Matteo Guidicelli, Kuya Kim Atienza, go for more with Santé

Pasig City, Philippines; February 26, 2020—Santé, a provider of premier organic health and wellness products and services, formally introduced celebrity fitspiration Matteo Guidicelli, as its newest ambassador, alongside TV host and weatherman Kuya Kim Atienza, recently at the Marco Polo Ortigas Manila in Pasig City.

According to Santé CEO Joey Marcelo, 2020 will be an exciting year for the brand, especially with the addition of Guidicelli to its roster of brand ambassadors.

"Aside from being an actor, singer, and a triathlete, Matteo embodies healthy living. As a company, this is what we, at Santé, are passionate about. We are glad and excited to welcome Matteo to the Santé family and, we hope that he will serve as a true fitspiration for everyone," Marcelo added.

As an actor, model, member of the armed forces, businessman, and triathlete, he knows how important it is for him to stay healthy so he could live more and do more things in life. And because there are so many exciting developments to his career and personal life this year, the need to stay healthy so he could enjoy the journey has become even more important to him. Matteo Guidicelli also expressed his excitement, especially that he has known Santé as a brand that promotes a healthier and more active lifestyle.

“Ever since I started joining triathlons, I have seen and raced along with the Santé Barley TriTeam, Kuya Kim, and Sir Joey. I also have always dreamed of being part of the Santé family,” added Matteo. “Santé, as a brand, also just talks about the importance of living a healthy and active lifestyle. It is very positive. And so, I am excited and honored to represent the brand.”

Kuya Kim, on the other hand, is also ecstatic about Matteo, joining him as a Santé ambassador. “I, personally, know Matteo and his family. When he gets into something, he’s really into it. He lives a healthy lifestyle and is a good person. He’s a good son and a good husband-to-be and, he’s highly principled. I am so honored to be doing this endeavor with him,” he said.

Kuya Kim Atienza has been Sante's ambassador for ten years. He said that he started taking Santé Barley, the company’s flagship product, a few years ago, after learning about the health benefits of organic barley grass. Indeed, he credits Santé Barley as instrumental in how he has not only bounced back from ill-health, but more importantly, how he has maintained his health that has allowed him to stay healthy, be more active and live more.

“There is a saying that health is wealth. It may sound cliché because people use it all the time but, I know that through experience because I almost died twice—when I had a stroke in 2010 and when I got sick again in 2013. After those two health scares, it was embedded in my mind, and my heart, that I should be healthy not just for myself but also for my family and my God,” added Kuya Kim.

Santé Barley is made from organic pure barley grass, an effective antioxidant, rich with vitamins and minerals that not only detoxifies the body but also aids in digestive health. This product is also certified by BioGro, New Zealand’s leading organic certification agency.

Aside from Santé Barley, the company also offers other products and services that improve the quality of life of people around the world since it was founded in 2007.

“The whole Santé family is glad to welcome Matteo Guidicelli, as well as to celebrate the renewal of our partnership with Kuya Kim Atienza, who has been with us for ten years. We look forward to a stronger year as we continue encouraging everyone to live more and do more,” Marcelo added.

To know more about Santé, its product offerings, and other upcoming events, visit their official FB Page at www.facebook.com/pg/santeofficial.ph or their website at www.santebarley.com/ph.

Gab Banal: Changing the Game Under the Hoop

Imus, Cavite—January 2020—For some, playing basketball may seem just a game to play, but in reality, it takes a lot of sweat, courage, passion, and commitment to gain strides and bring the team to triumph.

Take it from Gab Banal, one of today’s local basketball scene’s beasts.

Defining the Game

For Gab Banal, a former Mapua Cardinal, PBA-D League MVP, former FIBA 3x3 representative, and now MPBL’s two-time Most Valuable Player, basketball has always been a personal love. His years mainly consisted of playing the ball game budded to such milestones a player can only dream off.
“Playing Basketball always has been close to my heart. That love turned to passion, and led me to dream to strive continuously to improve and better myself every time I step in the hard-court,” said Banal.

Gab has been in various professional leagues and, his mindset has always been aimed towards winning after the buzzer sounds. “The will to win has got me going from the very start. It also made me beat the weaknesses and grow the strengths that got me where I am now,” said Banal.

Rising to the top

Despite the limelight and the crowd's deafening chants during the game, basketball can be a bit tough yet sweet, especially when you live in a basketball-loving country. Undisputed professional leagues emerged as a high-paced and high-action competition, where the best players compete.

Banal used to play sparingly in the PBA, which, arguably, the country’s highest-level league, but it was in other competitions that he proved his might even more. To name a few, he was one of those who represented the country for tournaments like the Asia League, FIBA 3x3 Challenger, and the William Jones Cup.

“Basketball is a tough competition. To compete, you need to put yourself to a certain level—100 percent, or even more. The battle of wit and grit made me fall in love with it. The adrenaline in the dying minutes, the battle of heart and physicality, and the responsibility to take my team to the next level also serve as my fuel," said Banal.

Doing the Drills

With the sport being a physically-taxing feat, he needs the right physicality to ace the competition and delivers his A-game.

“On and off the court, I make sure that I do work-outs and exercises with no wasted movements or energy. I simulate it to the game, boosting my confidence since I know I am equipped enough,” said Banal.
Gab does his training and drills at Sante Fitness Lab (SFL) – a premier one-stop fitness center that offers holistic training programs, as well as innovative recovery and sports rehabilitation. He considers this training and fitness center as his game-changer for an elite game level.

“Sante Fitness Lab delivers me the right fitness regimen for keeping-up my A-game. The Equipment is leveled world-class that supplements my work-outs. And with my training and drills, SFL has got me covered with a tailor-fitted program helping me improve and intensify my performance. The recovery program also has been my edge, helping me be back on the court stronger and better amid a physically tolling game,” added Banal.

More for Banal

Gab is soaring, once more, in the court to dominate the MPBL, being one of the frontrunners of the Bacoor Strikers.

As he lives his dream under the hoop, his basketball-enriched journey was not easy. But through sheer will and unwavering dedication, he found his footing to become one of the Philippine-based league’s supreme.

The chase of happiness was not impossible after all and, the saying, “hard work beats talent when talent fails the hard work,” sums it up.

“To all aspiring basketball players out there, you need to work hard but work smarter. Develop all your aspects, not only as a player but also as a person. Work on your mental, spiritual, and physical health. Do what you love. Be passionate and never stop chasing that dream of playing hoops,” said Banal.

Santé Bags Citations at Asia CEO Awards 2019

Pasig City – November 8, 2019 – Santé, a provider of premier organic health and wellness products and services, received recognitions as members of the Circle of Excellence Finalists for two categories at the Asia CEO Awards held recently at Marriot Hotel Manila.

Santé was recognized as one of the member of this year’s Circle of Excellence for the SME Company of the Year while Santé International CEO Joey Marcelo was hailed as one of the Circle of Excellence finalists for the Entrepreneurs of the Year.

The Entrepreneur of the Year is the distinction intended to recognize business leaders who have demonstrated a commitment to introducing and boosting ASEAN economic capabilities and competitiveness within the region.
The SME Company of the Year award, on the other hand, is conferred to SME companies that achieved important success, demonstrating excellence in leadership, financial contribution, international recognition, pioneering achievements, and social commitments.

“These recognitions greatly impact Santé as an organization. Being part of the Circle of Excellence for two categories symbolizes our readiness to compete in the global market,” said Marcelo.

This year, Santé is the only direct-selling company in the Philippines and Southeast-Asia nominated and recognized as a finalist in the Asia CEO awards.

“When we started Santé, we wanted to uplift the public’s understanding on direct selling as a business model, as well as, to help our customers live more and do more through our premier organic health and wellness products. These recognitions symbolize our continuous success. Our advocacy of providing business opportunities to Filipinos is now, indeed, paying off,” said Marcelo.

He further said that these twin recognitions are proof-positive of the company’s adherence to its missions of enjoining the public to live a healthier and more active life as well as to provide Filipinos with a financially-rewarding business opportunity.

Santé is one of the fastest-growing distribution and direct selling companies in the Philippines, offering premier organic health and wellness products and services designed to improve the quality of life of Filipinos and other people around the world.

To know more about Santé, and its product offerings and other upcoming events, visit their official FB Page at www.facebook.com/santeofficial.ph or their website at www.santebarley.com.

About Santé

Founded in 2007, Santé promotes, produces and distributes premier natural health and wellness products; as well as services, designed to help people live better lives. With Santé Barley as its flagship brand, Santé has dominated the local market with its certified* organic barley grass – grown and harvested in New Zealand. (More recently, Santé has become the Philippines’ first company to be certified organic by BioGro).
With the proven health benefits of Santé Barley, Santé has developed a comprehensive selection of everyday barley-based products. Today, Santé has expanded its offerings to include a fitness and rehabilitation center with its Santé Fitness Lab; and an array of natural products that are true to the company's thrust in promoting a healthy lifestyle. Headquartered in the Philippines, Santé has offices worldwide such as New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, UAE, Qatar, Nigeria, and Cyprus.

Healthy Eating Habits to Develop to Live More and Do More

Pasig City, October 3, 2019— As the saying goes, health is wealth. For most of us, however, leading a healthier lifestyle can be a challenge, especially in keeping track of diets and developing healthy eating habits that will allow us to live a vigorous and fuller life.

Studies show that Filipinos fail to take the right amount of some nutrients, leading to a greater risk of acquiring chronic diseases, such as arthritis, cardiovascular illnesses like heart attacks and stroke, breast and colon cancer, diabetes, obesity, as well as oral health problems.

A Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) data revealed that obesity and overweight cases have increased in recent years. Among adults, the prevalence has almost doubled from 16.6 percent in 1993 to 31.1 percent in 2013.

Among preschool children, the prevalence gradually increased to 4.9 percent in 2013 from below 2 percent from 1989 to 1998. In a similar case, the prevalence of obesity among 10 to 19 years old has increased to 8.3 percent in 2003 from 5.8 in 2003.

The consumption of fruits and vegetables has also declined, with an increased intake of meat, eggs, and dairy, which is one of the Top 10 selected indicators for mortality according to the World Health Organization.

To better guide Filipino families in developing healthy food choices, Santé, a provider of premier organic health and wellness products and services, listed down some habits in choosing foods that will benefit our health and well-being—with the prime goal of helping you live more so, you can do more.

Consume More Fruits and Vegetables

Most children and a few young at hearts complain about consuming green, leafy vegetables, as well as fruits. But these foods are rich sources of vitamins, minerals, and anti-oxidants. They are also naturally low in fat and, provides a variety to the meal palette.

While some may not enjoy their taste, they provide vital nutrients to our body. Our leafy, yellow, orange, red, and green vegetables can spike our nutrition intake and provide balance to our systems, so it is never too late to include them on your meals. Broccoli, lettuce, tomatoes, and other leafy veggies can also make your health go on a positive turnout.

Cut Back on Some Foods

These foods pertain to those often considered as “treats” or “sweets.” They are, mostly, in the form of pleasure foods you are fond of eating, such as cakes, cookies, candies, and ice cream, among others. They can also be attributed to fatty and oily foods, such as ribs, bacon, and hotdogs.

While we enjoy eating these treats, they are usually loaded with oil, fat, and sodium. They are also packed with preservatives, which reduces our chance to absorb the nutrients needed by our bodies.

Take these foods in moderation or better yet, consume them sparingly or occasionally, so as not to indulge yourself in the process and, prevent further health risks.

Take More Organic Products

How your food is grown or raised can have a major impact not just on your mental and emotional health, but also to the environment. Organic foods have more beneficial nutrients, such as antioxidants than their conventionally-grown counterparts. If you have allergies to foods, chemicals, and preservatives, consuming organic foods may also help in lessening its symptoms or even going away with them.

Organic vitamins and food supplements can also be an excellent choice for ensuring a healthier lifestyle. For instance, Santé’s products are made, specifically, with organic pure barley from farms, as certified by BioGro, New Zealand’s leading organic certification agency.

Santé offers products that improve the quality of life of people around the world. The company has been providing premier organic health and wellness products and services with Santé Barley at its core. Barley grass is an effective antioxidant, rich with vitamins and minerals that not only detoxifies the body but also, aids in digestive health.

By incorporating healthy food choices to our households, there are more chances of adopting a healthier lifestyle that can benefit your family and loved ones on a long term basis. Not only it will create a ripple of consciousness, but it will also allow them to be active to live more and do more.

To know more about Santé and its product offerings and other upcoming events, visit their official FB Page at www.facebook.com/pg/santeofficial.ph or their website at www.santebarley.com/ph.

About Santé

Founded in 2007, Santé promotes, produces and distributes premier natural health and wellness products; as well as services, designed to help people live better lives. With Santé Barley as its flagship brand, Santé has dominated the local market with its certified* organic barley grass – grown and harvested in New Zealand. (More recently, Santé has become the Philippines’ first company to be certified organic by BioGro). With the proven health benefits of Santé Barley, Santé has developed a comprehensive selection of everyday barley-based products. Today, Santé has expanded its offerings to include a fitness and rehabilitation center with its Santé Fitness Lab; and an array of natural products that are true to the company's thrust in promoting a healthy lifestyle. Headquartered in the Philippines, Santé has offices worldwide such as New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, UAE, Qatar, Nigeria, and Cyprus.

Is Functional Fitness Fit for You?

Cavite City—September 24, 2019— Insufficient physical activity is a major factor in the increase of global mortality rate. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), insufficiently active people have a 20% to 30% increased risk of death, which can either be due to Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as obesity, heart diseases, high blood pressure, stroke, and diabetes. All of this attributable to the sedentary lifestyle led by many people nowadays.

The foremost answer to solving this problem is to get moving and start working out. However, the drive to get off the couch is hard to attain for some as they are discouraged with workouts that are unrelatable, boring, and with no direct benefit for what they need. Generally, people just want to keep moving, to live well and healthy with a workout that they can sustain and enjoy.

The workout for everyday function

Enter, Functional Fitness. This incorporates movements in the workouts that carries over to your daily functions and real-life activities. Whether you are picking up something from the floor, sprinting to an elevator, or carrying something to a cabinet overhead, functional fitness workouts will help you become fit to perform.

What makes it one of a kind is that it is designed that complex movements can be learned by scaling the movement up or down, depending on your fitness capacity and experience. No athletic skill and experience needed to get off the coach and start moving. When done the right way, functional fitness workouts can make everyday activities easier and help reduce risks of injury.

Examples of functional workouts are usually the trainings we have tried ever since we were kids. These exercises, though appearing simple, are highly effective in working up the muscles, making the heart more efficient and healthy, and will definitely get you moving your whole body

Functional fitness workouts utilize deadlift, a fundamental movement that works almost all the muscles in the body. The deadlift can be scaled down by utilizing kettlebells or dumbbells, or scaled up by adding up more weights using a barbell. Picking up a pen from the floor or moving a sack won’t be a sweat if deadlifts are incorporated in your workouts.

Another one is a squat, a simple exercise that can be done anywhere on any available space. It benefits most the lower body such as hamstrings, calves, glutes, and thighs, and also gives you a stable core. Getting stronger in this movement will pain proof your waist and hips, and will get you prepared for that dreaded stairwells.

The best place for your Functional Fitness needs

A facility that can offer you the best drills for functional exercises is found at the heart of Vermosa, Imus city, Cavite. Sante Fitness Lab (SFL), is a fitness and performance hub that offers innovative fitness programs for everyone—whether you are an elite sportsman, a gym buff, or a couch potato who’s just getting started in the gym

What makes SFL a prime functional fitness hub is it’s FitCamp class that utilizes functional fitness movements, that are strong in fat loss, strengthening and general conditioning. It also caters to athletes that needs strength and conditioning training, for the workout can be served for their level of performance.

The facility boasts its premium and high standard equipment such as Olympic grade barbells, platforms, manual treadmill, cable machines, rower, free weights, and speed and agility tools that are best for of all types of training.

All of these, and you are still wondering if functional fitness is for you? Wonder no more and visit Sante Fitness Lab - they make fitness, fit for you!

To know more about Santé Fitness Lab, visit their website at https://santefitnesslab.com/ and their FB page at https://www.facebook.com/santefitnesslab/.

Start Young: Health Tips to Future Proof your Body

Pasig City, September 19, 2019 – When it comes to health matters, people are becoming more proactive than they used to be. This mindset is brought along by the changing behavior, particularly the Millennials, who are leading the charge in making health-promoting diet and lifestyle choices a priority, says a report on global health and wellness by research firm Nielsen.

Being healthy and fit, however, is not an easy feat to achieve as it entails a long list of habits to develop and lifestyle tweaks to make so you can keep a healthy disposition in life as you grow older.

Now, the question begs: how can you start ‘future-proofing’ your body at a young age?

For starters, Santé, a provider of premier organic health and wellness products and services, says that there are three simple things you need to start working on, including Physical Activities, Meditation, and Eating Habits.

Ensuring Sufficient Physical Activity
Insufficient physical activity is one of the leading risk factors for death worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). It is also a key risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes. Globally, 80% of the adolescent population is insufficiently physically active. One in every four adults is also not active enough.

The term ‘physical activity’ should not be confused with ‘exercise,’ which is just sub-category that employs planned, repetitive, and structured activities that aim to improve fitness. Beyond regular exercise, it also pays to be mindful of the other things you do during leisure time. From the simple things like walking to and from your workplace to enrolling to a nearby gym for a more rigorous exercise, sufficient physical activity improves health.

In a similar note, WHO says that children, aged 6-17 years’ old, should do at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity every day while adults, aged 18-64 years’ old, should have at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity throughout the week, or at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity.

Keeping a Healthy Mind

Mental wellbeing is as important as physical fitness. Your mental state can affect your overall health, especially that maintaining a healthy mind can help you realize your potential, cope with normal stresses of life, and work productively and fruitfully.

A simple way to live by a healthy mind is through meditation, a practice of thinking deeply for some time. While there are many forms of meditation, just five minutes of sitting down and trying to calm your mind will help in letting your stress levels drop and making your brain breathe. This practice, when done regularly, may be an effective strategy to counter cognitive decline associated with aging, says a study published in Mindfulness Journal in 2017.

Eating the Right Foods

Getting the right nutrients, as early as now, can affect your wellbeing later in life. Gone are the days when you believe that being healthy means maintaining an outwardly fit or slim physique. Nowadays, nutritionists say that you need to take a look into nutrients found in the food that you eat every day to protect yourself from malnutrition in all its forms, as well as non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer.

According to WHO, your energy intake (calories) should be in balance with energy expenditure. To avoid unhealthy weight gain, total fat should not exceed 30% of total energy intake. Limiting the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake is also important to ensure a healthy diet.

Keeping salt intake to less than 5g per day (equivalent to sodium intake of less than 2g per day) also helps in preventing hypertension and, reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke in the adult population.

All these points are integral, especially that the WHO Member States have agreed to reduce the global population’s intake of salt by 30% by 2025. They have also decided to commit to stopping the rise of diabetes and obesity in adolescents and adults, as well as the cases of childhood overweight in that same year.

Aside from a well-balanced diet, it also pays to take vitamins and organic food supplements to ensure a healthier lifestyle. This is what Santé has been promoting to help everyone live more and do more in life.

With its mission to improve the quality of life of people around the world, Santé provides premier organic health and wellness products and services with Santé Barley at its core. Barley grass is an effective antioxidant, rich in vitamins and minerals that not only detoxifies the body but also, aids in digestive health. Santé’s products are also made, specifically, with organic pure barley from farms, as certified by BioGro, New Zealand’s leading organic certification agency.

As a young individual, you still have all the chances and capabilities to tweak your lifestyle by incorporating these healthy habits. By starting as early as now, you can ensure a fuller life, free from the repercussions of an unhealthy lifestyle.

To know more about Santé and its product offerings and other upcoming events, visit their official FB Page at www.facebook.com/pg/santeofficial.ph or their website at www.santebarley.com/ph.

About Santé

Founded in 2007, Santé promotes, produces and distributes premier natural health and wellness products; as well as services, designed to help people live better lives. With Santé Barley as its flagship brand, Santé has dominated the local market with its certified* organic barley grass – grown and harvested in New Zealand. (More recently, Santé has become the Philippines’ first company to be certified organic by BioGro). With the proven health benefits of Santé Barley, Santé has developed a comprehensive selection of everyday barley-based products. Today, Santé has expanded its offerings to include a fitness and rehabilitation center with its Santé Fitness Lab; and an array of natural products that are true to the company's thrust in promoting a healthy lifestyle. Headquartered in the Philippines, Santé has offices worldwide such as New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, UAE, Qatar, Nigeria, and Cyprus.

Ditch Cigarettes Completely: Here’s Why

Pasig City, May 15, 2019— For those who are trying to quit smoking, remember that the habit does nothing well. Health concerns are just the peak of the problem. Smoking also leads to fires and damages. Be free from the influence of tobacco and follow a healthier life today by making conscious decisions.

To back up positive choices, the World Health Organization (WHO) says that smoking is a leading factor in cardiovascular disease and lung cancer. It claims more than people’s lives. Smoking destroys careers and important relationships, bringing individuals to smoke more.

This is the ugly truth that the WHO has been pushing to address through its World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) celebration, a global effort that seeks to increase the level of awareness about cigarette smoking by explaining its damaging effects to the public.

To help in promoting this advocacy, Sante Philippines, provider of premier organic health and wellness products and services, lists the main harmful effects of continuous cigarette smoking:

Smoking Causes Health Risks

Cigarette and tobacco smoking are the main reasons for major diseases in the world. It is linked with a wide variety of cancers, commonly affecting the heart and lungs. The habit makes smokers vulnerable to diseases because of particles that lower the immune system.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a condition where mucus in the lungs causes difficult breathing, is a result of long-term smoking, usually found in people who have started cigarettes at an early age. Inhaling cigarette smoke also worsens asthma and tuberculosis.

Second-hand Smoking Destroys Lives

Smoking also affects nearby people. When smokers light cigarettes inside their houses, they endanger the health of family members, especially infants and children.

Animals, also, are not immune to the harmful effects of cigarette smoke. Dogs and cats, among other furry companions, are also victims. Felines, particularly, are prone to developing a type of cancer called, malignant lymphoma, if they are exposed to cigarette smoke for long.[vi]

Smoking Affects the Environment

The production of cigarettes and tobacco also set major harm to the environment, with tobacco plantations destroying the land. Areas of dense forests that have been cut down to cultivate tobacco result in soil erosion. Not only that, tobacco production uses trees to create fire for drying tobacco leaves and for rolling and packing cigarettes. If not monitored, cigarettes start forest fires, damaging the ozone layer further and destroying the homes of both animals and people.

Additionally, the procedures in making tobacco release toxic gases. These air pollutants, such as methane and carbon dioxide, negatively affect the ozone layer.

There will always be a link that connects smoking to damages, be it nature or human life. Once people place cigarette butts on their lips, they not only gamble their lives but risk the lives of others. Encourage people around you to stop smoking by vocalizing your concern. They might dislike the attention at first but showing consistent compassion will let them know that you mean the best for them.

Santé offers products that improve the quality of life of Filipinos and people around the world. The company has been providing premier organic health and wellness products and services with Santé Barley at its core. Barley grass is an effective antioxidant, rich with vitamins and minerals that not only detoxifies the body but also, aids in digestive health.

To know more about Santé, and its product offerings, and other upcoming events, visit their official FB Page at www.facebook.com/pg/santeofficial.ph or their website at www.santebarley.com/ph.

New Zealand Barley Grass: What Makes it So Good?

Barley grass has long been considered an important ‘functional food’ that promotes health and supports disease prevention. For many years it has been a foundation part of the health and wellness industry and is widely used by health-conscious consumers around the world. This ‘superfood’ contains high levels of chlorophyll and is rich in vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. It is a powerhouse of nutrients.

The popularity of barley grass continues to grow as more and more consumers, worldwide, discover its benefits. At Santé New Zealand Limited, we recognize the powerful properties of barley grass and, its health benefits. This has led us to develop a comprehensive selection of everyday barley-based products.

Our Barley Grass Growing Region

Our barley grass is grown in the Canterbury region of New Zealand. Canterbury lies in the central-eastern region of the country’s South Island. This is an area of 44,508 square kms and is one of the most important agricultural and horticultural areas in the country. The soils of the Canterbury Plains are formed on an alluvial plain and are particularly well suited to growing cereal crops such as wheat, oats and barley.

Our region has a long history of growing barley, but this has been mainly for its grain. The barley grain is used in the brewing industry and in baked products.

Given the local expertise in growing these barley grain crops it has been an exciting innovation to partner with expert farmers to grow ‘barley grass’. This is the same barley plant, but it is grown, harvested and dried at the green leaf stage, well before the plant matures and develops the grain. Over time, we have developed optimal growing techniques and harvest to suit growing the barley plant for its leaf rather than for its grain.

The local Canterbury climate with its cool winters and warm summers, along with the free draining soils are very well suited to growing superior barley grass crops. We consider the crops of barley grass we grow to be truly outstanding in when it comes to chlorophyll and nutrient levels. Our barley grass crops are world class.

Certified Organic Production

More than simply growing the barley grass we grow it under a certified organic system. This is an independently audited system that ensures the barley grass is grown according to organic principles. The farms on which we grow the product are all certified organic and have been so for many years. This means our barley grass is grown without chemical pesticides or artificial fertilizers. Additionally, our region is considered one of the cleanest and least polluted regions of the globe. [1][2]

We grow our crops in a method called ‘broadacre’. This means the crops are grown in large paddocks (i.e. fields) often 10ha or more. In this method the barley grass receives natural sunlight, airflow and rain as the main water source. The soils these certified organic barley grass crops grow in are in a ‘rotation’ of animal grazing and cropping. This naturally balances inputs of nutrients (i.e. from the grazing animal’s manure and from legume plants) with the extraction of nutrients from cropping. Typically, the farm rotation may involve 3 years of animal grazing (sheep or cattle) and 3 years of growing a variety of crops including barley grass.

Ensuring the quality

The production of premium barley grass requires that the plant receives enough water (either via rainfall or irrigation), sufficient macro-nutrients along with enough magnesium, Sulphur and calcium from the soil. The macro-nutrients are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) or NPK for short. Often the availability of the macro-nutrients to the barley plant is governed by the soil pH level, presence of micro-nutrients and the levels of organic matter in the soil.

Farming under organic principles is demanding as there are a limited number of ways the organic farmer can influence the availability of nutrients. This requires careful planning and great attention to the soil’s fertility and structure. Our farmers spend a great deal of time considering all aspects of what it takes it make a healthy soil including the soil microbiology and the presence of enough earthworms and other beneficial soil dwelling creatures. Application of certified organic compost and other approved fertilizers is a key part of maintaining fertility in the cropping phase.

An important part of the crop husbandry is to prepare a fine seedbed when the barley seeds are sown. Generally, barley grows to about 30 cm high before it is harvested with and specially designed harvester. Time to harvest depends on the time of year – it takes longer in the colder autumn months of the year.

It is important that, at harvest, the leaf is cut and delivered to the dryer as quickly as possible since it can’t be kept in a heap too long. The drying process is designed to reduce the moisture content and stabilize the barley leaf as a safe and nutritious food product.  

Milling the barley leaf is an art and a science.  Well-milled barley leaf can be easily absorbed by the body and is a perfect ingredient for drinks and smoothies.

Respecting the land

Santé New Zealand Limited knows that the way we produce our crops impacts the health and purity of the environment. We are extremely mindful to grow according to organic principles and strive to leave the environment better than we found it.

The farms are certified organic by BioGro Ltd, one of two government approved certifiers of organic production and products in New Zealand. BioGro auditors ensure that our products and systems conform to their standards which include paying attention to the health of the ecosystems in and around our farms,

As BioGro-certified producers, the products developed from our barley can carry the BioGro logo. This helps our customers know that the product they buy is genuine and has been grown under organic principles. Additionally, our products come from a system in New Zealand where there is no genetic modification allowed.

To know more about Santé, and its product offerings, and other upcoming events, visit the official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pg/santeofficial.ph or their website atwww.santebarley.com/ph.

Official Website of Sante Barley www.santebarley.com SANTE BARLEY is one of the fastest growing distribution companies in the Philippines. We offer premier organic health and wellness products and services aimed at helping improve quality of life.

About Santé

Founded in 2007, Santé promotes, produces and distributes premier natural health and wellness products; as well as services, designed to help people live better lives. With Santé Barley as its flagship brand, Santé has dominated the local market with its certified* organic barley grass – grown and harvested in New Zealand. (More recently, Santé has become the Philippines’ first company to be certified organic by BioGro). With the proven health benefits of Santé Barley, Santé has developed a comprehensive selection of everyday barley-based products. Today, Santé has expanded its offerings to include a fitness and rehabilitation center with its Santé Fitness Lab; and an array of natural products that are true to the company's thrust in promoting a healthy lifestyle. Headquartered in the Philippines, Santé has offices worldwide such as New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, UAE, Qatar, Nigeria, and Cyprus.