FOOD AS MEDICINE
From Thai Town to Bangkok: How Herbs and Spices, Thai Food, and “The Cuisine of Natural Medicine” Intersect with Gastro-Diplomacy
Thailand is both the land of herbs and smiles; from meals to medicine to massage, the all-encompassing smell of herbs and spices is as prevalent in Thailand as the smiles on the faces of its people.
By Mark Zuleger-Thyss
Thai cuisine is widely known for its taste and authenticity. However, only a few people know about the health benefits of its dishes.
The food ingredients and spices in Thai dishes are considered "superfoods." They can enhance your immune system, speed up your metabolism, combat inflammation, and improve your general health.
Thai Town in Los Angeles has been the historic point of entry for Thais since 1965. California boasts the largest Thai American population in North America, which, as of 2020, stands at roughly 320,000 inhabitants.
The annual Thai New Year's Day Songkran Festival brings together Thais and visitors for a day of Thai culture, Food, and entertainment. More than 100,000 people attend the festival in Los Angeles, CA, each year.
You will find delicious samples of Thai "cuisine of natural medicine" at the Songkran Festival and restaurants in ethnic hubs in California, Florida, Texas, New York, and Washington, where most Thai people live.
But to find the traditional Thai herbal formula, Mathurameha, which consists of 26 medicinal plants, you should board a plane at LAX and travel to Thailand.
Given its beneficial effects on hypoglycemic activity, showing its efficacy and safety in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus, Mathurametha might well be worth scrutinizing. This herbal formula has been being researched as an alternative and complementary medicine for diabetes treatment in Thailand.
Thai Cuisine in America & Beyond
Food is a source of power in ways that reach beyond bodily nourishment. Food brings meaning—ritual, community, and nourishment—and it should go without saying that food can shape how we eat, think, and are.
There are almost 690 Thai restaurants in New York City alone. How did there become so many Thai restaurants in the Big Apple and the World at large?
Given Americans' unfamiliarity with Thai people and their culture, where did this appetite for Thai Food come from? Is this craving driven by the now-10,000 Thai restaurants in the U.S., or is the food so irresistibly delectable?
The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs actively develops regional relations and economic connections with the World's most significant trading nations. To introduce deliciously spicy Thai Food to thousands of new tummies and persuade more people to visit Thailand, a little-known government campaign drove the popularity of Thai Food and restaurants. It aimed to boost the number of Thai restaurants worldwide to 8,000 by 2003 from about 5,500. By 2011, that number had increased to more than 10,000 Thai restaurants worldwide.
"Thailand, the Kitchen of the World"
How the Thai Government made the World fall in love with their Food
Gastro Diplomacy is when food is leveraged to build a nation's brand and strengthen ties with other countries. A program called "Global Thai" used this "culinary diplomacy" model to deepen Thailand’s relations with its trading partners.
Thailand's efforts to position itself as the “Kitchen of the World” sought to advance the exceptional quality of Thai food by launching "Global Thai" in 2002. This and other government programs promoted Thailand as the next food capital of the world, with the primary goal of increasing the number of Thai restaurants worldwide.
As a diplomatic initiative, Thailand used food to globalize and gain international influence. The government provided training programs, grants, and know-how to Thai investors who wanted to open restaurants abroad.
The Government's Department of Export Promotion laid out strict standards for what diners can expect on menus and designed prototypes for three distinctive styles of Thai restaurants:
- Elephant Jump for fast food
- Cool Basil for mid-priced casual cuisine
- Golden Leaf for high-end meals
Thai restaurants abroad must meet specific criteria during inspections, employ government-trained Thai chefs, and use Thai products to be considered authentic. These criteria contribute to the standardization of Thai food and, by extension, the perceptions of Thai people and culture in the rest of the world.
The country promoted itself as the “Kitchen of the World” because of its strength in the food industry, abundant natural resources, continuing investment in food innovation, and commitment to food safety standards.
Pad Thai: Big Mac-style Global Domination, One Noodle at a Time
As part of this campaign, Pad Thai — a dish with virtually no cultural history — was positioned as Thailand's national dish and pioneered a culinary campaign funded by the Thai government.
While Pad Thai might be everyone's favorite dish, it is probably the worst offender on the Thai restaurant menu. And while it might define Thai food for Americans, it can often be a disappointment—overly sweet, dry, or just plain dull.
But when Pad Thai is good, this tasty, stir-fried noodle dish can pack 700 to 1400 calories in a restaurant serving. The extra calories come from the dish being made primarily of rice noodles that are then stir-fried in oil.
Thai culinary diplomacy, in this case, resulted in culinary ubiquity. And as it turned out, the Thai people are excellent at promoting their culture. To say it was successful is an understatement.
Largely thanks to loans the Thai government distributed to its people willing to open restaurants abroad, there were over 15,000 Thai restaurants worldwide by 2018, up from about 5,500 in the early 2000s. The Thai government is now focusing on introducing Thai Food to new areas, such as the Middle East.
Interestingly, in 2020, the total number of restaurants in Thailand amounted to around 530 thousand, indicating an increase from the previous years. In that year, the restaurant volume in the country grew by 62 percent.
Is "Food as Medicine" a Thing in Thailand?
It is unlikely that the average Thai person is motivated by the term "food as medicine" as much as an American might be. While Thais seem to be surrounded by healthy food, there is a serious obesity problem in Thailand. Bangkok, to be sure, has the highest prevalence of obesity.
According to the Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health, in 2022, the adult prevalence of being overweight and obese was 48% of the population, increasing from 35% in 2016. And not to be overlooked is the same disease among children aged 6-14 years at 13%.
Obesity is a risk factor for other diseases and a disease itself. Obesity is considered a chronic disease, just like type 2 diabetes and hypertension.
Diabetes is a growing public health issue in Thailand, with an incidence of 1 in 10 adults diagnosed with the condition. It is essential to understand that diabetes is a lifelong problem that can be appropriately managed. Over the long term, diabetes can cause other organ problems affecting the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves.
Thai Food, a Good Choice for People with Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease and one of the most common metabolic disorders globally. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimates that 700 million adults around the World will be living with diabetes by 2045.
Thailand has the seventh largest diabetic patient population in the Western Pacific, with a prevalence of 10% of the adult population. Diabetes is a leading cause of death in Thailand.
Thai Food is good for combatting diabetes as it is cooked with little fat, and stir-frying is the method of choice. Compared to a Western diet, Thai cooking uses meat, fish, and poultry in small quantities, thus providing taste rather than bulk.
Mathurameha, A Potent Formula Extract for Improving Glucose Tolerance
There is a traditional Thai herbal formula called Mathurameha, which consists of 26 medicinal plants that might be an effective candidate as an alternative and complementary treatment for diabetes.
The formula was investigated in 2017 at the Wangnamyen Hospital, Thailand, to provide scientific evidence of its efficacy and safety. The results showed the herbal formula aqueous extract has beneficial effects on biochemical profiles and a lack of acute toxicity, in addition to hypoglycemic activity.
In this study, diabetes in rats was induced by a streptozotocin-nicotinamide injection.
The plasma glucose-lowering effect in single and daily repeated oral administration of the aqueous extract observed in diabetic rats revealed its potent hypoglycemic activity. Overall, the results suggested the formula is a good candidate for diabetes treatment due to the lack of observed undesirable effects on liver and kidney functions.
The extract improved most biochemical profiles, including total cholesterol, alkaline phosphatase, proteins, albumin, globulin, creatinine, and uric acid.
This study confirms the efficacy and safety of the Mathurameha formula in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus. The results provided valuable insight for the next-step research of this herbal formula. The study, albeit using induced-diabetic rats, confirmed the efficacy and safety of the Mathurameha formula for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Thailand is Ranked 5th for Health Security
You might anticipate Thai massages at beautiful spas near pristine beaches when you think of Thailand. But healthcare in Thai culture extends far beyond that.
Around the globe, there has been renewed interest in traditional and natural healing as young and old people strive for better health through holistic lifestyle changes.
With a focus on physical health issues and the connection between body, mind, and spirit, Thailand's centuries-old traditional healing system has helped make it a medical tourism destination. However, healthcare in Thailand is mainly composed of public and private hospitals.
The public hospital network provides universal health care to Thai nationals through several government schemes.
Since around 1900, the official medical system in Thailand has been based solely on biomedicine, and biomedicine is now widely accepted by the Thai public.
Traditional Thai Medicine
One can come to value the generosity of the Thai people through their history, the foods they eat, and the medical principles they hold regarding health and healing.
Thai traditional medicine was developed more than 700 years ago, dating back to Sukhothai, as an officially recognized healing system alongside conventional medicine in Thailand. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) principles came to the Thai people from visiting Chinese monks with new teachings of Buddhism. While not all Buddhist medicine is Thai, Thai medicine is considered Buddhist.
This traditional system recognizes the existence of the human being's physical and spiritual components, like other ancient wisdom systems such as the Greek, Chinese, and Ayurvedic systems. It also accepts that both elements must be maintained to live a long, full life. Therefore, the basis of treatment is a holistic approach.
Presently, there are around 17,000 practitioners of Thai traditional medicine.
Fortified Foods & Nutritional Supplement Use in Thailand
Today, Thais are spending more on health and wellness products and services. And COVID-19 was a significant factor that caused the Thai food supplement market to swell in response.
Thailand was the first country to report COVID-19 cases outside of China in January 2020. In April, the government reported 3,684,755 confirmed cases and 25,318 deaths from the disease.
Healthy living has already taken center stage in Thailand, with 46% of Thai consumers believing the types of food they regularly consume have the most significant impact on their health. Big Thai companies jumped into the market for food supplements and wellness drinks as demand for functional foods proliferated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the coming of an aging society.
The dietary supplements market in the Asia Pacific surged to $87 billion and is projected to reach $229 billion by 2025. Thailand's market value of vitamins and supplements in 2020 was estimated at 66.8 billion Thai Baht.
58% of Thai people used dietary supplements as of 2022, and 66% reported using nutritional supplements to fortify their immune systems.
The demand for wellness, food, and drinks rose because the pandemic created a new normal that encouraged Thai people to think more about their health and take more food supplements to boost wellness.
Thai Cooking
Thai meals are vegetable-centric, low in calories, and made with lean proteins and Thai herbs and spices.
The traditional diet of Thailand features seafood and meats that are served with rice or noodles and seasoned with herbs and spices like turmeric, Thai basil, and lemongrass. Other familiar flavors in Thai cuisine come from shallots, pepper, kaffir lime leaves, shrimp paste, fish sauce, and chilies.
Traditional Thai cuisine loosely falls into four categories: tom (boiled dishes), yam (spicy salads), tam (pounded foods), and Kaeng (curries).
Thai Food is so different from other cuisines because of its contrasting flavors. Thai Food often pairs hot spices with sweet, light citrus flavors like lime and mango. The signature peanut sauce is sweet and savory, adding depth to any dish.
Thai cooking is "about juggling disparate elements to create a harmonious finish. Like a complex musical chord, it's got to have a smooth surface, but it doesn't matter what's happening underneath. Simplicity isn't the dictum here at all."
~ Australian chef David Thompson, Thai food expert
Herbs, Thai Food, and Health
Thai cuisine features many wholesome ingredients and ways of preparing food. Their dishes have intricacy, attention to detail, texture, color, and taste. There is a focus on balance and variety, and Thai foods are often healthier than Chinese fare.
Thai cooking emphasizes lightly prepared dishes with vital aromatic components made with enthusiastic use of fresh (rather than dried) herbs and spices, many of which have been studied for their health benefits.
Thai herbal ingredients act on the body's systems to improve health, relieve symptoms, and prevent illness. Lemongrass, galangal, and ginger are all beneficial to the stomach, dealing with pain, vomiting, and indigestion. Similarly, taro root and bay leaf handle blood sugar issues, while sweet basil and cardamom help the cardiovascular system.
Some herbs and plants, such as bean sprouts and lotus root, are nutrition powerhouses. They overflow with calcium, magnesium, and potassium and contain several other vitamins and minerals.
Likewise, the iron in cardamom serves as a potent treatment for anemia and similar iron deficiencies, and cardamom, along with sweet basil, also contains vitamin C.
Lemongrass Herb
Herbs & Spices in Favorite Thai Dishes
The most basic use of herbs in Thailand is in the country's cuisine. An extensive list of herbs and plants forms the Thai chef's stock of ingredients. Every herb has its effect; in some cases, several operate together for startling results.
Thai Food is filled with intense flavors and tends to be rich in vegetables, making it one of the World's healthiest cuisines.
Among the spices and flavors that make Thai Food stand out are sweet basil, turmeric, cardamom, coriander, galanga, ginger, lemongrass, mint, and chili peppers. Turmeric contains curcumin, which has been extensively studied for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Thai cooking also often uses ingredients like garlic and onions, which have anti-cancer properties and have helped slow the growth of cancer cells.
Lesser-known Thai Spices
- Finger root (krachai): Also called "lesser galangal," finger root shares some characteristics of the more mature galangal plant, mixing with a hint of ginger. Curries and fish are dishes best suited for their use.
- Bean sprouts (thua ngok): Growing from mung bean seeds, bean sprouts typically come to the table uncooked, adding flavor and texture to stir-fry and soup.
- Lotus root (raug bua): Lotus root grows underwater. With a flavor like coconut, it can stand alone as a vegetable or serve as an ingredient in desserts.
- Taro root (puak): Although inedible when uncooked, taro root tastes like a potato, but has a more significant flavor depth.
Try These Healthy Thai Dishes
- Spring rolls: fresh veggies wrapped in rice paper.
- Papaya salad: shredded papaya mixed with chilies, green beans, peanuts, and a fish sauce dressing.
- Tom Yum soup (hot and sour): shrimp, broth, lemongrass, galangal, chilies, and other ingredients.
- Steamed fish and veggies are often made with white fish steamed with aromatic spices.
- Beef and broccoli: lean beef, broccoli, and several veggies.
- Red, green, or Massaman curry: a mix of curry paste, veggies, coconut milk, herbs, and spices.
Healthy and vegetarian cuisine is trending in Thailand, with the demand for plant-based and organic foods steadily rising. This health consciousness has led to a surge in demand for organic and healthy food products.
The trend of using locally produced, homegrown ingredients and sustainable production is becoming more prominent, especially in upscale restaurants.
When ordering Thai Food, choose dishes with plenty of vegetables and seafood. Enjoy noodle-based dishes, spring rolls, and fried rice in moderation.
To boost the nutrition of these dishes, opt for brown rice, which has more fiber and nutrients than white rice. It's also important to watch your portions of curries, soups, and sauces that may be high in sodium and calories. Ask for heavy sauces or dressings on the side so that you can decide how much you use.
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wherever She may lead You
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