What if we were to tell you that the solution to all your health and fitness concerns begins with fixing your relationship with food? A healthy diet is vital for physical fitness and ensuring mental well-being. We are what we eat; therefore, it becomes crucial to be mindful of the food we intake and establish a healthy connection with it. Shonali Sabherwal, a celebrity chef and personal health coach Mumbai, brings a unique macrobiotic perspective to promote healing with food.
The Macrobiotic Philosophy
Shonali is India’s first practising macrobiotic counsellor and a leading gut health nutritionist. Macrobiotics comprises two terms—macro, meaning large, and bios meaning life. The literal translation of the term comes down as a larger-than-life approach to a consistently healthy lifestyle. The system finds its roots in several ancient philosophies from India and Japan, such as Ayurveda, the Buddhist idea of Zen, Yin-Yang, and other Chinese medicinal traditions. The ultimate goal is holistic detoxification of the body and establishing a state of equilibrium by balancing the intake of acidic and alkaline foods. A macrobiotic diet mainly comprises:
Organic Vegetables: Organic vegetables will form about 20-30% of your macrobiotic diet. A macrobiotic diet encourages the consumption of locally sourced vegetables and fruits, especially leafy greens. The cooking style advised is either steaming, boiling, or sauteing the vegetables with a regulated amount of unrefined or cold-pressed oils. The vegetables can also be used to prepare salads.
Whole Grain and Cereals: Whole grains and cereals form 40-60% of a macrobiotic diet. As your gut health nutritionist, Shonali recommends organically sourced whole grains and cereals for her macrobiotic diet. These include barley, brown rice, buckwheat, and gluten-free grains for those intolerant to gluten, millet, whole oats, and whole wheat. You can even incorporate a portion of pasta and noodles made of whole grains instead of refined ones. The partially processed grains the diet permits include bulgur, aka dalia and semolina (rava or suji). Bread made without yeast can also be included.
Fish and Fruits: The macrobiotic diet encourages you to shop for locally available and seasonal fruits occasionally. You can consume these as is or use them for preparing dessert. But remember to use plant-based sweeteners instead or any artificial sweeteners. Such desserts can be included in the diet twice or thrice a week.
As your personal health coach Mumbai, Shonali’s recommendation for fish includes fresh white meat fish. As for beverages, the diet allows decaf, herbal, and non-dairy probiotics.
Beans and Fermented Foods: About 5-10% of your diet should include beans and fermented foods. The regular-use beans included in the diet are whole beans, such as chickpeas, kidney beans (rajma), lentils, and green mung. Shonali also recommends incorporating fermented foods such as quick pickles, pressed salads, and probiotic drinks into your daily diet.
Shonali’s macrobiotic approach is proven to relieve several health ailments such as asthma, diabetes, insomnia, migraine, thyroid, vitamin deficiencies, and more. The diet is also helpful in regulating weight, maintaining a healthy gut, strengthening immunity, and getting healthy hair and radiant skin.
