Oshawa diet – table with food Yin and Yang

Cereals

Medium yin (- -)


: sprouted cereals, white bread, white flour pastries, white flour pasta, germinated cereals, sweet corn

Simple yang (+):


whole wheat, whole wheat, whole rice, whole barley, whole oats, whole rye, whole corn, Bulgarian wheat, whole spelt wheat, whole wheat semolina, full corn cornmeal, expanded rice, black bread

Medium yang (++)


: buckwheat, millet, Basmati rice, semi-deorticated rice, amaranth, sorghum

Very yang (+++)


: whole wild rice, the germ isolated from the ungerminated grain of cereals

Vegetables

Simple yin (-)


: lettuce, kapia peppers, bell peppers, parsnips, celery leaves, buttermilk, lentils, beans, green peas

Medium yin (- -)


: beans, mushrooms, beetroot, donut

Very yin (- – -)


: tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes, cucumbers, bame

Simple yang (+)


: white cabbage, onions, radishes, zucchini, green beans, leaves and roots of dandelion, turnips, kale, celery root, spinach, artichokes, Brussels sprouts

Yang medium (++)


: endives, cauliflower, broccoli, pumpkin, soy, chickpeas, cress, seaweed, red onions, parsley root, carrots, leeks, nettles, curly cabbage

Very yang (+++)


: red cabbage

Fruit

Simple yin (-)


: strawberries, apricots, sea buckthorn, carobs, mulberries, horns, grapes, green olives

Medium yin (- -)


: cherries, grapefruit, lemons, melon, plums, sour cherries, dates, figs, coconut kernels

Very yin (- – -)


: pineapple, papaya, mango, oranges, tangerines, pears, peaches, watermelon, peanuts

Simple yang (+)


: raisins, strawberries, blackberries, quince, black currants, pomegranates, black olives, chestnuts

Medium yang (++)


: apples, blueberries, raspberries, cranberries, red currants, dracil fruits, nuts, hazelnuts

Very yang (+++)


: forest apples, almonds, pistachios

Dairy

Simple yin (-)


: sweet milk, buttermilk, sana, whey, yogurt, kefir, Camembert cheese

Medium yin (- -)


: cottage cheese, buffalos’ milk, sweet curd, sweet cheese, hard cheese

Very yin (- – -)


: sour cream, butter, melted cheese, soft cheese

Simple yang (+)


: goat’s milk, Holland cheese, Roquefort, Gruyere swastika

Medium yang (++)


: goat cheese, clarified butter (ghee)

Spices

Simple yin (-)


: fennel, marjoram

Medium yin (- -)


: wood vinegar, apple cider vinegar, lemon balm, vanilla

Very yin (- – -)


: poppy seeds

Simple yang (+)


: nutmeg, dill, anise, thyme, onion, chives, tarragon, mint, parsley leaves, white mustard, lovage, garlic

Medium yang (++)


: chilli, basil, thyme, cumin, coriander, chicory, saffron, sage, laurel, horseradish, black mustard, pepper, garlic, cinnamon, cardamom, fenugreek

Very yang (+++)


: rosemary, cloves, marjoram, ginger, bad luck, unrefined sea salt

Beverages

Simple yin (-)


: water, soda, rosehip tea, sea buckthorn tea

Very yin (- – -)


: coffee, chocolate, coca-cola, yin fruit juices, juices with sugar, alcohol

Simple yang (+)


: chickpea coffee, chicory coffee, Japanese tea (BancHa(Yang)), chamomile tea, wormwood, thyme, thyme, rosemary

Medium yang (++)


: basil tea, apple juice

Very yang (+++)


: ginseng

Other products

Simple yin (-)


yeast, honey

Medium yin (- -)


: brown sugar, borscht, apple cider vinegar, coconut oil

Very yin (- – -)


: chocolate, cocoa, sugar, whipped cream, jellies, pickles, ice cream, syrup, tomato paste, marmalade, candy, peanut butter

Simple yang (+)


: Sesame halva, sunflower halva, olive oil, corn oil, almond oil

Yang medium (++)


: fertilized eggs, rapeseed oil, mustard oil, castor oil, cold-pressed soybean oil, sesame paste (tahini), pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds

Very yang (+++)


: bee pollen, sesame seeds, sesame oil, cold-pressed sunflower oil

A person can amplify certain qualities of Ha(Yang) or Tha(Yin) type by eating foods that have the appropriate predominance.

But, in general, the current way of eating leads to an excessive amplification of Tha (Yin) energies, resulting in the increase in the incidence of some diseases of Yin nature, such as tumors, diabetes, rheumatism.

This is very easily observed in certain men whose body over time becomes more “fluffy”, the abdomen increases, the inertia increases, the preference for yin food increases, the emissive and specifically structuring aptitude attenuates.

Many traditions have analyzed the polarity of food. In the following we will analyze the polarity of food inspired from the perspective of macrobiotic diet, but because this analysis is more refined and clear than others.

The macrobiotic diet is a simple diet, fixed on ideas about the types of foods extracted from Zen Buddhism .

The diet aims to balance the yin and yang elements of food.

The major principles of macrobiotic diets are

– to reduce or dispose of animal products,

– to eat locally grown food that is in season

– to consume meals in moderation.

Often some parts of the macrobiotic diet have been used to relieve or cure some types of cancers, diabetes or cardiovascular disease, allergies, autoimmune diseases and others.

Dr. Ohsawa’s No.7 (Oshawa regimen) that lasts only 10 days (but can be repeated) can help in many ailments.

The macrobiotic diet is associated with Zen Buddhism and is based on the idea of yin and yang balancing.

The diet proposes 10 plans that progress to reach an ideal ratio of yin / yang of 5: 1.

It is good to understand that this ratio is subtle and cannot be easily determined by weighing, measuring, counting, etc.

The diet was popularized by George Ohsawa in the 1930s and was later refined by his disciple Michio Kushi.

Macrobiotics emphasizes locally grown whole grains, vegetables, algae, fermented soy products and fruits.
All this will be combined in meals according to the Chinese principle of balance known as yin and yang.

Yin and Yang are relative qualities


that can only be determined by a comparison


.

For example, dry foods are yang compared to the same foods that contain water, salty foods are yang compared to those that are unsalted.

All food products are considered to have both properties, a dominant one.
Foods with yang qualities are considered compact, dense, heavy, hot, while those with yin qualities are considered expansive, bright, cold and diffuse.

Brown rice and other whole grains, such as barley, millet, oats, quinoa, rye and teff are considered by macrobiotics as the foods in which yin and yang are closest to being in balance.
Therefore, the lists of macrobiotic foods that determine a food as yin or yang, generally compare them with whole grains.

Dishes and tools for cooking and serving food

they must be made of certain materials, such as wood or glass, ceramics or enamelled metal, while some materials – plastic, copper and other uncoated metal materials should be avoided.

Microwave ovens should be completely avoided.

In experiments in which one flower is watered with tap water and another with water heated in the microwave and cooled, the second flower visibly suffers greatly from this treatment. Infusions of blood heated even a little in the microwave can tragically end in the death of the patient.

Leo Radutz

yoga teacher and founder of the Abheda system