This is part 2 of a 4 part series about staying healthy during #covid19 (if you missed part 1 about healthy beverages, particularly #bonebroth and #kombucha, click here). Now it’s time to focus on the fun stuff: healthy treats! If you know me, you’re well aware that my sweet tooth is almost always present, and while I could very easily and happily order After You Shibuya Honey Toast for home delivery weekly, I know that I should be more mindful of what I choose to indulge in. Our partner and friend Dan Remon, says, “Sure, food items loaded with sugar, salt and addictively delicious artificial ingredients might taste amazing, but you know that they are not healthy for you. Besides, #freshfruitsand #vegetables eaten as nature intended, with minimal processing and human interference, are not only delicious, but they are incredibly healthy as well.”
Below is a video for more information from Dan where he essentially states that the way we approach food should be focused on identifying the choices that we make, so whether it’s about the types of foods, quantity of foods, frequency that we can eat, or the intervals that we don’t eat and how all that impacts your health, life, energy, and results, the first step is to be more aware of our choices. He says that we need to know which choices lead to the desired outcomes that we’re looking for, as that will allow us to use nutrition as a tool, as a success strategy. The sooner that we’re able to identify choices that lead to the outcome that we want, is the day that you are going to start to want the desire to make those choices more often. We have to increase our awareness and be mindful of the choices we make.
Now after all that I’ve mentioned above, I’ve very carefully made four truly healthy selections for places you can order treats for home delivery in Bangkok.
Scubie Bowls
If I see a pretty smoothie bowl on a menu, I almost always order it (after reading the ingredients to ensure that it is actually #nutritious while being #delicious), so when I heard that Scubie Bowls gives me the opportunity to make one myself at home I had to try it! Essentially, the product is a prepackaged smoothie bowl that comes with granola, and you can add the fruits/nuts/seeds that you fancy. They strive to make nutritional food consumption efficient and convenient to promote more nutritious eating habits.
All their products are made from all #naturalingredients, can be classified as #vegan, are #refinedsugarfree, #preservativefree and produced from #localfarmers. The ingredients are 100% fruits and veggies and they are able to lock in nutrients and freshness with Flash Frozen Technology. Research from the University of Georgia showed that “Frozen fruits using Flash Frozen Technology contain the same, if not greater, amounts of vitamin A, vitamin C, and folate than most fresh fruits and vegetables.”
Their product is really easy to make and enjoy, shown below in 3 simple steps:
Scubie Bowls’ 5 Flavors:
Nicecream Your Greens – “A Lean Green Machine”(Avocado, Broccoli, Spinach, Mint, Coconut Water, Mango, Passion Fruit, Banana)
Scubie Bowls is currently offering a promotion of a Signature Box of 5 Packs for 600 Baht until the end of April, along with free delivery in the Bangkok Metropolitan area. Order yours now via Instagram at @scubiebowls or LINE @scubiebowls.
Bake The Brownie
The next local vendor I have to clap my hands for is definitely Bake The Brownie. I can confidently say that this is the second best brownie maker in all of Bangkok. You may wonder why I would post about something that doesn’t come in first place, but that product is full of sugar and butter (the brownie at Kuppa, if you know, you know). These baked goods are #vegan, #glutenfree, #refinedsugarfree, and truly come an extremely close second! My husband is avert to trying healthy foods but when he tasted these goodies a few weeks ago, an entire box (of 8 brownies!) was gone in 3 days.
We now order three boxes at a time and make sure to re-order before the final box finishes! My top choices are the dark chocolate brownie and the almond butter (so much better and more nutritious than Skippy), and my hubby’s is the almond brownie. This brand is working to raise awareness about veganism and aiming to help people with a #glutenintolerance (or anyone, really) to enjoy a #healthy#guiltfree treat. Moreover, they try to make their desserts as #nutritious as possible; the majority of their products are made from #almondflour which has a high content of good protein and carbs versus traditional flour-based desserts.
Mixed Brownie Box (Choose from Plain, Peanut Butter, Almond, Salted Caramel, Peanut Butter & Jam, Coco For You) – ฿ 320 for 8 pieces
Almond Butter (100% roasted almonds) – ฿120 for a jar of 80 grams
Order yours now via their website or Instagram @BakeTheBrownie.
Beyond Pops
The third choice is one to keep us cool in Bangkok’s April heat! The popsicles from Beyond Pops are vegan and use real, premium, natural and organic ingredients. Similar to Bake The Brownie, they are aware of people’s food allergies and/or desire to eat better without compromising on taste, quality and nutrition. In my opinion, it’s the perfect afternoon snack or guilt-free post dinner treat! My favorite flavor is Hazel Dazel which is a smooth hazelnut cream popsicle that’s twirled with maple, dipped in rich homemade organic chocolate, and topped with a hazelnut crunch! A close second is the Macaberry which is pictured on the left in the photo, and after chatting with Premika, the owner of Beyond Pops, she told me that a new and even healthier version of Macaberry is coming out so stay tuned for Macaberry 2.0.
The popsicles range from ฿135 to ฿150, and will be delivered to your home with dry ice to ensure they stay frozen when they get to you! Order yours now via Instagram or LINE, both handles are @beyondpops
Lay Low Ice Cream
I was originally planning on keeping this post to only three options, but a few days ago, I saw one of the owners of Sourced Grocers post about a low sugar ice cream brand that looked interesting. After going to Lay Low Ice Cream’s instagram page and learning that their product is all-natural light ice cream with organic ingredients that are low-calorie and low in sugar – I decided to place an order right away! I must say that their response time was impressive, and the flavors I’ve tried (Madagascar Vanilla and Raspberry Hibiscus Sorbet, by the way their sorbets are vegan) were definitely impressive.
The ice cream brand is run by a husband and wife duo who have previously worked for Michelin-starred restaurants in London. Their ice creams have a healthier twist using locally sourced organic non-fat milk as a main ingredient. Sweetened with a mixture of stevia and sugar, the flavors are amped up with the finest ingredients including Valrhona chocolate, Madagascar vanilla bean, organic hojicha and coffee beans. Also, all their toppings are made from scratch, without artificial colors or flavors added. I could tell that the quality of ingredients was very high and I can’t wait to try the next flavor in my fridge.
Lay Low Ice Cream has a promotion until the end of April where the cups are 65 Baht and the pints are 300 Baht. From May 1 onwards it will be 85 Baht/cup and 340 Baht/pint. Order now via Instagram or LINE @laylowicecream.
So there you have it, four options for healthy and delicious treats to order for home delivery during #covid19! As Dan said, a vegan diet is not only incredibly good for the mind and body, but also for the planet, and at a time like this we should definitely be doing our part to take care of Mother Earth.
Part 3 in the series is about the importance of #exercise and keeping ourselves healthy. Click here to read it!
Written by Devi Bajaj Founder & Director of Enliven Health Concierge
Disclaimer: Nothing on this post is sponsored content.
Life has changed a lot for everyone since #covid19 has emerged, but we must do whatever we can to consciously keep ourselves as healthy as possible. In order to do this, we need to be mindful of our diet (parts 1 and 2), exercise regularly (part 3), and also find ways to ensure that our mental health is taken care of (part 4). In this first part of series about staying healthy during #covid19, the focus is going to be on diet, particularly drinks. I will share two of my favorite local places to order healthy beverages from here in Bangkok.
There’s a wide array of literature on how to boost the immune system, and after sifting through for hours, I can confidently say that I agree with two professionals: Rosemary Cook (a registered nurse and holistic nutritionist) and Dr. Vivian DeNise (adult integrative medical specialist), both from Garden City Center for Integrative Health based in New York City. Cook says, “strengthening or boosting the immune system during this difficult time is of the utmost importance. A healthy immune system can defeat an invasion of a bacteria or virus or organism that is going to come to the host, which is your body.”
Dr. DeNise adds, “Consume a balanced diet that includes protein, fruits and vegetables, Avoid refined sugar, processed foods (which often contain monosodium glutamate or MSG) and genetically modified organisms (GMOs), all of which will inhibit the body from doing its best work, she warns. Blending fruits and vegetables into juices and smoothies is a great way to get lots of nutrients into your diet. Frozen vegetables are dense in vitamins and minerals.” Dr. DeNise notes. Cook also states that gelatin-rich bone broth supports gut health and the immune system, and fermented vegetables like sauerkraut are great probiotics and also are rich in vitamin C.”
The 2 local businesses below support Cook and Dr. DeNise’s statements:
Genius Bar BKK
Darren Liu, the owner of Bangkok’s first bone broth cafe explains his product to us:
“Bone broth is one of the most ancestral foods you can consume, meaning we’ve been drinking for thousands of years as a human species. Our ancestors have been eating nose-to-tail of their catch, making use of not only the nutrient-rich organs and meat, but by brewing all the bones, marrow, connective tissues, cartilage and the rest in boiling water. This way, they could have gone days (even weeks) without eating because they had enough animal stock to keep them alive and thriving. One of the main health benefits of good quality bone broth is that it promotes gut and digestive health by way of the natural collagen and gelatin that contain amino acids such as glutamine — which supports a healthy inflammatory response.
Genius Bar offers 3 options for broths
Beef Broth (made with grass-fed beef bones from local farms in Thailand)
Chicken Broth(made with organic chicken bones, both antibiotic and hormone-free)
Mushroom Elixir Broth (homemade recipe made with 100% organic medicinal mushrooms from our own farm in Wang Nam Khiao in the Northeast of Thailand). The medicinal mushrooms include: Lion’s mane (cognitive and nerve support), cordyceps (helps with energy, blood flow), agaricus (helps control blood sugar)
What makes Genius Bar unique is that they hand-blend fresh herbs (such as cilantro, ginger, garlic, turmeric) for extra flavor and health benefits. They also have a premium add-in: pasture-raised beef gelatin powder for extra natural collagen and protein.
Order yours now via Instagram @geniusbar.bkk, FoodPanda or LineMan:
Small size: 135 Baht
Large size: 175 Baht
Unlimited Add-ins: 15 Baht
1 Liter Frozen broth packages: 340 Baht
My preferred choice is the Mushroom Elixir Broth! I like to get the large packages to keep in my fridge. That way when I have a craving, I just need to pour it into a cup, warm it up, and it’s ready to drink!
Three Goats Kombucha
For those of you who have never heard of or tried kombucha, Dietician Maxine Smith, RD, LD from The Cleveland Clinic explains what it is: “Kombucha is fermented from tea (usually black, though sometimes green) and a sweetener (perhaps white sugar, agave or honey). The end result? A slightly fizzy drink that’s probiotic-rich, meaning it contains live bacteria and yeasts or healthy little microbes that benefits your digestive system. Some of kombucha’s health benefits are similar to those of other fermented foods, like yogurt, kefir and raw (live) fermented pickles or sauerkraut,” I’ve been a fan of kombucha for years (my sister can attest to my obsession with GTS Kombuchawhile I visited her in New York last year) but I haven’t been able to find a local brand that I truly loved. Enter: Three Goats Brewery! I first tried their deliciousness about two weeks ago when I saw it on the Paleo Robbie website. After enjoying the Orange Cinnamon flavor, I decided to try the Shiso Plum, and now I’m hooked to both!
Vanessa from Three Groats Brewery says, “we want to make this probiotic drink an all-day healthy refreshment for you! Our brewers love to experiment, combining the traditional way of Kombucha brewing with the brewing of craft beer, and cooking itself. The selected ingredients run from fruits, spices, herbs to hops! We believe that good tastes must come from the quality of the ingredients, so we avoid all artificial flavors in our fermentation. You can enjoy our kombucha and be assured that all the good taste come from natural flavors and fermentation only.”
10,000 Miles Hops (organic green tea/hom meun li/mosaic hops)
Order yours now via Instagram @threegoatsbrewery or LINE @threegoatskombucha
240ml for 120 Baht
500ml for 260 Baht
1,000 ml for 540 Baht
So there you have it: options for home delivery of nutritious beverages to keep you healthy during covid19. Our next post will be focused on three of my favorite local businesses for healthy snacks and treats including brownies and ice cream. Click here to read it!
Written by Devi Bajaj Founder & Director of Enliven Health Concierge
Disclaimer: Nothing on this post is sponsored content.
After hearing a gut-wrenching recount of a friend who was tested positive for #covid19, I knew I had to write a post on the importance of #kindness and #compassion.
Don’t get me wrong, the medical care which the friend and the family received was not the issue (they said the team that cared for them were heroes <3). It makes me sad to say that it was the people around them. Mind you, not only did this dear person test positive, so did others in the family. Now, if you could just take a second and try and imagine what was going through their minds. They were probably terrified. All they needed from anyone that knew they had tested positive were #wellwishes, #support, and #positivity.
It’s understandable that fear blinds people at a time like this, but please do remember that anyone who contracts this virus doesn’t choose to, especially if they had been doing their part by practicing #socialdistancing/#physicaldistancing, trying to #stayhome when they can, and of course being sure to wash their hands often.
If you hear that someone has been tested positive, the first thing you need to do is verify it before spreading any rumours. As soon as I heard that this friend may have the virus, I checked in with someone close to them who confirmed that it was true. The friend said that they were doing well, although very overwhelmed and they would tell me about it themselves when they were ready. Once I heard it was factual, all I wanted to do was offer well wishes and any help I could, but I waited to hear from them. When they reached out to our friends, we all responded by offering support and love.
Although we live in a time filled with unknowns, there is one thing I’m certain of, and that is my message to society about the importance of #kindness and #compassion, must be heard.
Information compiled and shared by by Devi Bajaj Founder & Director of Enliven Health Concierge
Before panicking about the fact that Thailand is in a State of Emergency from today March 26th until April 30th (subject to extension), let me share facts as informed by the Australian Embassy in Thailand.
What has been closed down? Exceptions include take-away food/delivery, supermarkets & food markets, drug stores, shops selling necessary items, and convenience stores
Restaurants, including street food
Shopping malls
Weekend markets
Amusement parks, bowling lanes, gaming & internet shops
Beauty salons & tattoo shops
Golf courses or golf driving ranges
Exhibition & convention centres
All education institutions
Cinemas & theaters
Pubs & nightclubs
Swimming pools or similar service
Health spas, animal spas & the like
Boxing stadiums & boxing schools
Sports stadiums & gyms
What is allowed to still be open?
Banks & financial institutions
ATMs
Hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies
Delivery services
Government agencies
Hotels and hostels
Petrol stations
Postal service
Factories
Be cautious, these are illegal
Gatherings/protest
Sharing fake news about Covid-19
Below is an image depicting the information mentioned above:
In an article by the Bangkok Post this morning entitled “All doors closed to foreigners,” there is an infographic explaining decree directives, pasted below for your reference:
As of now there is no curfew imposed in Thailand. “However, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, who oversees legal affairs, said a curfew might be imposed later if considered necessary. He added that if the government does go ahead with imposing a curfew to curb the spread of Covid-19, the order will be different from previous curfews which were only imposed at night to maintain peace and order. “The curfew for Covid-19 is likely to cover 24 hours, with exceptions for individuals seeking medical treatment, those going to court or those working in broadcasting services.”
“From now the measures to be imposed will be more intense and will affect people’s lives. I’m asking you to comply and be responsible. Some people may feel their rights are being infringed upon, but all this is being done to protect lives. If we take things seriously, we can get through this,” Gen Prayut said. The national police chief Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda said on Wednesday that a 24-hour curfew is a possibility, but the situation so far does not warrant it.
Anyway, this is the most up to date information I have as of now. I will continue to share more information as I see it. Today’s situation update about COVID19 in Thailand will be at 12:30pm at the Ministry of Public Health.
The National News Beareau of Thailand is a good source to follow, here’s a link to their Facebook page. I also believe Richard Barrow is a factual and informative source, his tweets can be found here.
As a final statement I would just like to share that my personal opinion on a few things:
Whether there is an official curfew or not, it is our responsibility to #stopthespread and #flattenthecurve by staying home. You can find more information about this in last week’s blog post here.
It’s a stressful time for the entire world, the least we can do is #spreadlove and #bekind to each other!
Stay home and stay safe, everyone. We will get through this together!
Information compiled and shared by by Devi Bajaj Founder & Director of Enliven Health Concierge
By now the coronavirus has spread globally and everyone is (if they aren’t they should be) talking about being socially responsible by taking part in #socialdistancing to #flattenthecurve.
Until last week I didn’t personally know anyone that has the coronavirus (now I know two people in Bangkok), but I was already practicing social responsibility for several reasons. If I become infected it is likely that I would recover well as I am young and don’t have any pre-existing conditions; but both my parents are over 60 (one is diabetic), my grandmother is almost 90, and my siblings are both immunocompromized which makes them ALL part of the high risk population. If any of them become infected it would be harder to recover and they would definitely need access to medical care.
Someone posted this image on social media and it really resonated with me:
Dr. Alok Patel from UC San Francisco explains social distancingby saying that it is essentially everyone doing their best to stay away from large crowds while we’re trying to reduce the spread of this disease. Imagine a crowded room full of people. Everyone in the room is healthy except 1 person who is affected with the coronavirus but they don’t know it. They shake hands with half the people in the room, and let’s say half of those people get infected. Over the next 5 days those people go on with their lives. Some develop what seems like a cold, others have no idea they’re sick but they’re spreading the coronavirus along the way infecting friends, family, and strangers without even knowing. That’s what health experts call an outbreak. Social distancing keeps the number of people in that crowded room from ever being infected by not being crowded. Dr. Patel says, “Social distancing is everybody’s responsibility. It’s the role to play in protecting your community and slowing the spread of the coronavirus.”
Here’s a video of Dr. Patel explaining the narrative above.
The “curve” researchers are talking about refers to the projected number of people who will contract COVID-19 over a period of time. (To be clear, this is not a hard prediction of how many people will definitely be infected, but a theoretical number that’s used to model the virus’ spread.) Here’s what one looks like:
The curve takes on different shapes, depending on the virus’s infection rate. It could be a steep curve, in which the virus spreads exponentially (that is, case counts keep doubling at a consistent rate), and the total number of cases skyrockets to its peak within a few weeks. Infection curves with a steep rise also have a steep fall; after the virus infects pretty much everyone who can be infected, case numbers begin to drop exponentially, too.
The faster the infection curve rises, the quicker the local health care system gets overloaded beyond its capacity to treat people. As we’re seeing in Italy (which we’re trying to prevent the rest of the world from experiencing), more and more new patients may be forced to go without ICU beds, and more and more hospitals may run out of the basic supplies they need to respond to the outbreak.
A flatter curve, on the other hand, assumes the same number of people ultimately get infected, but over a longer period of time. A slower infection rate means a less stressed health care system, fewer hospital visits on any given day and fewer sick people being turned away.
For a simple metaphor, consider an office bathroom.
“Your workplace bathroom has only so many stalls,” Charles Bergquist, director of the public radio science show “Science Friday” tweeted. “If everyone decides to go at the same time, there are problems. If the same number of people need go to the restroom but spread over several hours, it’s all ok.”
How do we flatten the curve?
As there is currently no vaccine or specific medication to treat COVID-19, and because testing is so limited in the U.S., the only way to flatten the curve is through collective action. (compiled from Live Science).
I listened to a live webinar organized by the Global Healthcare Resources and led by Dr. Marc Lipsitch, a Harvard Epidemiologist, says social distancing is crucial. The means by which to do that are to cancel public gatherings, close houses of worship, restaurants etc. He essentially says that if it were up to him he would close everything including schools and mass transit. He does make a point that there’s nothing bad about being outside the house. The problem is density of people and poor ventilation so it’s not that you can’t leave the house for 6 months, but if you are high risk you should have someone else go pick up your medication and food for you if you can. Vaccines are going to take at least a year, and could be considerably longer. Treatments are easier to test because they already exist. They are antiviral drugs that were designed for another purpose.
Dr. Lipsitch hit the nail on the head when he said, “Social distancing is a societal phenomenon. It takes all of us doing it that will make it work. It’s a lot like vaccinations, you do it for yourself and for other people. It’s a social responsibility to try and slow down the transmission as a member of society.”
Take care of yourselves, your loved ones and the global community by choosing to practicing social distancing.
Information compiled by Devi Bajaj
Founder and Director of Enliven Health Concierge
Below are links to more details related to the information above:
It’s been over two weeks since our initial post about the coronavirus (you can find that post here) and since #COVID-19 is still such a hot topic, this week’s post is focused on the updated facts since then.
The WHO issues Situation Reports for Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and the latest one is number 29 reported on 18 February.
The situation in numbers (total and new cases in the last 24 hours)
Globally 73,332 confirmed (1,901 new), 1,870 deaths (98 new)
China 72,528 confirmed (1,891 new) 1,870 deaths (98 new)
Outside of China 804 confirmed (10 new) 25 countries, 3 deaths
Here is a visual representation of the current status:
As there is a lot of fake news being spread (click here for an article from the Bangkok Post about this), below we have listed Myth Busters from the WHO:
Are hand dryers effective in killing the new coronavirus?
How effective are thermal scanners in detecting people infected with the new coronavirus?
Is it safe to receive a letter or a package from China?
Does the new coronavirus affect older people, or are younger people also susceptible?
WHO’S Recommendations and Advice for the Public
During previous outbreaks due to other coronavirus (Middle-East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), human-to-human transmission occurred through droplets, contact and fomites, suggesting that the transmission mode of the COVID-19 can be similar.
The basic principles to reduce the general risk of transmission of acute respiratory infections include the following:
Avoiding close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections.
Frequent hand-washing, especially after direct contact with ill people or their environment.
Avoiding unprotected contact with farm or wild animals.
People with symptoms of acute respiratory infection should practice cough etiquette (maintain distance, cover coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues or clothing, and wash hands).
Within health care facilities, enhance standard infection prevention and control practices in hospitals, especially in emergency departments
WHO does not recommend any specific health measures for travellers. In case of symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness either during or after travel, travellers are encouraged to seek medical attention and share their travel history with their health care provider.
Another source we follow for news about COVID19 is @richardbarrow on Twitter. Here is his latest post:
My personal opinion after reading everything from the WHO, Richard Barrow, other reliable news sources, and consulting with colleagues in the healthcare industry, is that we need to continue to practice hand hygiene and be mindful of our surroundings and decisions.
Information shared by Devi Bajaj Founder and Director of Enliven Health Concierge
Below are links to some articles related to the information above:
