Cooking in the 5 Tranformations

In Chinese medicine, Yin and Yang are divided into 5 stages, based on the theory that nothing is static but all is in a continuous state of change.

These stages are called 5 Transformations.
These are associated with an element each, intended in term of energy. Everyone is also linked to specific foods, flavors, colors, organs, emotions, seasons and times of the day.
In macrobiotic know the transformations make able to compose what I call the Perfect Dish, which is the meal that contains all the 5. It will be balanced in terms of nutrient and energy and will make us feel more satisfied. Is also very nice to see!

I

The five elements are related in a cyclic clockwise rotation called creative circle where each state evolve creating the next, and,  a direct way thought the transformations check/control between each others.

The Five Transformations help us to plan our plate even among the different seasons, suggesting also the taste and colors of ingredients. Fire (red, bitter) for  late spring, Soil or Earth (yellow, sweet) for summer, Metal (white, pungent) for autumn, Water ( black, salty) for winter, Tree (green, acid) for very late winter and spring begin.

Finally, the 5 Transformations are related to the energy of our organs and at different time of the day. During these hours or during the season corresponding to each transformation and through the connected food, you can redress the balance in the energy of your body.

Yin&Yang in a very short

Yin and yang are the two opposite an complementary forces on which Oriental medicine base the explanation the whole existence. Four are the laws about them. Everything we become in contact has the prevalence of one of these forces. How we manage our nutrition and life style determine our inner balance and our relationship with the outer.

1} All things are a parts of an whole or totality, alla is related.

2} Everything change. Yang will became Yin and Yin will became Yang in a constant state of flow.

3} Yin& Yang are in all things, nothing is just Yin or Yang.

4} in any phenomena. either Yin or Yang will prevail.

Yin and Yang are the opposite forces that together lead to the existence of everything.

Yin is ascribed as the primarily  energy in nature.

Yang is complementary opposite, and is referred to the materia.

The development of our physical body since the embrional state in a Yang process [growing getting older]. The development of our sensorial organs [smell-taste-intuition...] is a Yin process.
In order to perceive we must exist  :  {perception} Yin - {action&materia} Yang

-------------

cooking styles

ENGLISH

In macrobiotic the cooking styles are used to change the energy of the food in order to balance the meal depending on the season, as well as on personal needs.
I give you a simple example borrowed from a well-known macrobiotic lady. Take 3 carrots, grate one raw, boil a long another and cut into slices or matches and fry the third.
Now taste the different cores. Taste them one by one and slow down to feel how your body react.
What would you like on a summer day? What would you like if you had a cold? What more if you need energy? The example seems obvious, but still do the test.
The cooking styles are related to emotions just like different the foods. If you are tense then a plate of steamed or stir fried vegetables can be ideal. If you feel tired or not focused and you need energy, a stew or pressure cooked cereal can certainly help. Also, the style of cooking changes the flavor a lot. Place to have sweet tooth, but there you were recommended to not use any dessert for a while.
Cooking carrots and onions with the method Nishime, long cooking over low heat, you get a sweet cream of vegetable, as a compote to a spread on bread!

 

the perfect plate

ITALIANO

Nella cucina Macrobiotica uno dei punti chiave e' bilanciare correttamente il pasto in modo da soddisfare il nostro palato e le necessita' dell'organismo.
E' importante essere sempre flessibili in modo da incontrare le proprie necessita'. In questi termini il piatto perfetto in assoluto, non esiste. Esiste pero' una linea guida generale da cui partire ed eccola qui:

50% cereali integrali (80%riso + 20% di orzo, farro, avena, miglio, grano,... a rotazione)
25% verdure di stagione miste
15% legumI
15% zuppa o brodo
5% alghe, frutta di stagione, semi e condimenti vari.

Per darvi un'idea pratica, un esempio di piatto base potrebbe essere:
Riso integrale, carote al vapore, fagioli rossi cotti a pressione, verza e sedano pressati conditi con limone e semi tostati. Una zuppa di miso con wakame e cipolle, e cipollotto crudo a guarnire. Gomasio o altri semi tostati come condimento.
-E' importante introdurre il maggior numero di colori possibili nel piatto e presentare il cibo in modo attraente. Bastano piccoli accorgimenti come una fogliolina verde o un po' di sesamo per fare la differenza.

---

La cucina macrobiotica ci vuole riportare ad uno stile di vita piu' salubre, riproporzionando i cibi che mettiamo a tavola secondo le vecchie tradizioni comuni a tutti i paesi.
Rispetto ad altre diete in cui l'ecologia del corpo e' centrale, la macrobiotica tiene conto anche delle energie che il cibo e le cotture portano con se. Quindi porta attenzione non solo al nutrimento fisico, ma anche a quello emozionale e spirituale.
Per fare un'esempio semplicistico: una persona aggressiva e materiale secondo voi cosa mangia? Carotine bollite? O bistecche alla griglia? Bistecche direi.
Quindi, quando vi sentite nervosi, che cibo potrebbe aiutarvi? Verdure e carotine bollite magari?
E' la cosa piu' semplice e naturale.
Bilanciare i giusti cibi tra di loro puo' aiutare a mantenere un equilibrio emozionale.

ENGLISH

Macrobiotic cuisine in one of the key points is properly balance the meal. In this way we satisfy our palate and needs of the body. Here I give you a few lines basis. It"s important to always be flexible to meet personal needs.
The dish should generally be composed of:

50% whole grains (80% rice + 20% barley, oats, millet, wheat, make a rotation ...) 25% mixed seasonal vegetables
15% legumes
15% soup or broth 5% algae, seasonal fruit, seeds and various seasonings.

To give a practical idea, an example of a base plate would be:
Brown rice, steamed carrots, red beans pressure cooked and pressed cabbage and celery, seasoned with lemon and roasted seeds. Miso soup with wakame and onions, raw onion to garnish. Gomasio or other roasted seeds as a condiment.
-Also important to introduce the largest possible number of colors on your plate and present food in an attractive way. A green leaf or a little sesame can make the difference.

   ---

The macrobiotic cooking takes to bring a more healthy lifestyle, following the old traditions common to all countries.
Compared to other diets where the body ecology is central, Macrobiotics also takes into account the energy the food and cooking styles they bring with them. So not only brings attention to the physical nourishment but also the emotional and spiritual.
For a simplistic example: an aggressive and material person, what does he eat? Boiled carrots? Or grilled steak? Steak I would say.
So when you feel nervous, what might help? Some veggie and boiled carrots, maybe?
It is easy and natural. So a balanced meal can help us to balance also our emotions.

food mood chart

ITALIANO

Il cibo fa di noi quello che siamo.

In questa Chart c'e' una facile schematizzazione dei cibi e della loro Energia. In una condizione di salute normale, cibi piu' agli estremi possono essere consumati raramente o in basse percentuali. Mentre i cibi piu' equilibrati come cereali integrali, legumi e la verdura di stagione dovrebbero essere la fonte principale di nutrimento. Scegliendo questi manterremo le nostre emozioni e la nostra Energia nello stato di Armonia.

La cucina macrobiotica non si occupa solo di bilanciare il cibo in funzione dei nutrienti ma anche in funzione dell'Energia.
Per fare questo si basa sulla tradizione orientale dello Yin e Yang.
Lo Yin e lo Yang rappresentano i due estremi di tutto l'esistente. Entrambi sono necessari al mantenimento della vita ed entrambi sono presenti in tutte le cose.

Nel loro equilibrio si possono pero' creare degli sbilanciamenti e quindi problemi. I possibili sbilanciamenti sono: eccesso di yin, eccesso di yang, insufficienza di yin, insufficienza di yang, fluttuazione continua tra i due estremi.

Una dieta squilibrata fatta di troppi cibi appartenenti ad un'estremo o del mix di cibi da entrambi gli estremi puo' portare a problemi importanti  che possono dare inizio a depressioni, stati di ansia, mancanza di concentrazione... Nei casi peggiori paranoia, aggressivita', inabilita' ad affrontare la vita di tutti i giorni, e peggio ancora.

Fisicamente parlando, il cibo crea il sangue ed il sangue nutre gli organi.
In particolare il cervello che ne e' il maggior consumatore. Immaginate far arrivare al vostro cervello un sangue appesantito dai grassi e povero di ossigeno, per quanto vi sforziate le vostre capacita' saranno rallentate ed offuscate.
Vale la pena di sottolineare che le emozioni nel tempo vanno in profondita' e diventano parte del nostro carattere e del nostro essere, anche per questo e' importante non trascurare il modo di nutrirci.

ENGLISH

The food makes us who we are.

In this chart there is an easy outline for the relation between foods and their energy. In a state of normal health, the food to extremes can be consumed rarely or in low percentages. While most foods' as a balanced, whole grains, legumes and vegetables in season should be the main source of nourishment. Choosing these foods will keep our emotions and our energy in the state of Harmony.

As I said, macrobiotic cooking is not just to balance the food according to the nutrients but also as a function of Energy.
To do this is based on Eastern tradition of Yin and Yang.
The Yin and Yang represent the two extremes of all that exists. Both are necessary to support life, and both are present in all things.

But is possible to happen mismatches and then problems. Possible imbalances are: excess yin, excess yang, yin deficiency, yang deficiency, continual fluctuation between the two extremes.
An unbalanced diet consisting of too much food or belonging to an extreme mix of foods from both ends can lead to major problems in our bodies, that give then start to depression, anxiety, lack of concentration ... At worst paranoia, aggression, 'inability' to cope with life every day, and worse.

At a physical level, the food makes the blood and the blood nourishes the organs.
In particular the brain, that is largest consumer of it. Imagine your brain to get weighed down by a blood full in fats and low in oxygen, however hard you try the brain functions will be slowed down and blurred.
It is worth noting that the emotions go in depth over the time and become part of our character and our being, and for this important not to overlook the way to feed ourselves.