A macrobiotic diet might sound like something futuristic and too scientific to be tasty, but evidence of people eating this way can be traced as far back as ancient Greece. Hippocrates, upon whose writing the medical Hippocratic Oath is based, used the term “macrobiotic” to describe some of the healthiest of his contemporaries and their methods of staying in good condition.

Of course, there is more to a macrobiotic diet than simply trying to “eat well” by the standards of an old Greek medical writer. Today’s macrobiotic diet has a few major points of interest by which it can be defined. Many of these will deviate widely from a traditional raw diet, but it is always interesting to view another impression of healthy eating, to see what can be learned from it.

For one, a modern macrobiotic diet focuses on the consumption of grains as a food staple, and using as many locally-sourced types of grain as possible. The macrobiotic diet not only encourages healthy eating, but a healthy philosophy about how the foods interact with your body, and how those foods get to you. Many followers of the diet believe that the life force of these grains can be diminished with long transportation times, and that local sources of cereal grains like brown rice are your best option. The yin and yang in brown rice is one of the most perfectly balanced relationships in food, and provides your body with a balanced supply of fuel.

Another key tenet of the macrobiotic diet is the supplementation of your diet with unprocessed fruits, vegetables and beans. Again, the concepts of yin and yang come into play, as you want to add vegetables that have a more balanced measure to them. Vegetables should be included in the diet at around a quarter of the total food intake, with grains making up another half of the diet, and beans, seaweed and other food items making up the final quarter of the diet.

A big defining point of this diet is the encouraged lack of pre-processed foods. Those who follow a macrobiotic diet tend to try to avoid foods that have too much yin to them, or foods that do not encourage balance and relaxation of the body and mind. Typically, the list of “do not eat” foods for a macrobiotic dieter would include processed sugars, alcohol, caffeine and other stimulating foods. Other foods can be too yang, or heavy for the body, and should likewise be avoided. This would include many types of animal protein, dairy products, and overuse of salt to season dishes.

The macrobiotic diet is also one of the few that not only talks to what you eat, but how you eat. Every mouthful of food should be thoroughly and thoughtfully chewed before swallowing. Other factors to consider when tailoring your macrobiotic meal plan would include the time of year – summer meals should be made with big, leafy greens, include more raw food items, as utilize lighter weight grains – as well as your age, weight, gender and activity levels.