Healthy Eating Archives – Page 10 of 11

Santosa Juice

Aug 22, 2014 | Healthy Eating

The Belly Dance Juice – A little jig for the liver…Apple, Beetroot, Carrot

The combination of humble ingredients makes this staple ‘ABC’ juice a firm favourite… but why is it so great?

A for Apples

Starting with A… apples have long been considered a health staple, and an apple a day keeps the dentist away! But what is it about them that have caught our eye from a detox point of view? The polyphenols! In particular Quecertin, which is the primary phytonutrient found in apples. Quecertin has the incredible ability to decrease oxidation of cell membrane fats. This makes it an antioxidant to be reckoned with!

B for Beetroot

B… beetroot, the dark purple root is FULL of betain, which cleans your blood and is a well-known liver purifier. Interesting fact? You can get an idea of how much acid is in your system by drinking beet juice! If you urine is clear after consumption, you need to up the ante! Pinkish urine means low stomach acid, and we all want to be more alkaline.

C for Carrot

Finally we have C… carrot. Containing beta-carotene, the incredible anti-oxidant that helps to slow down the ageing of cells. Vitamin A also helps to cleanse the liver! So why did we call it belly dance? Because this popular ABC juice is more than just a refreshing thirst quencher! All of these nutrients dancing around in the belly are liquid goodness for the liver… and detoxification does not get much better than that!

Come and try it for yourself at Santosa Dentox Center in Phuket.

Almond Milk – The Recipe

Aug 20, 2014 | Healthy Eating

Dairy & Soy Free Milk! DELICIOUS…

The glory days of dairy are coming to an end, with an estimated 75% of the global population allergic to lactose on some level. So dairy went out of favour, and we jumped straight onto soy. Remember the ‘soy latte’ trend that spread like wildfire across the globe? What a pity that we never stopped to question the source! Loaded with phyto-estrogens, which mimic estrogen in the body, soy milk consumption can cause low testosterone, infertility, low sperm count, menstrual issues and cancer. And that is taking Monsanto out of the very gloomy equation.

Then what is the healthy alternative? Almond milk! AND… you can make it at home!

Almond milk is alkalizing, full of vitamin E for glowing skin, very low GI, so doesn’t affect your blood sugar, is far lower in calories than its soy and dairy counterparts, and still contains some vitamin D and calcium.

Almond Milk Recipe

– Take 1 cup of good quality almonds, 1 teaspoon of Himalayan salt and soak them for 12 hours in 2 – 3 cups of purified water to neutralize enzyme inhibitors and activate their nutrient potential!

– After 12 hours, take any floating almonds out of the bowl, and put the almonds and water into a blender. Start on low speed, before increasing to high speed.

– When the nuts are pulverized, stop the blender. Voila! You have almond milk!

It is better to drink almond milk without straining, as it preserves more calcium. Store in the fridge in a glass jar, where it will keep for up to 2 days. GOT (almond) MILK!

And if you find yourself in Phuket, why not come to Santosa Wellness Center to try our own take on almond milk.

Superfood Decoded – Wheatgrass

Aug 14, 2014 | Healthy Eating

What is it about wheatgrass that has us all in such a spin?

At Santosa’s raw food restaurant in Phuket, we think that just about nothing compares in the sheer amount of benefits that this one little shot of emerald goodness provides. Mental sharpness and boundless energy are the most prominent benefits, but did you know about others?

Amongst the several benefits of wheatgrass we can encounter the following:

Contains vitamins A, B, C, & E, countless minerals including iron, magnesium, potassium, sodium, selenium & zinc, up to 20 amino acids, and close to 30 enzymes.
Neutralizes toxic substances like cadmium, nicotine, strontium, mercury, and polyvinyl chloride.
Lowers blood pressure
Protects the liver
Helps to restore alkalinity
Reduces inflammation
Lessens the effect of radiation
Used topically, is a disinfectant
Is alleged to turn grey hair back to its natural colour! (though we will believe this when we see it)

Interesting Fact: Wheatgrass has an eerie resemblance to blood! That’s right… chlorophyll (the green pigment in plants) is remarkably similar to hemoglobin, which is responsible for oxygenating our blood. Dr Yoshihide Hagiwara, president of the Hagiwara Institute of Health in Japan, believes that because chlorophyll is soluble in fat particles, and fat particles are absorbed into the blood via our lymphatic systems, that clorophyll is absorbed this way too.
In layman’s terms? When we take the “blood” of plants, it is transformed into human blood, and transports nutrients to every cell in our bodies.

The Santosa team are such wheatgrass enthusiasts, that we actually grow our own on site AND our juice bar serves up the finest wheatgrass shots in town, with a dynamic chili twist!

Just like at Santosa Detox Center, why not start including this superfood in your life?

Why go Raw?

Aug 11, 2014 | Healthy Eating

The Benefits of a Raw Food Diet

The benefits of eating raw, ‘living’ food are countless, but overall a diet rich in ‘raw’ allows us to absorb the maximum amount of nutrients and consume vital enzymes that help our digestive systems to break down food… something which is impossible when we cook, because these vestibules of goodness are destroyed.Raw foods are incredible on a cellular level, creating ultimate rejuvenation of the molecules in our body, that not only makes us look amazing, enhances energy, promotes mental clarity and helps us sleep better at night, but also wards off disease and illness and in some cases can reverse years of poor dietary and lifestyle decisions.

Want to fight free radicals and avoid oxidization? Anti-oxidant rich raw foods will put you in good stead!

There is no better way to ensure that your body will maintain low PH acid levels, than with a diet rich in raw food. Restoring alkalinity, and allowing your palate to taste fresh exuberant flavors once again, it is possible to rebalance your system into craving healthy, clean food, as opposed to the packaged, processed and calorie laden varieties that have become part of our normal diets.

Why not go raw today? Join us for a Raw Food Detox or at our Santosa Vegan and Raw food restaurant in Phuket.

Santosa Vegetarian Buffet

Aug 8, 2014 | Healthy Eating

Every Saturday and Wednesday from 18:30!

Santosa Chef Yvano wows every guest that crosses the threshold of his raw, vegan kingdom atop the Santosa wellness Center. So, it is with great delight that we announce a banquet fit for a king… Vegetarian style!

We look forward to seeing you there, though we ask you to bring one thing along… an empty belly!

To make your booking, dial: 076-330-600
Or Message us on Facebook: Book your Table via Facebook

Vegan is the new black! Come and sample all of the signature dishes from our impressive vegan and raw menu!

Vegan and raw food is quickly becoming a lifestyle of choice, and Santosa’s restaurant makes it a very special experience – where perfect presentation and incredible flavor fusion is the order of every day. Why wouldn’t you treat yourself to a guilt-free, five star dining experience with one of the most beautiful views of Kata beach?

Santosa’s passion is to showcase that vegan and raw food is not boring or bland… we want to prove that good health can be deliciously tasty, and the vast array of items available on our buffet will do just that!

Our wellness team will also be dining with you, and available to chat to about the center, and any other health related queries that you might have. We look forward to seeing you very soon!

Go Green! Why vegetarian food will transform your life…

Vegetarian food has been revolutionized over time, and has developed its own sub-categories – vegan, raw, lacto-vegetarian, ovo-vegetarian… the list goes on! It is widely acknowledged that adopting a mainly vegetarian diet has far-reaching benefits on our health.

If we added just 30 – 50% raw vegetarian food, the shift would be even more profound. The modern face of the meat industry is an ugly minefield full of genetically modified over processed products. Animal rights aside, consumption of meat, eggs and dairy, means playing Russian roulette with our health. Containing hormones and preservatives, and being farmed in conditions that are simply too horrid to mention, with a little research into how these products end up on our plate, many of us would be turned off ever touching them again.

Vegetarian food reduces our risk of developing cancer, stops us from gaining weight, and has a huge impact on good cellular function. Remember though, whole, natural foods are the way to go! A good rule of thumb, is if it comes in a packet or a can, it probably isn’t good for you!

Welcome to Santosa Vegetarian Buffet!

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Superfoods Decoded – Maca!

Aug 3, 2014 | Healthy Eating

What is Maca and what are its benefits?

This valuable root, found in the mountains of Peru, has made a recent reappearance as a very popular superfood! There are quite a few nutritional benefits including Vitamins B, C, E, magnesium, amino acids, calcium, zinc and Iron, but did you know that Maca is also nature’s very own hormonal wonder drug?!

It has been used for many years to assist with fertility, not just for the strong response it triggers in our libido and sexual function, but also for the incredible biochemical ‘rebalancing’ quality that it has on the two ‘powerhouse’ glands in our body – the hypothalamus and pituitary. These two glands bring balance to the adrenal, thyroid, pancreas, ovarian and testicular glands…. Improving fertility, sexual function, digestion, nervous system, and energy levels.

Maca is an adaptogen, astonishingly, it adapts to each individual’s needs differently! The fascinating root does not actually provide hormones to the body, but instead, acts as a regulator. For example, if we have too much estrogen, it will encourage more progesterone, and vice versa.

Another amazing benefit of this root is the sheer amount of energy it gives us! Certainly a stimulant, many coffee addicts have been able to swap the black juice for this slow-release source of power and vitality. Even your physical fitness will be improved by this natural supplement.

How much Maca should you take?

In keeping with our Peruvian ancestral recommended dosages, no more than 3/4 to 1 teaspoon of Maca is recommended each day. We think it is fabulous mixed into juices, smoothies or protein shakes first thing in the morning.

Ever wonder why the wellness team at Santosa are always so effervescent and cheerful? Maca is a big part of our daily juicing ritual… come and try it for yourself!