About to perform on Copacabana beach in front of more than 1.5 million Brazilians, Madonna ended the Celebration Tour last week. The 80th performance of the tour took place in Mexico, and concluded a marathon of shows that was almost threatened before it even debuted. This is because Madonna faced a serious bacterial infection, which cured just 12 weeks before the start of the tour.
In addition to medical care and the various physical activities she practices, the singer claims that she keeps her health up to date through diet macrobiotics, created by a Japanese philosopher a hundred years ago.
About the macrobiotic diet
The word macrobiotic comes from the Greek words macro and bio. The first means big or long, the second means life.
The diet philosophy is the creation of Gaponese George Ohsawa. He created the eating style in the 1920s aiming to use food as a way of living in harmony with nature, in addition to ensuring a “holistic and balanced” lifestyle.
To this end, she values not only what she eats, but also how she prepares food, meditation and other physical activities. In terms of nutrition, the macrobiotic diet aims to avoid foods that contain toxins.
Generally, the macrobiotic diet is composed in this way:
- 50% whole grains;
- 30% organic fruits and vegetables, preferably locally grown;
- 20% legumes and algae.
The macrobiotic diet prohibits the intake of ultra-processed foods, fatty foods, foods with sugar, preservatives, flavorings and colorings. Many people follow a completely vegan diet, with no dairy or meat products. But some people eat small amounts of organic fish and meat.
Occasional eating of meat or fish fillets is permitted by some, but is rare. Nuts and seeds can be included, while dairy products should be left out.
Among drinks, alcohol is prohibited, as is caffeine and, of course, soft drinks and other sugary drinks. In addition to water, teas are permitted, as long as they do not contain chemical additives, such as flavorings. Vitamin and mineral supplements should also not be included in the routine of anyone following the diet.
In it, you only eat when you are hungry and you only drink when you are thirsty. People must also chew their food for a long time until it becomes a paste in the mouth. The idea is to help digestion.
Macrobiotic Madonna: what she follows from the diet
According to a report on the website The Cut, Madonna follows the macrobiotic diet and avoids sugar, caffeine, alcohol and processed items in your routine. In general, she eats complex carbohydrates, such as brown rice, beans and oats, for a slow release of energy, which helps with physical preparation for shows.
Although the macrobiotic diet is mostly vegetarian, Madonna eats meat to maintain her lean muscle mass. It is known that she eats fish, which contains omega-3 fatty acids and, through posts on her social networks, experts have identified that she also eats red meat and chicken.
Furthermore, in diet Madonna’s macrobiotics she drinks yerba mate tea with coconut water, which is good for the metabolism, hydrates and replaces electrolytes that can be lost during physical exercise and during shows.
Is it good?
In general, the macrobiotic diet is quite restrictive. According to Cancer Research UKa person with this diet may not get enough calories, as well as a lack of vitamins, calcium, proteins and iron.
Therefore, to follow it, you need to be recommended by a nutritionist, who will monitor you and choose the ingredients best suited to your routine.
However, because she values fresh and little-processed foods, Madonna’s macrobiotic diet is rich in fiber and antioxidants, which are good for intestinal function and fight diseases.
Additionally, reducing fat and sugar can lower cholesterol levels, which reduces the risk of heart disease and cancer, for example. Eliminating alcohol and caffeine, while very difficult for some, is also incredibly valuable.
However, experts point to the importance of not radicalizing your diet. They also emphasize that these benefits can be obtained through a normal healthy diet.
For Ohsawa, creator of the diet, this type of diet could cure cancer and other serious diseases. However, there is no consistent scientific evidence of this.
