According to research we have been using herbs in medicine and to improve the flavor of the foods for thousands of years. Scientists are now discovering that the early doctors and herbalists knew a lot more than they were given credit for. Many historians believe that herbs were used for medicine and healing because they either resembled a part of the body or from simple observation that the person improved after taking the herb.

Melanie Waxman interviewed by Actor Michael Maloney of Macrobiotic Guide (www.macrobiotics.co.uk) on August 17, 2009.

Questions Answered About Macrobiotics

What does Macrobiotics mean?

In cooking there are many wonderful ingredients that can be used to improve and maintain your health. When looking through recipe books it is easy to avoid those with ingredients we haven't used before. However, you can miss out on many great tasting dishes. We have developed this section so you can become familiar with some fantastic foods and feel comfortable about trying them out for yourselves.

I will be focusing on cooking with sea vegetables for the next few weeks. The recipes will be simple and easy to follow, which will take some of the mystery out of the strange looking packets in the natural food store. Sea veggies are packed with minerals and each variety has a marvelous, unique flavor. So jump in, have a go and cook an exotic dish from the sea.

"Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are". - Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

The idea of changing your diet and lifestlye can be a challenging yet exciting one. Here are some suggestions to get you started.