Question: Should I worry about reports that there is arsenic in brown rice and rice products? I read Denny Waxman's thoughts in the November/December 2012 Macrobiotics Today and would like to know more.

Chuck Lowery Responds
I read Denny Waxman's thoughts on arsenic in organic brown rice and find his viewpoint somewhat limited, especially considering the toxic nature of arsenic.

Numerous lab results demonstrate the presence of dangerous levels of arsenic in organic brown rice and products made from both organic as well as non-organic rice.

Having read the research and after discussing it with others who practice macrobiotics, I've modified the way I prepare my Lundberg organic brown rice for cooking by measuring and discarding the soaking water and replacing it with fresh water. I've also reduced my use of other rice products.

There are a number of reasons why people have healed themselves while eating brown rice. Organic brown rice is around 20% of the "healing" macrobiotic diet and the rest is 80% other foods, including a variety of grains, vegetables, beans and so on. The focus on restoring health is not only the rice. The primary food-based causes of disease have been removed and replaced with real food...no chemical sodas, no ham, no super-processed synthetic food, no sugar or agave nectar, no fries, no alcohol, no drugs. Many people add exercise like yoga, gardening or walking. They practice managing thought. Some even try laughter.

It's unfair and inappropriate to place so much responsibility on the rice.

The situation with arsenic in organic rice has nothing to do with the popularity of organic foods or macrobiotics (which is unknown to well over 99% of the population). The major organic foods companies are owned by soul-less global food corporations like Dean Foods, the world's largest dairy operation. Dean owns White Wave, makers of Horizon Dairy and Silk non-dairy beverages. They're happy to continue to market their organic line along with their pesticide-laden, genetically modified products. The organic segment is more profitable per dollar than the non-organic. They're not going to attack their own organic business as it rakes in billions of dollars.

In fairness to all elements...consumers, organic brown rice, the macrobiotic diet, and those who've healed illness through macrobiotic practice...I suggest we continue to do our own homework and inform ourselves of food issues. No one will do it for us.

The following is excerpted from Edward Esko's article in the November/December 2013 issue of Macrobiotics Today.

"Is there any way to avoid global conflict in 2013? One way would be for the next president to enlist the help of one or more 9 Fire personalities. As we see in the Control Cycle, fire softens the cold, hard energy of metal and overrides any tendency toward extreme thought or action.

"Bill Clinton is a possible candidate for this position. President Clinton, born in 1946, a 9 Fire year, is the quintessential fire personality: quick, passionate, brilliant, and warm. Plus he is a committed vegan. His vegan diet helps him avoid the hardening and rigidity of body and thinking caused by lots of meat and animal food. Another 9 Fire leader is George W. Bush. President Bush was also born in 1946, although his thinking is less flexible due to eating large quantities of meat and animal foods. Still, his 9 Fire nature could be helpful.

"The most direct way to diffuse the crisis would be for the next president to appoint a soil leader as a special envoy for peace in the Middle East. Empowered by the executive branch and backed by public opinion, he or she could negotiate face to face with the two metal leaders, Khamenei and Netanyahu, with the goal being to get both sides to open up and moderate their positions so as to avoid armed conflict.

"Governor Mitt Romney is an 8 Soil personality (shown in the chart as “earth”). Eight Soils are principled and high-minded, but can become self-righteous, stubborn, and imposing. This latter tendency is aggravated by the ongoing intake of animal foods. If he becomes president, Romney would need to moderate his hard line toward Iran and Russia.

"From the Nine Ki perspective, the energy of soil nourishes that of metal. As an 8 Soil and if he’s not careful, Romney could reinforce, not moderate, the tendency toward stubbornness on the part of the two metal players, Khamenei and Netanyahu. Soil’s support for metal could embolden either or both metals to embark on irresponsible or destructive action. Then, whomever is president in 2013 would do well to enlist the help of a leader with a 9 Fire nature to help control the metal natures of Khamenei and Netanyahu."

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Happy Autumn,
Carl and Julia Ferre
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