Let me completely answer your queston: another reason for dropping the macrobiotic life style was that you eat lots of brown rice, and for some reason the rice made the foul breath worst. I have no answer for that either. After two years and a few months, I figured that macrobiotics should have shown some results. It didn't! I'm not saying it's an unhealthy life style, but it just didn't work for me. If someone follows that regimen, I admire 'em because it's a tough way to live. LOL