The Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits of Beetroot

The Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits of Beetroot

Beetroot is a dark red vegetable. Often times referred to as an acquired taste, beetroot has been linked with better stamina, improved blood flow and lower blood pressure. Also known as red beet or garden beet, beetroot is packed with essential nutrients and are a great source of fiber, folate, iron, manganese, potassium and vitamin C.


Beetroot has long been associated with numerous health benefits including heightened exercise performance in addition to being great for your blood and lowering blood pressure. The nitrates found in beetroot are also known to help fight heart disease.

 

Beetroot consists mainly of water, carbohydrates and fiber. The carbs in beetroot are mainly simple sugars such as glucose and fructose. One cup of boiled beetroot contains less than 60 calories. All of these factors make beetroot a delicious and nutritious snack. Beetroot is also a wonderful source of essential vitamins and minerals that are rich in antioxidants.

 

Beetroot and fresh beetroot juice have a wide variety of health benefits, especially for heart health and exercise performance. Beetroot is rich in inorganic nitrates, and studies have shown that eating fruits and vegetables rich in inorganic nitrates may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by promoting lower blood pressure and an increase in nitric oxide formation. Nitric oxide causes blood vessels to relax and dilate which helps to lower blood pressure.

 

Another interesting fact about beetroot and its nitrates is that various studies have suggested that nitrates can enhance physical performance, particularly during high intensity exercise. Consumption of beetroot, or incorporating beetroot into your daily diet, is said to improve running and cycling performance as well as increase stamina and improve oxygen use. In short, beetroot leads to better exercise performance overall.

 

Beetroot is also prominent in many detox programs as fresh beetroot juice is great for liver cleansing. Beetroot cleanses the liver by thinning bile which allows it to move more freely through the liver and into the small intestine. Beetroot also detoxifies the whole body by increasing energy levels, boosting the immune system and regulating the body’s natural metabolic process.

 

Beetroot is a nutritious vegetable that is so good for health. It is delicious as a fresh juice, and a great addition to any diet and is often found in vegan and vegetarian dishes. Are you interested in learning more about beetroot in the detox sense? If yes, simply fill out the enquiry form below and a member of staff will get back to you.

 

Santosa Detox and Wellness Center is located in the hills above Kata Beach. The tranquil setting is the perfect place to participate in a detox program. Our staff are highly skilled and knowledgeable and ours is a nurturing environment. We look forward to welcoming you to Santosa here in Phuket, Thailand.

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Reasons to Go Vegan in 2017

Reasons to Go Vegan in 2017

It is that time of the year again. The time to usher out the old and welcome in the new. Did you make any New Year’s Resolutions? Chances are, that if you did, those resolutions included losing weight, eating better and getting healthier? Are you aware that all of these goals can be met by switching to a vegan diet? Get ready to accomplish your goals and enjoy delicious, satisfying meals throughout the duration of your journey.

 

Going vegan in 2017 does not have to be difficult, and to be honest, there are some truly wonderful reasons to make the transition. For example, going vegan can help you shed those extra pounds you’ve been desperately trying to get rid of. Going vegan is a healthy way to keep the excess weight off for good. Being vegan is not a fad diet, it is a positive lifestyle change. Case in point, on average, vegans tend to be up to 20 pounds lighter than meat-eaters.

 

Raw Pad Thai

Raw Pad Thai

A vegan diet is also great for your health. Vegans are less likely to develop cancer, diabetes or heart disease and their blood pressure is usually much lower than a meat-eaters is. As a vegan diet is a plant-based diet, vegans get all of the nutrients needed to be healthy from plant protein, fiber and minerals. Also, a vegan diet does not contain the saturated fats and cholesterol found in diets rich in meat.

 

Does the thought of going vegan appeal to you, but are you afraid of giving up ice cream, chicken sandwiches and perhaps the occasional burger? You won’t have to! As the vegan diet continues to gain momentum and become more popular, companies continue to come out with tasty alternatives free of meat and dairy products that actually taste like the real thing. Also, there are tons of resources out there, recipes too, on how to substitute some of your favourite meat dishes and turn them into healthy vegan meals.

 

Vegan food is delicious, and steps toward eliminating meat and transitioning into a total vegan diet are not as difficult as they seem. Start day by day and do what is right for you, but no doubt about it, a vegan diet is much better for your health, for animals and for the planet in general. It’s a new year, make your ultimate goal in 2017 a whole new you!

 

Going Vegan in Phuket

 

Santosa Detox and Wellness Center, located near the popular Kata Beach on the southwest coast of Phuket, we have a fantastic, innovative vegan restaurant that utilizes only the best organic produce and local ingredients. Our restaurant hosts a popular vegan buffet twice a week, and we also offer vegan cooking classes with our vegan chef from Italy. Simply fill out the enquiry form below and a member of staff will get back to you as soon as possible.

 

We look forward to welcoming you to Santosa Detox and Wellness Center as well as sharing the health benefits of a vegan diet with you!

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Terrific Tumeric: The Health Benefits

Terrific Tumeric: The Health Benefits

 Turmeric has a peppery, warm and bitter flavour. Known as the main spice in curry, it is without a doubt the most powerful herb on the planet. It’s a strong anti-inflammatory, and is well known for fighting and potentially reversing diseases. Throughout history, turmeric has been used as a healing remedy, a textile dye and a condiment.

Health benefits of turmeric

Turmeric is popular in both the Chinese and Indian systems of medicine, and has been used for centuries in treating a wide variety of conditions including toothache, colic, chest pain and jaundice.

Tumeric Results

Turmeric is one of the most frequently mentioned medicinal herbs in all of science. In over 6,000 studies, research has shown that the benefits of using turmeric are equal to that of many pharmaceutical medications.

 

Turmeric’s yellow or orange pigment is called curcumin. Curcumin is turmeric’s primary pharmaceutical agent, and in a wide variety of scientific and medical studies it has been proven to be comparable to potent over the counter and pharmaceutical drugs. Highlighted below are some of the extraordinary benefits of turmeric and curcumin:

  1. A safe yet strong anti-inflammatory

Turmeric is a safe alternative to pharmaceutical medications. It reduces anti-inflammatory conditions without the toxicity that some medications produce

  1. An effective treatment for bowel disease

It’s been proven that turmeric can reduce the inflammation of bowel diseases such as Crohn’s. Turmeric reduces the irritation caused by the thickening of the intestinal wall. Even small doses of turmeric are beneficial.

  1. Relief for rheumatoid arthritis

Due to the fact that turmeric is a powerful antioxidant, it is able to neutralize free radicals in the body. This is important in a disease such as rheumatoid arthritis as free radicals are responsible for all of the joint pain this disease causes.

  1. Improved liver function

In addition to its antioxidant properties, turmeric also increases detoxification systems. This is great news as it aids the liver in detoxifying toxic chemicals from the body.

  1. Cardiovascular protection

Studies have shown that turmeric possibly prevents the oxidation of cholesterol in the body. Oxidized cholesterol is what damages blood vessels and builds up the plaques that can eventually lead to a heart attack or stroke. Turmeric’s ability to prevent the oxidation of new cholesterol may reduce the progression of diabetic heart disease all together.

 

How to enjoy turmeric

Now that you know some of the important health benefits of turmeric, you Raw Food Bowlmight be wondering how to enjoy this super medicinal herb. Here are a few ideas for incorporating the spice into your daily diet, and reaping the benefits of terrific turmeric:

  • Turmeric is a great compliment to recipes that feature lentils
  • Add turmeric to egg salad
  • Season salad dressings with turmeric
  • Saute cauliflower florets in turmeric
  • Mix turmeric with brown rice, cumin and coriander for a healthy, flavourful treat

 

Terrific Turmeric in Phuket

If you are looking to change your diet and incorporate foods and spices, such as turmeric, that are good for you into your daily eating plan, please come visit our wonderful vegetarian & vegan restaurant here at Santosa Detox and Wellness Center. Our chef makes delightful, satisfying dishes from locally grown, fresh produce and ingredients. For further information, simply fill out the enquiry form below.

How to do a Liver Detox at Home

How to do a Liver Detox at Home

As we learnt in the last Blog Post how important the Liver is, today we will look at a home detox protocol for the liver.

There are many, many Liver detox out on the market and here at Santosa we incorporate a gentle Liver Flush on the 4th day of your detox to assist your overall experience.

Yet the one I am about to describe is a detox that I have done consistently over the years and have seen amazing results from reduced muscle & joint pain, migraines disappearing, digestion improving and losing weight and improving skin – just to name a few.

Do you have a deeper interest in clearing out your liver of thousands of toxins?
Read on and do this Amazing Liver Cleanse.
This Cleanse helps you eliminate the toxins that are supposed to be transported out of your body through your bile but have turned into “stones” of various sizes.
If our Liver and Gallbladder are congested with these stones it can be very painful and these organs cannot perform their usual functions. And as we learnt in the last post they do a lot for your body!

The Amazing Liver Flush Protocol

The liver cleanse requires six days of preparation,

This is followed by 16-20 hours of actual cleansing.

Things you’ll need:

  • Apple juice 6 x 1-liter containers (fresh pressed is even better but for convenience organic store bought works well too)
  • Epsom salts – 4 tablespoons dissolved in three 250ml glasses of water
  • Virgin olive oil, cold-pressed One-half glass 125ml
  • Either fresh grapefruit (pink is best), or fresh lemon and orange combined
    Enough to squeeze 2/3 glass of juice (160ml)
  • 1 liter jar and a small (250ml) jar with a lid

*Look for oral Epsom salts – not bath flakes!
*Don’t worry if you can’t find grapefruit – the other citrus fruits have the same effect!

Six Days Preparation period

  • Drink 1 liter of apple juice per day for a period of six days. (You may drink more than that if it feels comfortable). The malic acid in the apple juice softens the gallstones and makes their passage through the bile ducts easy. Drink the apple juice slowly throughout the day, between meals (avoid drinking the juice during, just before and two hours after meals, and in the evening). This is in addition to your normal water intake.
  • Dietary recommendations: During the entire week of preparation and cleansing, avoid taking foods or beverages that are cold or chilled; they chill the liver and, thereby, reduce the effectiveness of the cleanse. All foods or beverages should be warm or at least room temperature. To help the liver prepare for the main flush go vegan so try to avoid foods from animal sources, dairy products and fried food items. Otherwise, eat normal meals, but avoid overeating.
  • Be good to yourself

Day 6 of drinking apple juice:

If you feel hungry in the morning, eat a light breakfast, such as a hot cereal or fruit.
Avoid sugar or other sweeteners, spices, milk, butter, oils, yogurt, cheese, ham, eggs, nuts, pastries, cold cereals – basically stay vegan and eat whole foods!
For lunch eat plain cooked or steamed vegetables with white rice and flavor it with a little unrefined sea or rock salt.
To repeat, do not eat any protein foods, butter or oil, or you might feel ill during the actual cleanse.
Do not eat or drink anything, except lots of water after 2PM, otherwise you may not flush out any stones!
Follow the exact timing given below to receive the maximum benefit from the liver flush.

The Actual Cleanse (day 6 of drinking apple juice) Evening

6:00PM: Add four tablespoons of Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) to three 250ml glasses of filtered water in your 1 liter jar.
This makes four servings, ¾ glass each. Drink your first portion now.
You may take a few sips of water afterwards to get rid of the bitter taste in the mouth or add a little lemon juice to improve the taste.
Some people drink it with a large plastic straw to bypass the taste buds on the tongue. It is also helpful to brush your teeth afterwards or rinse out the mouth with baking soda. One of the main actions of Epsom salt is to dilate (widen) the bile ducts, making it easy for the stones to pass. Moreover, it clears out waste that may obstruct the release of the stones.

8:00PM: Drink your second serving (¾ glass) of Epsom salts.

9:30PM: If you have not had a bowel movement until now and not done a colon cleanse within 24 hours, take a water enema; this will trigger a series of bowel movements.

9:45PM: Thoroughly wash the grapefruits (or lemons and oranges). Squeeze them by hand and remove pulp.  You will need ¾ glass of juice. Pour the juice and ½ glass of olive oil into the small jar.

Close the jar tightly and shake hard, about 20 times or until the solution is watery. Ideally, you should drink this mixture at 10:00PM, but if you feel you still need to visit the bathroom a few more times, you may delay this step for up to10 minutes.

10:00PM: Stand next to your bed (do not sit down) and drink the concoction, if possible, straight. Some people prefer to drink it through a large plastic straw. If necessary, take a little honey between sips, which helps chase down the mixture. Most people, though, have no problem drinking it straight. Do not take more than 5 minutes for this (only elderly or weak people may take longer).

LIE DOWN STRAIGHT AWAY! This is essential for helping to release the gallstones! Turn off the lights and lie flat on your back with 1-2 pillows propping you up. Your head should be higher than the abdomen. If this is uncomfortable lie on your right side with your knees pulled towards your head. Lie perfectly still for at least 20 minutes and try not to speak! Put your attention on your liver. You may even feel the stones traveling along the bile ducts like marbles. There won’t be any pain because the magnesium in the Epsom salts keeps the bile duct valves wide open and relaxed, and the bile that is excreted along with the stones keeps the bile ducts well lubricated (this is very different in the case of a gallbladder attack where magnesium and bile are not present). Go to sleep if you can.

If at any time during the night you feel the urge to have a bowel movement, do so. Check if there are already small gallstones (pea green or tan colored ones) floating in the toilet. You may feel nauseous during the night and/or in the early morning hours. This is mostly due to a strong, sudden outpouring of gallstones and toxins from the liver and gallbladder, pushing the oil mixture back into the stomach. The nausea will pass as the morning progresses.

The Following Morning

6:00-6:30AM: Upon awakening, but not before 6am, drink your third ¾ glass of Epsom salts (if you feel very thirsty drink a glass of warm water before taking the salts). Rest, read or meditate. If you are very sleepy, you may go back to bed, although it is best if the body stays in the upright position. Most people feel absolutely fine and prefer to do some light exercises, such as Yoga.

8:00-8:30AM: Drink your fourth and last ¾ glass of Epsom salts.

10:00-10:30AM: You may drink freshly pressed fruit juice at this time. One half-hour later you may eat one or two pieces of fresh fruit. One hour later you may eat regular (but light!) food.
By the evening or the next morning you should be back to normal, and feel the first signs of improvement. Continue to eat light meals during the following days. Remember, your liver and gallbladder underwent major surgery, albeit without harmful side effects.

If you want to know more – read the book ‘The amazing Liver Cleanse’ by Andreas Moritz where you can find more detailed information. This cleanse should be done every 3 months until no more stones appear. Then a bi-annual cleanse is recommended.

Why go Raw?

Why go Raw?

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.