Wonton Soup For The Soul: Sophy’s Restaurant

by Dr. Michael Day, D.C. | Vital Living |
Long Beach Post

-

The last health article I wrote, a reader requested I search out a Cambodian restaurant in Long Beach. I set out and found a gem and favorite to many Long Beach residents: Sophy’s Restaurant. Listed as both Cambodian and Thai food, Sophy’s definite strength is their Cambodian food. With fresh vegetables, as one of the main staples of Sophy’s dishes, one can’t go wrong. I personally had the Wonton Soup, and came another visit a week later for the Cambodian Crepe recommended from yoga instructor Rosanne Nicassio.

Much has been said about the different forms of Asian cuisine and there benefits to health and longevity. Released several years ago, the China Study, showed in a longitudinal study that the abundance of plants, organic soy, rice instead of wheat, some fish, and green tea consumption, have lead to a much lower cancer and heart disease rate in the cultures that eat in this manner. Cambodian food would definitely fall into this category. I even overheard a woman picking up her own soup say “Whenever I feel down, or under the weather, instead of going to the hospital I just have one of your soups, take a nap, and wake up all better.”

In my dish for instance, there were rice noodles, bean sprouts, carrots, basil, cabbage, mushrooms, and fresh fish. All which fall under the China Studies recommendations. Rice based products are great for those who suspect or have been confirmed for gluten intolerance. A subject getting much more press these days, gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley has found to cause intolerance in increasingly greater portions of society. Hence the products sprouting up all over the place titled “gluten-free.” For those who have been confirmed for gluten intolerance, rice based products such as rice noodles, and even rice bread are great substitutes.

The other thing that impressed upon me was the sense of community in Sophy’s. The staff entertained my son for most of our meal talking and laughing with him, which was nice for my wife and I. As well, as different patrons and family members of the staff arrived everyone looked like they were one very big extended and happy family. Another interesting book recently released called Blue Zones, lists community and family as one of the main predictors of a long and healthy life, and we felt like an extended family of Sophy’s after only our second visit.

Sophy's Fine Thai and Cambodian Cuisine
3240 E. Pacific Coast Highway
Long Beach, CA 90804