THAI & VIETNAMESE TAKEAWAY & WINESTORE
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Make Your Heart Happy when you Dine at Saba To Go
At Saba To Go, we have always known that you feel good after eating one of our dishes. Our Thai chefs are always telling us that Thai food is medicinal food and that it is very healthy. So, when the Irish Heart Foundation launched the Healthy Heart week on Monday 31st May, we thought it would be a great opportunity to do some investigation of our own into how healthy Thai and Vietnamese food really is. We enlisted a nutritionist and did some homework of our own too.
Eating well:Eating well can help with weight loss and help you to feel better as well as help to prevent certain diseases such as heart disease, some cancers and diabetes. A healthy balanced diet contains a variety of foods including plenty of fruit and vegetables, plenty of starchy foods such as rice, some protein-rich foods such as meat, fish, eggs and lentils and some dairy foods. It should also be low in fat, salt and sugar.
Thai Food:The good news is that Thai cookery uses less fat, small amounts of meat and plenty of vegetables. There are also plenty of alternatives to meat dishes such as fish, tofu and vegetables. Also, the herbs and spices used in Thai cookery can also benefit your digestion and gastrointestinal system. So spice up your diet and add plenty of colour!
Think rainbow:The scientific evidence for eating more fruit and vegetables continues to grow and research strongly shows a protective role for fruit and vegetables in many types of cancers, heart disease, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, obesity, bone health, aging, neurodegenerative diseases and many other diseases. The reason why fruit and vegetables are so beneficial is because they contain an array of compounds. As well as vitamins and minerals, fruit and vegetables also contain many complex plant components. It would also appear that the benefits of fruit and vegetables stem not only from the individual components, but also from the interactions between these components. The World Health Organisation and the Department of Health and Children’s policy recommend eating at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Research shows that Irish adults consume less than three portions per day. Composite dishes are a great way to help you include more vegetables in your diet. Many Thai dishes include plenty of vegetables in a variety of colours.Think of a rainbow: It’s important to get a variety of colours of fruit and vegetables into the diet to maximise the number of different nutrients the body needs to maintain good health and energy levels.
Thai Super Foods
Broccoli: Broccoli has been described as a miracle food. It lowers cholesterol and is a good source of protein, vitamin E, thiamin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus and selenium. It is a very good source of dietary fibre, folic acid, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin B6, folate, potassium and manganese. It is low in saturated fat, and very low in cholesterol.
Asparagus: Asparagus is high in vitamin k and folate and a good source of vitamin B6, calcium, magnesium and zinc, and a very good source of dietary fibre, protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol), vitamin K, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, iron, phosphorus, potassium, copper, manganese and selenium. As well as being great for your heart and kidneys, it is filled with anti-cancer agents. It is low in saturated fat, and very low in cholesterol. It is also packed with cancer busting antioxidants. It helps lower blood pressure levels and is very good for the heart. Asparagus also possesses antiviral and anti fungal properties.
Peppers: All peppers are rich in vitamins A, C, and K, but red peppers are simply bursting with them. Antioxidant vitamins A and C help to prevent cell damage, cancer, and diseases related to aging. Peppers are excellent sources of vitamin C and vitamin A (through its concentration of carotenoids such as beta-carotene), two very powerful antioxidants. These antioxidants work together to effectively neutralize free radicals, which can travel through the body causing huge amounts of damage to cells. Free radicals are major players in the build up of cholesterol in the arteries that leads to atherosclerosis and heart disease, the nerve and blood vessel damage seen in diabetes, the cloudy lenses of cataracts, the joint pain and damage seen in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, and the wheezing and airway tightening of asthma. By providing these two potent free radical destroyers, bell peppers may help prevent or reduce some of the symptoms of these conditions by shutting down the source of the problem. They also reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis and promote lung health.
Thai kale: Kale has more nutritional value per calorie count than almost any food around and a cup of Kale has more calcium than a cup of milk. The nutritional value of kale makes it ideal for maintaining optimum health as it is low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium, but high in vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin B6, calcium, potassium, copper, manganese, dietary fibre, protein, thiamin, riboflavin, folate, iron, magnesium and phosphorus.
Pomegranate: Pomegranate is thought to possibly help support the body's natural defenses against Alzheimer's disease, various cancers, coronary and heart diseases, arthritis and many ailments an aging person experiences. It is also packed with lots of antioxidants that may help in maintaining a smooth and wrinkle free skin. Low in fat and high in fibre, one serving contains 48% of your daily requirement of vitamin C.
Garlic: This herb was first used in Ancient times by the Egyptians to treat wounds, infections, tumours and intestinal parasites. No wonder they called it the great protector. Modern scientific research confirms these ancient uses of garlic, including its ability to reduce cholesterol, blood pressure and improve circulation. This wonder drug aids digestion, relieves earache, acts as an expectorant and as an antiseptic. It can help control your cold, cough and other respiratory tract infections. This amazing herb has also demonstrated the ability to protect against a variety of environmental toxins. Just go for it and see how this miracle nutrient seasons not only your food but also your life.
Ginger: Ginger can be useful in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or joint and muscle pain. It has been found to be helpful in blocking the harmful effects of prostaglandin, a substance that can lead to inflammation of the blood vessels in the brain and even cause migraines. Ginger has been associated with alleviation of the feeling of nausea, it helps to promote warmth in the upper respiratory tract and thus, is quite effective in treating cold and flu. The cineole content in ginger has been found to be a mood enhancer and can help in relieving stress. Therefore, a cup of ginger tea is said to be a great stress buster and has been found to have refreshing properties. It is believed to have anti-cancer properties.
Chillies: Chillis are bursting with vitamins and minerals maintaining optimum health. They are proven to prevent migrane headaches and sinus headaches. They also relieve congestion and release endorphins, improving wellbeing and increasing the body temperature which raises metabolism by 25% therefore burning fat!
Tofu: High in protein, vitamins and minerals while low in calories, sodium and fat, tofu packs a one-stop nutritional punch not found in many other foods. It is rich in both high quality protein and B-vitamins and is, therefore, an excellent substitute for meat in many vegetarian recipes. It contains a lot of calcium contributing to the prevention of osteoporosis. Tofu reduces heart disease by lowering the level of the "bad" LDL cholesterol, and as the result maintaining the level of "good" HDL cholesterol. Tofu is rich in isoflavones, which will reduce the risk of osteoporosis and lower rates of breast cancer and prostate cancer.
Lemongrass: Lemongrass is a good cleanser that helps to detoxify the liver, pancreas, kidney, bladder and the digestive tract.
Coriander: Coriander has so many benefits that a book can be written on them. It has eleven components of essential oils, six types of acids (including ascorbic acid, better known as vitamin-C), minerals and vitamins, each having a number of beneficial properties.
Spinach: The health benefits of spinach are numerous and its ability to help prevent disease is well known. Spinach is at the top of every superfood list.
Tumeric: Turmeric is one of nature's most powerful healers. It has shown promise in treating cancer, arthritis, Alzheimer's disease and obesity.
Mint: Long known for its ability to settle a nervous stomach, mint has many other health benefits aswell. Mint is thought to play a role in the treatment of asthma and many allergy conditions aswell.
Rice: Health benefits of rice include providing fast and instant energy, good bowel movement, stabilizing blood sugar levels and providing essential source of vitamin B1 to human body.
Herbs and Spices: Thailand has more than a thousand species of native plants and they have been traditionally used to enhance health and treat disease as well as add lots of flavour to food. Herbs and spices add lot of flavour to your meal and are a healthy alternative to salt as a seasoning. Many herbs and spices have anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
