Newcastle Indian restaurant looking to help customers with New Year fitness

A North East restaurant which specialises in Southern Indian cuisine is offering support to those now embarked on a fitness regime.

The post festive season weight loss-health kick is now firmly underway, with thousands of people trying to shift some pounds as part of a resulution or get over the indulgences of Christmas.

The team at acclaimed Newcastle restaurant, Dosa Kitchen, believes it can help by encouraging people to eat light but nutrient dense South Indian food.

The Jesmond eatery is always popular with runners taking part in the Great North Run because of the positive benefits of eating its namesake dosas – a special pancake made out of a batter which is the result of an 18 hour fermentation process.

Created from rice and protein-rich black urad lentils, the final product is rich in amino acids and its carbohydrate content means that the eater apparently stays fuller for longer.

Fermented foods are also widely recognised as coming with a whole host of health benefits, including working as an anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, anti-fungal and even having anti-inflammatory qualities.

With the first month also being Veganuary, the restaurant is also a great choice for anyone wanting to try out a plant based diet, with more than 60% of its menu suitable for vegans.

Southern Indian cooking is traditionally lighter and cooked in less fat than dishes from other parts of the country – all of which adds up to some great benefits for anyone wanting to watch what they eat but still enjoy tasty food.

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Restaurant co-owner, Sudharsan Murugavel, said that vegan food didn’t have to be boring.

“We know this is the time of year when everyone has been lazing around and eating and drinking too much,” he said.

“But at the same time we all need some cheering up in January, so eating Southern Indian cuisine is a fantastic way to enjoy great food without compromising your fitness regime – and actually benefiting it.”

Murugavel also extolled the virtues of dosas: “While the benefits of fermented foods might be quite a recent thing, in Indian we have known about it for centuries,” he said.

“Dosas are not only delicious and a completely authentic staple of southern Indian cookery but they have many nutritional benefits.

“It’s often eaten at breakfast because it provides low release energy and, with 9mg of protein per dosa and a low-fat content, it is ideal for anyone watching their weight or wanting a gluten free alternative to bread.

“It is vegan – like so much of our menu – so is also a great option for anyone who is wanting to experience a plant based diet.”