What is a macrobiotic diet for cancer?

I first learned about it in 1967 when I was working in Boston, MA.

A small grocery store called Erewhon opened up directly across the street from where I worked. They sold organic grains and vegetables and I had my first encounter with what is a macrobiotic diet for cancer or any disease.

My interest was sparked, so I bought a book and read about it. I read about a man who followed a macrobiotic diet for cancer and was able to reverse and cure his disease. That always stayed in my mind.

A short while later, a macrobiotic restaurant opened up down the street, so I did follow the diet for a while, but in time, as life changed, I drifted away.

I did, however, become convinced that I had stumbled on to a true understanding of the healing powers of whole foods.

I tucked it away in the back of my mind and thought that if I ever became seriously ill, this macrobiotic diet was the way I was going to go.

It was then, the macrobiotic diet for cancer, resurfaced in my mind.

My dilemma was, I already had this dreadful skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma.

It was too late for prevention; my hope was that I could cure it and that’s what I set out to do, using the macrobiotic diet for cancer.

My first step was to buy the book, The Cancer Prevention Diet by Michio Kushi.

My wife and I both read it and started learning a lot. She was very supportive of me, to the point where she did it right along with me. We both benefited.

I couldn’t ask for a more supportive wife.


I started realizing that I definitely needed to see a macrobiotic counselor to set me on the right path.

So I decided to go to Boston and have a consultation with Michio Kushi. After that, I spent a week at the Kushi Institute in the Berkshires.

I learned it was all about balance between acidity and alkalinity and the particular condition of the individual.

I learned what I needed to be eating and what I needed to avoid. I learned what foods I needed to eat daily and how often or seldom to eat other foods.



These guidelines change as the condition of the individuals health changes. The stronger and healthier you are, the bigger variety of foods you can enjoy. Those with chronic illness have much narrower guidelines, in order to overcome and heal.

I joined up with a macrobiotic support group and once a month we had macrobiotic potlucks at someone's house. It was a night of enjoyment.

I saw this as my skin cancer cure, even though I ended up having to undergo all the conventional medical treatments as well. That is to say, chemotherapy, surgery and radiation.

You can read more in My Story.

What happened was that one counselor explained to me how it could get worse before it gets better.

That’s exactly what happened to me and I GOT SCARED.

So I can’t stand here and say that the macrobiotic diet cured my skin cancer.

All I can tell you is my experience.

There are those who can tell you that it did CURE their cancer.

I do know that some doctors have told me, even recently, that’s it’s amazing that I’m here today. Some do not survive the operation I had. When it was all said and done my doctor said that I have from 5 to 10 years. One doctor called me the miracle man.

I don't think they would have given me 5 to 10 years, if I hadn't made such a healthy lifestyle change and survived the treatments, as I did.

It’s now been 20 years. I do know the macrobiotic diet for cancer did help me to survive everything I went through, back then and for many years after.

So to anyone facing such decisions, whether you decide to undergo the conventional treatments or not, it is well worth your while to change to a healthy lifestyle.

Starting a macrobiotic diet may be a little tough in the beginning, but no matter what condition your health is presently in, this is well worth it.

Macro means GREAT and Biotic means LIFE. It’s not called the Great Life for nothing.

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