Pressed Juicery

To kick off the New Year, I want to introduce you to Pressed Juicery. My close friend Hayden opened Pressed with his partners, Carly and Hedi, last year. The company features organic cold-pressed juice in a variety of amazing flavors. My personal favorites are the Apple Lemon Ginger and Detox 2. Richard loves the Roots and Greens 1, and Tanner’s favorites are the Carrot Coconut and the Watermelon Mint. Once I am done breastfeeding, I can’t wait to try one of their juice cleanses – I think it would be a perfect way to start off the New Year. You can click HERE to see their full menu of juices.

Pressed has three locations – Brentwood, West Hollywood and Malibu. They also deliver. Their stores are small but very tasteful. I especially love the reclaimed wood on the exterior of their new West Hollywood space. Rather than interviewing Hayden myself, I wanted to share with you parts of an interview Pamela Salzman, my cooking teacher and nutritional/health expert, posted on her blog. She asks all of the right questions!

PS: What inspired you to start Pressed Juicery?

PJ: We all happen to love fresh pressed juice and were craving an option in LA, which we found to have a very limited juice market. We all have different backgrounds- one of us is a devoted mom, the other is a businessman, and one of us has a holistic health degree- but what we have in common is that we have seen the profound effects of juicing on our own lifestyles and on the lives of people close to us. We couldn’t believe the benefits and wanted to make it easy for others to incorporate into their hectic schedules.

PS: What are some of the benefits of drinking fresh pressed juices?
PJ: The benefits are really endless and to see proper results it is best to drink them consistently either in the form of cleansing or at least drinking juice each day. Some of the results people find are: balanced pH and sugar levels, clearer skin, weight loss, increased mental clarity, diminished aches and pains, a regulated colon, blood and tissue cleansing, better sleep patterns and better liver function. And this is only the beginning. Many diseases are attributed directly or indirectly to an unhealthy digestive system. Your immune system and health depend on healthy elimination of toxins from the body which is what juice cleansing allows to happen as it gives the digestive system a proper and much-needed break from the work it has to do on a daily basis.

PS: What is the difference between blender juices and pressed juices?
PJ: Juices that are made in a blender are not really juices- they are blended drinks. They still maintain all of the bulk and fiber of the ingredients, along with juice from the ingredient as well. When something is juiced, particularly in a press, what you yield is the pure liquid vitamins and nutrients from the fruit or vegetable, without the fiber. This means that they essentially provide nutrients uninterrupted by the digestion process. Our bodies absorb them with maximum efficiency and are able to assimilate the vitamins and minerals in a matter of minutes, rather than hours. So many people are lacking proper nutrition these days, as a result of poor diet and lifestyle choices, as well as factors that are often out of their control. Juicing is a wonderful way to get the freshest and most direct sources of vitamins and minerals that our bodies require to keep them in a vital and healthy state.

PS: What is the difference nutritionally-speaking between a fresh, cold-pressed juice and a flash pasteurized juice from the supermarket?
PJ: Fresh, cold-pressed juice is raw and unpasteurized, meaning it is simply juiced under the coldest possible conditions, protecting the enzymes and nutrients (the goodness that keeps us healthy!) that are living in the juice. Pasteurized and flash-pasteurized juices that one would find in a market are subjected to a heat process which kills living bacteria in the juice. This process allows the juice to be stored on shelves longer, however it also diminishes many of the vital properties of the juices.

PS: Why is fresh pressed juice so highly perishable?
PJ: Because it is unpasteurized and the ingredients are essentially living and remain so after they are pressed, the juice carries a shelf life of 3 days and must be kept as cold as possible to ensure freshness.

PS: What are some popular juice combinations at your store?
PJ: People love our Greens 2, which contains Kale, Spinach, Cucumber, Celery, Romaine, Parsley, Apple, and Lemon. And the warm weather has made our Watermelon Mint a huge hit. It’s simple and refreshing.

PS: Do you change the juices you drink according to the seasons?
PJ: We maintain the majority of our juices throughout the year, but we always add seasonal juices with fruits and vegetables that are available. In the winter persimmons were a huge hit, and cool and refreshing drinks that incorporate watermelon have been well-received during warmer months. Being based in California, we are so lucky to have access to delicious, fresh produce all year long.

PS: What’s your favorite juice?
PJ: I [Hayden] love our Apple Lemon Ginger combined with a splash of Greens 1 and a touch of liquid cayenne. It’s always fun to mix up combinations and see what we come up with. We can’t wait to share our expanded menu with everyone in the coming months.

PS: Do you have any suggestions for people who have never tried juicing?
PJ: People are often afraid of juicing with vegetables. Many people are familiar with the standard fruit juices but the idea of drinking, let alone consuming, a green beverage is a little daunting. Keeping it simple and tailoring it to what you personally like is the key. Throw in a few spinach and kale leaves, add something with a high water content like cucumber, and then add a little bit of tang from a lemon or some ginger or both. If you crave sweetness- beets, carrots and/or green apples are great options. Keep experimenting until you find something that works for you. It can end up being really satisfying and you will feel a difference in your body and life after consistent juicing.

PS: I have many readers who do not have access to a juice bar or a place which makes fresh pressed juices. Is there a juicer that you can recommend for everyday use at home?
PJ: Omega 1000 is a great juicer- people seem to really like it. Breville also makes a few options that are simple to clean and user-friendly. XXJKE