○The Way of Food [2]

     What these dietary approaches have in common is the notion that it is preferable to avoid meat, refined sugar, additives, and artificial foods, and instead consume natural foods free from pesticides and fertilizers. They also emphasize being mindful of digestion and enjoying a reasonable quantity of food that doesn't strain the body. Additionally, there is a relatively consistent recommendation to align one's meals with the body's 24-hour cycle.

• 4:00 am - 12:00 pm: Elimination Phase (suitable for excretion of bodily waste and food remnants)
• 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm: Intake and Digestion Phase (suitable for eating and digestion)
• 8:00 pm - 4:00 am: Absorption and Utilization Phase (suitable for nutrient assimilation in the body)

    In macrobiotics, it is recommended to chew food around 100 times. Chewing thoroughly helps prevent overeating, activates the brain, improves gastrointestinal health, and promotes restful sleep. Abdominal pain, indigestion, constipation, and insomnia can occur due to insufficient chewing, so it is advised to continue chewing until the food naturally disappears without swallowing. By creating a porridge-like consistency in the mouth, the burden on the internal organs is reduced, leading to better nutrient absorption.

    Taking these factors into consideration, Prout Village promotes a grain-based diet while not prohibiting meat consumption. Even with a healthy diet, there is still a possibility of falling ill, but maintaining a healthy diet is essential for enjoying activities one loves for a long time.

    Regarding the daily consumption of sugar, salt, rice, and protein, from a perspective of consuming natural ingredients, it is advisable to opt for alternatives such as unrefined sugars like cane sugar, maple syrup made by boiling down sap from maple trees, or xylitol. These options have a lower impact on blood sugar levels, but it is still important to be mindful of overconsumption.

    For salt, natural salts like seaweed salt that contains abundant minerals are recommended. As for rice, whole grain rice is preferable over white rice due to its higher nutritional content and beneficial effects on constipation, indicating a healthy intestinal environment that contributes to overall well-being. Protein can be obtained from sources such as soybeans as an alternative to meat.