Macrobiotics for Energy, Health and Long Life
The term ‘MakroBios,’ which means long great life, was first coined, in the 5th Century BC by Hippocrates, the Father of Modern Medicine. Hippocrates believed that good health was the result of being in Balance with the natural world and that the most direct path to achieving this was through diet…primarily whole cereal grains, plus soup or broth and fresh vegetables. And the first questions the good doctor was known to ask his patients were ‘What do you eat?’ and ‘Who cooks your food?’
Today when we talk about Macrobiotics, we usually refer to Zen Macrobiotics, which is based on bringing the opposite forces of Yin and Yang into Balance. Zen Macrobiotics was developed in Kyoto, Japan in the early 20th century by Georges Ohsawa, who became known as the Father of Modern Macrobiotics, and brought to this country by his student, Michio Kushi. who together with his wife, Aveline, founded the Kushi Institute of Macrobiotics in 1978. ‘KI’ became the leading macrobiotic educational facility in the world, teaching individuals how to discover the underlying causes of their health challenges and use the energetics of foods to boost their health and feel great or support themselves in overcoming illnesses…both chronic and degenerative diseases plus minor health issues generally attributed to aging.
The energy of food is largely determined largely by four major factors:
1.quality – is it animal or vegetable, is it naturally or chemically grown or processed, wild or domestic?
2.motion and direction – if it is rising and expanding, melting and floating, it is Yin, but if it is descending and condensing, inward and solidifying, it is Yang.
3.Its effect on the body temperature: cooling (Yin), warming (Yang)
4.Its taste: sour, bitter, sweet, pungent or salty.
Of course, shape, size, color, texture and nutritional composition also impact the food’s energy and when we eat a certain food, we absorb its qualities in the form of waves and vibrations which, in turn, determine the quality of our blood, organs, tissues, cells and consciousness.
The Macrobiotic diet advocates that 1) 50-60% of our daily intake be comprised of Whole Grains and 20-30% Fresh Vegetables, supplemented by Beans, Soups, Sea Vegetables and modest amounts of Fruit, and, 2) that these foods be native to our own climate…which strengthens our ability to adapt to changes in our environment.
When we look at the energy of Grains, we can see that they have an upward and expanding energy as they grow vertically toward heaven, corresponding to the human brain and spine and giving us stability and vitality.
•Brown rice gives us strong day to day energy while millet gives us strong harmonious energy, contributing to our creativity and empathy.
by GERALD P. CURATOLA, D.D.S.
TOP FIVE Mouth-Body Connection Tips
The author of The Mouth-Body Connection (Center Street/Hachette, 2017), Dr. Gerry Curatola, has been practicing his unique brand of dentistry over the span of thirty years. His trademark Rejuvenation Dentistry offices bring his insights, experience and unwavering dedication to “getting the word out” on the link between oral health and living longer.
Renowned for his brilliant aesthetics of some of the world’s most famous smiles, Dr. Curatola feels his greatest contribution is educating the public on biologic and biocompatible dentistry, and the hazards of many harmful dental products and treatments that threatens a patient’s long-term health.
Always engaging, thought provoking and continually inspiring us to rise above the status quo, Dr. Curatola challenges our thinking with his Top Five Mouth-Body Connection messages on building better health by getting past “the shadow of your smile.” According to him, with the healthcare debate raging in Washington, D.C., there couldn’t be a better time to look in the mouth.
Dr. Curatola states, “A healthy mouth contributes to a healthy body, but also a “healthy wallet.” Aetna Insurance Company and Columbia University College of Dental Medicine conducted a study that found a relationship between periodontal (gum) treatment and the overall cost of care for several costly chronic diseases.
The results of the study, which included approximately 145,000 patients, demonstrated that improving the health of the mouth, translated into an average of a 21% reduction in medical costs for the treatment of diabetes, coronary artery disease (CAD), and cerebrovascular disease (CVD) or stroke.
This translates into a potential savings of over three quarters of a trillion dollars on our health care system. The Aetna Research went on to show that up to 90% of whole-body illnesses could show their first signs in the mouth.
These include Alzheimer’s, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and pre-mature births linked to the negative impact of gum disease on a healthy pregnancy.
For more information on The Mouth-Body Connection including his
28-Day Curatola Care Plan to reduce inflammation and help prevent disease throughout the body, you can purchase his book at Amazon.com or most major booksellers.
You can purchase Revitin directly at Revitin.com. Dr. Curatola’s Rejuvenation Dentistry offices are at 521 Park Avenue in New York City. For an appointment or consultation, you can contact his office at 212-355-4777 or email us.