Everthing in the universe is constantly changing.Each day we experience the result of this unceasing motion as night changes into day,activity changes into rest,youth into old age,life into death,and death into rebirth,An understanding of the changes that govern our lives and the natural environment,and recognition of the interrelationship between apposite yet complementary tendencies within these changes,helps us to achieve harmony in our bodies and minds.

The principle of yin and yang is the philosophical foundation of macrobiotics.The way to practice this universal principle in daily life was taught by Lau Tzu,Confucius,Budda,Moses,Jesus,Muhammad,and other great teachers throughtout history.To understand this simple principle and then to live its basic laws is the greatest way to perfect health and long life.

The principle of yin  and yang is also known as the “unifying principle” because it states that antagonistic forces complement and unify each other.A clear example of this is a man and a woman. Though men and women are opposites in many ways, they depend on each other for continued existence. Together,they form a unity each acquiring aspects of the other.

Many different interpretations have been given to yin and yang throughout history.Several thousand years ago in China,for example,the universal process of change was called the Tao.The Taoists and others based their teachings on the underlying principle of yin and yang.In the Hindu religion,Brahma,the absolute,becomes Shiva and Parvati,the god and goddess whose cosmic dance gives rise to all phenomena in the universe.Similarly,in the Shinto religion,Ame-no-Minakanushi,who stands for infinity,becomes Takami-musibi and Kami-musubi,the gods of centrifugality and centripetality,respectively,from whom the phenomenal universe arises.

The excessive dietary intake of cholesterol and fats creates significant health risks.As you probably know,high blood cholesteral levels,a substance akin to fats,has been implicated in coronary disease.In the past few years,many people have cut down on the amount of saturated animal fats they consumer and reduced their choresterol intake.However,the consumption of highly refined vegetable oils and hydrogennated vegetable fats(oils saturated with hydrogen),such as those in margarine and vegetable shortening,has increased.We now know that hydrogenated vegetable fats contain a type of fats known as trans-fatty acids,and these have much the same effect on the body as saturated animal fats do.And while polyunsaturated and monounsaturated vegetable fats are considered more healthyful by some experts,the total fat content of the average American diet is still too high,regardless of its food sources.Even unrefined vegetable oils,if consumed in excess,can create blood that is too rich in fat and cholesterol.Most often the resultis artery damage or atheroscherosis,a degenerative disease characterized by the developement of  plaques and fibrous tissue lining the artery walls and,in most cases,eventually blocking the arteries.Casdiovascular or coronay artery disease,as this condition is commonly referred to ,is the number-one killer in America

Weight gain can ensure health and fitness

People—especially those who are very thin for their frame, age, and height—would be very happy upon discovering that they have gained some weight. For them, this weight gain would indicate not only the condition of their health and fitness but also the improvements on their physical built as well.

Aside from being an indicator of good health, fitness, and eating a well balanced diet, weight gain would also serves an indicator for a person’s overall improvement in his or her outlook in life. Although in most cases, weight gain is an indicator of good health, it can also serve as an indicator if negligence especially if there are signs of obesity.

To know if weight gain is bad or good for you, it is always best to conduct a research about its indicators as well as of its advantages and disadvantages so you will have an idea if you’re into the right thing.

What you need to know

Weight gain refers to the increase in a person’s body weight brought by intake of too many calories, lack of physical activity such as regular exercise, or a side effect of certain types of medication. However, it can also be a result of a certain set of workout routine—such as those in bodybuilding—wherein muscles tend to increase in terms of weight.

Experts say that weight gain is usually done by people because of two reasons. One, they want to build muscles for a fit body. This is very common to people who need big muscles for their jobs such gym instructors, fitness gurus, bodybuilding coaches, bouncers, bodyguards, weightlifters, and the like.

The second reason why people gain weight is because of their health. Weight gain is highly recommended to those people who have lost so much body fat due to dieting and especially to those who have developed various eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia. People—especially women who are believed to suffer more from this condition—are advised to gain weight to recover from all the body fats and nutrients they have lost.

To know if you are gaining some weight, check for its symptoms such as a rounder belly, certain increase in the fat percentage of the body, increased mass of muscles and increase in the level of body’s hydration. Experts say that it can be hard to determine if a person’s weight gain is good or not. This is because people have different individual needs that need to be paid attention to. Although knowing the ideal weight for a person’s height can be a god indicator, it is always best to consult with a physician to avoid further complications. For those who are planning to gain weight to ensure they health and fitness, here are some helpful tips to get by:

1. Set your focus on set of workouts routines that target how one can increase body fat and muscles. This is one of the most effective ways of gaining weight without having to worry about obesity. Since a person burns only the unnecessary fats, he or she is paving the way for the muscles to gain weight.

2. Spend some time for to know what the target weight gain is. Just like in losing weight, weight gain also requires utmost time and dedication. If one is into weight gain, he or she must make sure that they are serious about it so they will get their desired health and level of fitness.

3. Always have a healthy and well balanced diet. For people who are gaining weight for health and fitness, this is very important if because it serves as their guide on what kind of food they should eat and the proper amount of each to get the weight that they desire.

Protein and Macrobiotic Diet

proteins are complex molecules found in almost all living things.Whereas carbohydrates are the best source of food energy,proteins are the best source of raw material for the vital processes of growth and repair

Proteins are the building blocks of the human body.They are found abundantly in th muscles,tendons,blood,and organs. The hair,finger-nails ,and skin are all made of protein.Yet it is not protein itself that we need in our diet,but the components of proteins known as amino acids.

In the process of digestions, the body breaks down proteins into amino acids. The amino acids supplied by foods,along with those recycled internally,are reasembled by the liver,creating the proteins required by the body for the repair of cells and tissues,for growth,and to maintain metabolic processes. Of the twenty-two amino acids needed to maintain health,eight of them,known as the essential amino acids, can be obtained only from food. The body is able to manufacture the others from various substances.

The macrobiotic diet supplies protein,including the eight essential amino acids,from the best available protein sources-whole grains,beans,vegetables,sea vegetables,seeds,nuts,white-meat fish,and fruit.Other protein sources,such as red meat,poultry,and milk,generally contain a high percentage of substances that can contribute to coronary disease and other health problems.

On the average,about 12 percent of the total caloric intake on the macrobiotic diet comes from protein,15 percent comes from fat, and 73 percent comes from complex carbohydrates. The way to achieve this ideal balance is to eat a variety of foods that offer an optimal amount of high-quality protein,without excessive amounts of saturated fats of cholesterol.