Benefits of a Vegan Diet

Benefits of a Vegan Diet

Santosa Detox Wellness Center Women Eats Fresh Mixed Salad

A vegan diet is a diet that avoids all animal products. There are many ethical reasons that people choose a vegan diet for, but also for health reasons, too. A vegan diet is overall better for your body, makes weight loss or the maintaining of weight easier and offers better protection against chronic diseases.

What is a vegan diet?

Essentially, vegans are vegetarians that have taken their eating habits one step further and have cut out all animal products. Vegans are committed to eating more plant-based foods such as fruits and vegetables as well as whole grains, legumes, beans, nuts and seeds. In addition, most vegans cut out ultra-processed foods such as sugar and white carbs.

What do vegans eat?

Santosa Detox Wellness Center VeganWhen speaking of veganism and going vegan, many people who are new to the concept often believe that they will starve if they go vegan. This idea could not be further from the truth. Vegans have a wide variety of food choices available, and these days, most restaurants feature menu items catering to vegans.

To give an example, when you become a vegan, breakfast instead of eating bacon and fried eggs could be oatmeal, fruit and nuts. Lunch might be a veggie-packed salad with beans while dinner could feature tofu, sweet potatoes, crunchy vegetables and slices of fresh fruit.

Examples of the types of food that vegans eat include:

  • Nuts and seeds
  • Legumes
  • Beans
  • Whole grains
  • Nut milks and nut butters
  • Dried fruits and vegetables
  • Fresh herbs
  • Spices
  • All sorts of fresh fruit and vegetables

Health benefits of eating vegan

Studies have shown that eating vegan is better for the heart and the waistline. Changing one’s diet to favor plants instead of a diet that is high in sugar, refined carbs, dairy and meat cuts back on calories which is great for those watching their figures. A vegan diet is also good for gut health as consuming a plant-based diet loads the gut up with probiotics which help to maintain a healthy gut environment. A plant-based vegan diet is also rich in antioxidants and nutrients.

Vegan for One Week: Take the Challenge

Interested in veganism, but don’t know where to start? Take the challenge! Santosa challenges you to Eat Vegan for One Week. It’s a fun way to try a vegan diet and learn about your health.

Vegan for One Week: Take the Challenge

Being vegan isn’t difficult. It’s just learning to eat in a much healthier way.

What are the rules?

  • No meat, poultry, seafood, eggs or dairy for one week (7 days)
  • Announce to your friends, family and social media followers that you are doing the challenge

Tag Santosa Detox & Wellness Center or Santosa Vegan Restaurant on Instagram, and don’t forget our dedicated hashtags:

#santosaveganchallenge #veganchallenge #santosavegan

Ready to start? All you have to do is make a commitment! Replace all non-vegan food items with loads of fresh fruit, delicious vegetables and whole grains. The more plant-based your Vegan for One Week Challenge can be the better!

This challenge is easy and fun, plus we have some great prizes based on Vegan For One Week Challenge social media posts.

1st Prize: Healthy Eating Program for 3 days including accommodation

https://website.santosaphuket.com/programs-prices/

2nd Prize: One Day Relax

https://website.santosaphuket.com/programs-prices/

3rd Prize: Vegan Buffet Voucher for 4 PAX

https://website.santosaphuket.com/vegan-restaurant/

Follow along next week during the Vegan One Week Challenge for special announcements!

Start Date: Monday 28 August 2017

Finish Date: Sunday 3 September 2017

For further information, email [email protected]

Full Fast Program

Santosa Resort Detox Wellness Spa Yoga Retreat Kata Beach Phuket Thailand DETOX PROGRAMS Fullfast 600X600

Full fast is a full cleanse program specially designed to enable maximum results. You will have no food / no juice but only drink water with cleanses drinks and nutrition supplements. Participants of this program will be subjected to the most powerful, yet natural, body detoxification processes. This program is suitable for those who have detoxification experience and are determined to go deeper for cleanse. A thorough pre-cleanse is also important for the full fast.

Juice Fast Program

Santosa Resort Detox Wellness Spa Yoga Retreat Kata Beach Phuket Thailand DETOX PROGRAMS Juicefast 600X600

Juice fast is a cleanse program to nourish and detoxify the body by drinking fresh fruits and vegetable juice. The key is to hydrate and nourish your cells with the correct vitamins, enzymes, minerals and antioxidants. Guests participating in the Juice Fast Program have higher energy levels allowing them to take advantage of the various activities available at Santosa Detox & Wellness Center.

Raw Fast Program

Santosa Resort Detox Wellness Spa Yoga Retreat Kata Beach Phuket Thailand DETOX PROGRAMS Rawfast 600X600

Raw food fast brings together nutritional science and holistic therapies. This program is recommended for guests looking for a long lasting and sustainable post program experience. With a balanced and nutritionally delicious set raw food menu in addition to the regular fasting supplements and a complete program of daily therapies, including regular cleansing sessions, this program is designed to optimize the detoxification process in every way. A raw food diet has shown to increase energy levels, which is great for taking part in many of Santosa’s activities.

Going Vegan Is Not What You Think

Going Vegan Is Not What You Think

Santosa Detox Wellness Center Phuket Healthy Eating Vegan Food Chime

A lot of people are interested in going vegan, but many of them are held back by fear and misconception. Going vegan does not mean you have to give up everything you love to eat. However, it does mean that you will shift to a plant-based diet and find healthier, vegan options for a variety of favorite items. To be honest, going vegan is not what you think and it certainly does not mean you are condemned to eating boring salads for the rest of your life.

Going vegan is a lot easier than it seems. There are a wide variety of supermarkets, restaurants and cafes that now cater to the vegan diet and in addition to the norm of fresh fruits and vegetables, there are a great many delicious recipes that offer a creative take on classic favorites that are all plant-based and vegan friendly.

Here at Santosa Detox & Wellness Center, we are proud to host a unique, creative raw and vegan restaurant. Santosa Vegan Restaurant prides itself on utilizing natural, fresh local produce bought every morning for our menu items. Our Italian chef pays painstaking attention to detail and creates excellent starters, side dishes, pastas, main dishes, soups, salads and desserts.

An example of our innovative menu includes a signature Starter called Awaken. Stuffed with a mix of vegetables and fruit, wrapped in Alga Nori Rolls and served with Soya Sauce, Awaken bursts with fresh flavors. It’s a simple dish that is filling and unique, and just one of our delicious menu items.

Santosa Resort Detox Wellness Spa Yoga Retreat Kata Beach Phuket Thailand RESORT Restaurant Chef 600x400
Santosa Resort Detox Wellness Spa Cook Preparing Healthy Vegan Food

As mentioned our chef is Italian, and therefore puts a creative Italian spin on many of the menu items. Have you ever tried vegan pasta? Our choices of vegan pasta are so delicious. Some menu items are made with wholesome zucchini and are served raw, while we also have a raw vegan lasagna called Sila which features cashew nut cheese. All of our vegan pastas are so delicious, and believe it or not, so very Italian.

The menu at Santosa Vegan Restaurant also has a main dishes, fresh and zesty soups and salads as well as healthy takes on desserts such as raw chocolate cheesecake. Every Saturday, we host a very popular vegan buffet that gives patrons the chance to sample many delicious dishes and desserts in our beautiful, tropical open-air terrace setting.

Going vegan is not what you think and a dining experience at the vegan restaurant in Santosa Detox & Wellness Center proves that. Stop in and dine with us to experience just how delicious and creative vegan cuisine can be.

If you would like more information on going vegan, our vegan restaurant or the many detox and wellness programs we offer on-site, simply fill out the enquiry form below and a member of staff will get back to you. We look forward to welcoming you to both Santosa Detox & Wellness Center and the Santosa Vegan Restaurant.

Full Fast Program

Santosa Resort Detox Wellness Spa Yoga Retreat Kata Beach Phuket Thailand DETOX PROGRAMS Fullfast 600X600

Full fast is a full cleanse program specially designed to enable maximum results. You will have no food / no juice but only drink water with cleanses drinks and nutrition supplements. Participants of this program will be subjected to the most powerful, yet natural, body detoxification processes. This program is suitable for those who have detoxification experience and are determined to go deeper for cleanse. A thorough pre-cleanse is also important for the full fast.

Juice Fast Program

Santosa Resort Detox Wellness Spa Yoga Retreat Kata Beach Phuket Thailand DETOX PROGRAMS Juicefast 600X600

Juice fast is a cleanse program to nourish and detoxify the body by drinking fresh fruits and vegetable juice. The key is to hydrate and nourish your cells with the correct vitamins, enzymes, minerals and antioxidants. Guests participating in the Juice Fast Program have higher energy levels allowing them to take advantage of the various activities available at Santosa Detox & Wellness Center.

Raw Fast Program

Santosa Resort Detox Wellness Spa Yoga Retreat Kata Beach Phuket Thailand DETOX PROGRAMS Rawfast 600X600

Raw food fast brings together nutritional science and holistic therapies. This program is recommended for guests looking for a long lasting and sustainable post program experience. With a balanced and nutritionally delicious set raw food menu in addition to the regular fasting supplements and a complete program of daily therapies, including regular cleansing sessions, this program is designed to optimize the detoxification process in every way. A raw food diet has shown to increase energy levels, which is great for taking part in many of Santosa’s activities.

Going Vegan in Phuket

Going Vegan in Phuket

 Veganism is wrapped in many myths and misconceptions. In truth, going vegan does not have to be difficult. You can still eat comfort food, you can still save money at the grocery store or market, and regardless of what you may have heard, you can still frequent your favourite restaurants. Although going vegan is a lifestyle change, it is a positive change and one that can truly be very easy. 

What is a vegan?

A vegan is a person who avoids eating animal products. As veganism is a plant-based diet, vegans tend to have lower rates of obesity, and on average weigh 5 to 20 percent less than regular meat eaters. For some, the philosophy of veganism reaches beyond the plate. Many vegans do not wear animal products and avoid products with animal ingredients or those that test on animals. Studies have proven that veganism existed in ancient India and Greece, so although it has recently gained momentum with regards to certain environmental and health movements, veganism is not a fad diet.

Steps to going vegan 

Making changes to your everyday meals is without a doubt the easiest way to start your path to becoming a vegan. The best way to start is by removing meat or dairy one day a week and continue from there. There is a plant-based alternative for almost every type of food you come into contact with, so in all sincerity, you do not have to miss out on any of your favourite snacks or foods. Going vegan can simply be started by switching out the cow’s milk you drink with almond milk or soy milk, or substituting butter with the healthier alternative of coconut oil.  

Will I get enough protein?

The answer is absolutely yes. You will get enough protein from eating plants. Many vegans meet the necessary dietary requirements of protein by eating a variety of beans and legumes such as lentils, eating cooked spinach and other leafy greens as well as adding soy products such as tempeh to their meals.

Doing vegan the right way

As a vegan, you need to make sure that you are not missing out on essential nutrients. One of those key nutrients is vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 helps with brain and nervous system functions and is found naturally in many animal-sourced foods. As a vegan, you can eat fortified nutritional yeast and sprinkle it over dishes such as pasta to get a buttery taste. If you are concerned about missing out on essential nutrients, just make sure that you are eating a wide variety of plant-based foods.

Many vegans center their diet around fresh fruit and vegetables in addition to beans, grains, legumes, nuts and seeds. Purchasing in bulk is an economical way to stock your kitchen with vegan ingredients.

Like any lifestyle change, going completely vegan won’t necessarily happen overnight. Becoming a vegan takes a bit of getting used to, and you also need to take it slow and figure out what works best for you. Try new things, and expose your taste buds to a wide variety of new foods and flavours. Find your food comfort zone and don’t give up. There are so many meals that can be prepared from staples you already have in your kitchen, and many restaurants these days have vegan-friendly options.

How to go vegan in Phuket?

Going vegan in Phuket is easier than you might think. Plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits abound, and there are also a wide variety of organic options as far as produce and dry goods are concerned. It is quite easy to replace eggs and dairy in any recipe, and Phuket has the available resources in a number of supermarkets to experiment with a variety of vegan-friendly recipes. Also, the vegan community is growing in Phuket, and there are a lot of individuals willing to help you on our journey.

Santosa Vegan Restaurant 

The vegan restaurant at Santosa serves modern vegan and raw food in a relaxed setting. The restaurant offers a stunning view of the Andaman Ocean, and is the view is glorious at sunset. It is the perfect place to enjoy the ultimate, guilt-free fine dining experience. Our healthy, plant-based menu helps to restore alkalinity while exciting the palate with fresh, exuberant flavours.


We offer a vegan buffet every Saturday at our restaurant starting at 18:30pm. Chef Mauro wows every guest with his raw, culinary creations. If you are looking for the ultimate vegan dining experience, please call +66 (0) 76 330 600 for a reservation, or simply fill out the form below.

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