The Taoist "unique principle" states that each force is opposed; that is, that the universe is a zero-sum game. I don't think that there's much opposition to this notion, even among those who espouse and are involved in the development of "sound scientific ideas". Yang refers to the concentration of energy, the creation of potential -- inputs. Yin refers to the expression of energy, the creation of effects -- outputs. Income - Expense = Wealth Anabolism - Catabolism = Health Wealth is what you have that is outside of you. Health is what you have that is inside of you. Building wealth is accomplished by either increasing revenue or reducing expenditure, or both. Building health is accomplished by either increasing assimilation or reducing disintegration, or both. Health and wealth are closely related. You can reduce your health to increase your wealth, or vice versa. Many of us are on the horns of this dilemma, I believe. Macrobiotics seeks to apply these principles to the maintenance of the well-being of individuals and societies. The first proponents of macrobiotics, however, were Japanese. Like all of us, they were largely the product of their experience. Their experience, in nutrition, revolved around cooked grains and beans; unfortunately, for them and their followers, this is not ideal. A stimulus evokes a response. A response is an expression of energy. If you've expressed it, you ain't got it no more. Many macrobiotic people, over several decades, have sought to identify which foods are yin and which are yang. Yin foods are those which either directly stimulate or facilitate the expression of energy. Oils (omega-6 and omega-3), sugars (either in fruit or more concentrated forms), spices and nightshades are among these. Yang foods are those which provide the factors that allow our bodies to rebuild their structures and store energy. These include meat/fish/fowl, grains, legumes. Roots and nuts contain a lot of both yin and yang elements. Roots can be eaten regularly, but in moderation. Nuts can be eaten sparingly. I've learned a lot from my time as a follower of macrobiotics -- not the least of which was to avoid cooked grains and legumes like the plague that they are. The central, organizing principle, however, has helped to shed some light on many things. All living things are in a state of dynamic equilibrium. We are in a constant state of flux, simutaneously assimilating energy and construction materials, and depleting stores and breaking down structures to release energy, in order to eliminate waste and support our productive activities. If our income is less than our outgo, we will eventually reach the state in which we are filled to capacity. At this point, our daily surplus can not be stored and we become one of those rare, exuberant people who are constantly seeking creative and productive outlets for their abundant energy. Norm