I am excited to announce our latest project. We are in the process of creating a handbook to adapt macrobiotic practice for the busy-ness of the 21st century. We are using the seven steps of the Strengthening Health Approach to Macrobiotic Practice and applying them to four common lifestyles of people today. We will be sharing recipes and practical tips to help incorporate macrobiotic practice into each lifestyle. Through the suggestions and guiding principles, the handbook will demonstrate how flexible, adaptable, and beneficial macrobiotic practice can be.
For many years, we have tried to demonstrate that macrobiotic practice can be flexible and adaptable to nearly any situation. Below is a portion of the introduction. We hope to complete this project by the end of 2017. Furthermore, we are curious to hear your thoughts and impressions, and are open to suggestions as we continue this project.
Coming Soon…
[excerpts from different parts of the introduction]“There are positive and powerful benefits from each of these recommendations. Although these recommendations are based on patterns from older civilizations, this handbook has been adapted and customized for some of the more challenging aspects of healthy, mindful living in modern society. The guidance is geared for those with busy lifestyles who may find it hard to incorporate healthy dietary or lifestyle practices into their routines.
Everyone seems to be increasingly busier these days, yet it is always possible to improve our health— if we know which steps to take. This handbook has been designed to clarify those steps. This handbook presents four lifestyle categories that each serve as a starting point for different challenges to health. Although you may not precisely fit into any one of these categories, there may be some common points for you in each to apply.
[…]
Health is within your reach. Health is also a choice. If you choose health, you can achieve it. When we add simple yet powerful practices into our everyday lifestyle, over time we experience a profound transformation in our overall health and well-being. There are multiple points of entry. You can start with diet, eating habits, activity, or lifestyle habits. If you are not ready to change your diet, you can improve your health through eating habits and/ or lifestyle practices. Choose whichever is most comfortable and, perhaps more importantly, exciting for you. The following guiding premises for this handbook are not anything new; they have been synthesized and clarified from observing healthy practices from around the world. The guidance offered for each lifestyle demonstrates how to apply these principles in different contexts.
Food has to replace nutrition. Activity has to replace exercise. Trying to move towards health has to replace simply avoiding sickness. This guidance is not against sickness; it is for health. Creating conditions for health naturally diminishes the prevalence of sickness. It is that simple.
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Science is finally coming to verify what has been known and practiced around the world for thousands of years. We have two digestive systems and two nervous systems. One digestive system processes thoughts, vibrations, and images. Our other digestive system breaks down and transforms food into liquid. They both however interact with each other. Our thoughts influence our liquid digestive system, and our liquid digestive system influences our thoughts.
Furthermore, modern science has realized that our second nervous system is in our gut- the enteric nervous system. This nervous system regulates our health, our immunity, our moods, and our thoughts. This nervous system helps to synthesize the nutrition our body needs. In this nervous system, beneficial microbes naturally crowd out potentially harmful microbes. This nervous system also transforms the liquified food into energy— be it harmonious and peaceful, or chaotic, harmful, even violent energy.
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Essentially, we need a new approach to nutrition, or at the very least move away from the belief that good nutrition is based on ingredients and isolated nutrients. Protein is probably the one nutrient of greatest concern and importance for most people. It is interesting to observe that our thinking has been clouded by superstition, by the myth that animal and dairy proteins are superior nutrients than any other. The fact of the matter is that plant-based proteins are superior, providing the highest quality protein that does not move us towards degenerative illness.
[…]
The body is a self-healing organism that has evolved and adapted over millions of years. Anyone can take steps through their diet and lifestyle to improve their health. This can not be reiterated enough. It is in what you do, not what you don’t that creates lasting health, and it places the ball back in our own court on how to regain or achieve health, and by extension, our own happiness, well-being, and peace. … ”
—Health is a Choice and is Accessible to All
—One Healthy Practice Leads to Another
—Health is Not All-or-Nothing
—Pre-Biotics and Probiotics
—Modern Food Myths
—Business Entertainer
—Single Parent or Mother
—College Student
© 2017 Denny Waxman, Susan Waxman, & Stephanie Bartusis
We hope this sneak peek behind the scenes excites you for what is to come. We are looking forward to creating the handbook and the potentials it has to expand to many more people today.
Wonderful! Sounds very practicable!! Please do a segment on “Cooking for One,” and how to get that variety that is so necessary, when you are the only cook.
This is great Denny
Dear Denny, Thank you for this peak at your new book. Very supportive and helpful information. Looking forward to reading more. Barbara Lynn
This is such a great idea ~ an easy to read & understand handbook outlining the common-sense macrobiotic practices to suit, help & guide the modern-day persons lifestyle in the direction of good health ~
Thank you again Denny & Susan for all the wonderful energy that you put into creating & sharing an ever widening support system geared towards the greater good health & well-being of the planet ~
Sounds wonderful I like what you say about Food coming center stage and Activity being our exercise! I know I love riding my bike to work, instead of just going out for a ride! Although that is nice too!
As far as your examples, can you please add Single Senior?! Cooking for one?! There are a lot of us Baby Boomers who want to know how to maintain strength as we age. And we command what is happening economically!!
On my wishlist for communicating help to family and friends: EXPLANATIONS of what goes on in your body when you… I make the analogy that we inhabit a chemistry set – our body. No one wants to be told what to do. In fact, among the over 60 year olds in my circle, they all say they are doing what they should be, but results don’t bear that out. Like today a friend with serious heart issues shared that she is leaving our city and moving closer to better doctors. I asked what she’s doing to change the outcome she’s headed toward. She cited her good cholesterol #’s etc., and proudly reported that they’re only eating chicken and turkey. Part two of my wishlist is that with the great animators and documentary talents on the planet, we have some easy to “see” actual cause and effect explanations. A visual USERS GUIDE TO THE BODY.
I had to do an enormous project for a 3rd grade teacher, and in my career as a journalist, I’ve always remembered what he said, write things so that a 3rd grader could understand. Not dumbed down, but simple and logical, etc. I often look at Non-fiction for juveniles in subject areas which do not come easy for me, like advanced math, science, etc., and I appreciate and am grateful for the respectful learning experience.
Looks good, when is the release ? I need a dozen !!
Hope all is well.
Ken