JUICED UP

by KARA THOMPSON | Photographs by SILAS FALLSTICH

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If you’ve ever purchased a bottle of bright green juice (you know those $13 ones?) only to get halfway through and realize you don’t love it, then this story is for you. It’s almost an instinct to reach for a cold-pressed juice after a yoga or cycling class, but enjoying the beverage is just as important as the health perks that come along with it.

I’ll be the first to admit that it took me a while to actually like the taste of most pressed juices, but once I learned more about the boost it gives my body, I found myself craving it more often. I talked with two experts in the field—the founder of Juice Ranch and a local nutritionist—to learn more about the diverse benefits the beverage has to offer. So if you’re on the fence about the taste, these health benefits, delicious fruit and veggie combos, and at-home juicing tips will likely convert you into a cold-pressed fan.

WHAT IS COLDPRESSED JUICE?

It’s helpful to understand what differentiates cold-pressed juice from typical pasteurized juice (like what’s in a standard orange juice carton at the grocery store). Cold-pressed juice is made with a hydraulic press which extracts the liquid from fresh fruits and vegetables. These types of juices contain the most concentrated edible form of chlorophyll, water, minerals, living enzymes, and vitamins that are separated from the fibers in produce.

Nutrients that are lost during pasteurization are more likely to stay put in cold-pressed juices because no heat or oxygen is used— just one of the bonuses of reaching for cold-pressed.

Cold-pressed preparation is much different from traditional pasteurization, which involves the use of high heat to kill bacteria and prolong shelf life (which is why most pasteurized juice lasts much longer than cold-pressed juice). Nutrients that are lost during pasteurization are more likely to stay put in cold-pressed juices because no heat or oxygen is used—just one of the bonuses of reaching for cold-pressed.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS?

When I asked Scott Walker, co-founder of Juice Ranch in Santa Barbara, if there was a health related reason why he started juicing, his words were all too relatable. He told me that he was feeling lethargic and had somewhat damp energy—two emotions most of us have felt after this trying year. He and his business partner both saw massive improvements in their overall wellbeing after they started supercharging their bodies with dense mineral and nutrient rich cold-pressed juices. “Energy levels, complexion, allergies, and so many more topical benefits came as a bi-product of juicing, but really the whole juice craze was an entry into a much wider world of food as medicine,” Walker explains.

The benefits of raw, cold-pressed organic juice from fruit, veggies, and adaptogenic herbs are vast. (Somewhat) simply put, one of the biggest health perks is getting the live enzymes and living beneficial bacteria into your belly to promote a healthy gut flora and a diverse microbiome. The other ways the concoction can help your body out:

It detoxifies your body and boosts your immune system

Fresh juice contains essential enzymes, minerals, and vitamins, which when regularly consumed, will cleanse and detoxify you at a cellular level. Plus, the combination of nutrients will help naturally flush out toxins from your body and provide immunity-boosting ingredients like vitamin C, zinc, and vitamin B6.

“Energy levels, complexion, allergies, and so many more topical benefits came as a bi-product of juicing, but really the whole juice craze was an entry into a much wider world of food as medicine.”

It’s extremely easy to digest

The cold-pressed process allows all of the nutritional benefits from juice to be easily absorbed within the body. Jo Elen Giddish, a certified nutritional consultant from Southern California, says cold-pressed juice might be easier on digestion since your body doesn't have to break down all of the fiber found in fruits and vegetables.

It’s an easier way to get your greens in

When I first got into juicing, I often wondered why it’s somehow better to drink your fruits and veggies rather than just eat them. For starters, you can consume much more produce in a juice form, but Walker says the real benefit lies in giving your digestion a break.

IS ALL JUICE MADE EQUAL?

The short answer is no. Most juices you’ll find at the grocery store have been pasteurized through a new scientific process called HPP (high pressure process). Walker says this process is a fancy way of extending shelf-life while killing anything living in the product. This means that the juice might be free from spoiling right away, but that’s not how the natural world has intended for us to eat.

“Food is meant to be alive and full of bacteria,” Walker says. “If you’re buying a juice and it costs $5 for 16 ounces, I can promise you they use GMO produce and kill off anything that was once alive. All of this destroys your gut biome and ability to properly absorb the nutrients you just paid money to consume.”

So, to avoid running the risk of harming your body, look for reputable juice companies, make your own juice at home, or ask questions about how the juice is made.

HOW CAN I GET STARTED AT HOME?

If you’re a newbie, the juicing process can be fairly intimidating— you do not want to get in the way of those massive machines at the juice shop! It also requires a bit of a monetary and time commitment when you’re first learning how to make your own juice at home. However, from someone who isn’t great in the kitchen, I’m here to say that it’s totally doable (dare I even say enjoyable?) to start juicing. Here are some of gadgets I’ve loved while getting started:

1

Two of the greatest benefits of using the Hurom H200 Easy Clean

Slow Juicer? You can fit whole-sized fruit, like apples, directly into the juicer without any chopping. Plus, the machine is actually easy to clean—it’s not just a lofty claim. Simply rinse the pieces under warm water after you’re done juicing—no scrubbing required.

$700, HUROM.COM

2

While cold-pressed juice is meant to be consumed right away, you can store most mixtures for a couple of days. I’ve been keeping my juice as fresh as possible by pouring anything unused into these Hurom Juice Jars. The stainless steel air-tight lid keeps oxygen from reaching and degrading the juice.

$15, HUROM.COM

3

I love to add apples to my juice but don’t love chopping them. The Cuisipro Apple Corer has made the task quicker and less tedious. Just line the tool up with the core of an apple or pear and gently twist it. Another perk is that it’s dishwasher safe.

$10, SURLATABLE.COM *

Tasty Combos

5 DELICIOUS JUICE BLENDS RECOMMENDED BY MY HEALTH COACH, JOSIE SANTI OF WELLNESS BY JOSIE

Carrot Ginger Turmeric Lemon or Orange

Spinach Cucumber Apple Ginger Lemon

Kai Linz ring, Allora by Laura Mint Grapefruit Ginger

Beets Apple Lemon Ginger

Adaptogenic herbs, which are plant-based herbs that help you adapt to physical or physiological stress, can also be added to fresh juice to support your stress response. Ashwagandha, reishi, and cordyceps are some common herbs worth trying.