch lecture" for medical students at the University of New England in Biddeford this week and was pleased to hear that the event is being catered by Lois' Natural Marketplace! Yum!

Macrobiotic Potlucks

My friend Carol Landry took this great candid photo of us chowing down Saturday night during a macrobiotic potluck dinner at my house. A potluck is a great and easy way to get people together who like to eat healthy whole foods.

It's really easy. Here's what I do: I notify my friend Bill Wood (who has an e-mail list of interested people), clean or "pick up" (hide the junk and hope no one opens closets), make a big pot of tea, and maybe one of the basics like brown rice or a vegetable dish. And then ... wait for people to come with beautiful macrobiotic food. Simple, easy, fun!

I never know how many or who is going to show up, and I always get to meet new people and see old friends, too. It's a great way for newcomers to see what a varied and colorful way of eating this can be. And a nice way for "oldies" to touch base and catch up on new recipes and latest happenings. A nice way to create a community of friends. I get a broad range of people — some on a strict healing diet, some who eat wider macrobiotic or vegan foods, and some who are just interested in finding out what it's all about. I welcome everyone!

If you live in Greater Portland (Maine) or the surrounding area and want to be notified of potlucks, classes, or any macrobiotic-related goings-on, e-mail Bill at: wwood1@maine.rr.com to have your e-mail address added to his distribution list!

If you don't live nearby, I hope this inspires you to start your own get-togethers. Why practice macrobiotics in isolation? If you're just beginning with potlucks, you might start out by just inviting one or two or more friends who eat this way, or you might advertise with a flier at your local whole foods store. You might be surprised by how many people in your town would be interested!

Here are some more fun photos from Saturday night from Carol Landry and my sister Ruth. Also, my friend Mark Boucher made a fantastic "lasagne," so when he sends the recipe, I'll post it!

A Blog Game

Patty emailed me this morning and commented that I was up early... I wrote back, I've been blogging... to Japan... and England... and back all in two hours!

Last week I found this site, Adekun's Japan Blog, while perusing the globe of blogs.  Japan and organic caught my eye so I decided to check it out... an interesting site by a young dad, living in Japan, who likes gardening and vegetables among other things.

This week he "tagged" me with the latest meme.

I wasn't quite sure of the "rules" so I checked around and this is how,Celia, at Purple Podded Peas, explains the meme:

'Fantastic Four' - five (shouldn't it be four?) areas of my life, four points for each. I've recently discovered that a meme (pronounced like theme) was a term coined by Richard Dawkins in his book 'The Selfish Gene' he says "Examples of memes are tunes, ideas, catch-phrases, clothes fashions, ways of making pots or of building arches. Just as genes propagate themselves in the gene pool by leading from body to body via sperm or eggs, so memes propagate themselves in the meme pool by leaping from brain to brain via a process which, in the broad sense, can be called imitation." So now you know.

I've come across some excellent blogs via the links in memes, so I'll swiftly whizz through the 20 fab facts and try to tag four bloggers (who can ignore my request or join in - it's a free world).

I decided to give it a try!

Latest Five Books I've Read (Or I'm Currently Reading):        This is my latest favorite photo, by
                                                                                       (Celia) Magic Cochin of Purple Podded Peas.
The Omnivore's Dilemma, by Michael Pollen
The Full Catastrophe, by John Cabot-Zinn
The Transition to a Macrobiotic Diet (reading for a 2nd time), by Carolyn Heidendry 
The Courage to be Yourself, Sue Patton Thoele
The Way Life Should Be (a novel I want to read) by Christina Baker Kline

Latest Five Favorite Vegetables or Fruit:                           
Blueberries (especially this time of year)
Green and Yellow String Beans
Watermelon
Squash (not good until fall, not long away)

Latest Five Movies Watched:

Miss Potter
Factory Girl
Wild Hogs
The Color Purple
My Big Fat Greek Wedding

Favorite Five Past Times:

Walking
Shopping Farmers Market
Taking Photographs
Receiving Massage                                                       
Spending Time with my Family               

Latest Favorite Five Blogs:

Adekun's Japan Blog
Purple Podded Peas
Veggie Venture
The Great Vegetable Challenge
Pugs Rule

 

Ruth's Project

I really HAD to do a second post on Pigs Peace Sanctuary, as my sister Ruth has choreographed a great slideshow about Chester, Grace, Bunny and all the other beautiful and amazing creatures at the Sanctuary in Washington that's run by Judy Woods. To watch it, please click on WATCH MY VIDEO, directly under the pig's photo on the "badge" to the right. It's easy, and the slideshow comes on immediately! And, if you like James Taylor... that's another reason to give this a try. Ruth and I are really excited about this. Let us know what you think. Thanks, Meg!

An interesting fact from Pigs Peace Sanctuary: Measuring in human intelligence, pigs are the third smartest animal (the first and second are dolphins and primates).

Bob Mikell

                    Bob Mikell at the 2007 Kushi International Summer Conference

I met Bob about three years ago at the Kushi Institute Summer Conference in Vermont. I'd heard that he had recovered from stage 4 kidney cancer after following a macrobiotic diet. But I hadn't heard his whole story. I'd hear about him every now and then through my friend Janet Vitt Sommer (a 13-year stage 4 lung cancer survivor) as they had become friends. Janet would say,"Bob and Tammy are going on the cruise with us" ... or "Bob and Tammy are doing that...." I was amazed that he was alive and doing well because of what I knew of his story.

We met again this month at the conference. Bob remains cancer-free and is the picture of health. We exchanged e-mails, I visited his Web site, Cooking 4 Life, and I read his amazing healing story. Bob and Tammy are now dedicated to helping others with serious illness. The Cooking 4 Life motto is: "The Macrobiotic Approach to Health, Healing and Life." The couple assists people with any aspect of healthy cooking, eating, and lifestyle.

They're located in the Washington, N.J., and can be reached at 908-689-6905. I'm happy that he has written his story to share with others. Thank you, Bob.

Pigs Peace

At left: Judy Woods, director and founder of Pigs Peace Sanctuary, with Bunny

Hi, this is Meg's little sister, Ruth, writing. Meg was out-and-about town yesterday with her husband Tom celebrating their silver anniversary. (I cannot believe it's already been 25 years!!) So ... I thought I'd jump on this opportunity to tell you about how I recently discovered an organization that deeply touched our hearts. Let me backtrack for just a sec...

I attended the Kushi Institute's Summer Conference this month with Meg, and one of the sponsors of the conference was Veg News. I took home a free copy of the magazine. When I had a chance to flip through the pages, my eye was drawn to an advertisement with a close-up photo of a pig (it was basically his hairy snout, one very deep-set eye, and a teeny weeny ear); it was titled, Pigs Peace Sanctuary, and BOY, this pig really called out to me!

I went to the Web site and read the first animal story (listed by each animal's name). After reading the first, I was hooked and read all the stories (plus every word on the site). Pigs Peace Sanctuary is a "safe haven of love" for pigs and their friends in Washington state. It's a non-profit  organization "providing a safe home for unwanted, abused or neglected animals in need and is committed to spreading the message of compassion and respect for all animals."

The site makes me want to move to a farm where I could adopt one of my very own pigs and cook it spaghetti with tomato sauce and peanut butter sandwiches, and spoil it rotten ... or just help in some way! Would you please take a few minutes to click on the site and see what I'm talking about?

Many thanks! Ruth (See new sidebar badge on right to donate!)

The soul is the same in all living creatures, although the body is different.  — Hippocrates

Gabriele Kushi

Gabriele Kushi and Moi, at the Kushi Conference, August 2007

Gabriele Kushi is the founder of Kushi’s Kitchen in Minneapolis, "a company dedicated to excellence in teaching macrobiotic natural food and sustainable lifestyle awareness to support a peaceful world."

It was great to see Gabriele again at the Kushi Conference earlier this month at Babson College. She offers healing with a natural food approach and she has written a helpful book, Embracing Menopause Naturally.