Laura Baldini, owner of Boston’s premier juice bar Mother Juice, shares a behind-the-scenes look at a “true” cold pressed juice, and her advice for first time juicers! 

What are the benefits of replacing meals with juice?

Cleansing is a great way to hit the reset button on bad eating habits and gently detoxify your digestive system, from the inside out. Our juices provide the essential vitamins, nutrients and phytochemicals you need to rebuild healthy tissue. With that being said, we don’t recommend juice cleanses to pregnant women, children or anyone with serious health conditions.

What about for athletes?

I would suggest they check with their doctor or coach, but see no reason why they couldn’t incorporate fresh juice into their diet!

Not all juices are created equal though, right? 

Totally not! Here is a quick 101 on fresh juice: Centrifugal juicers, often what you have at home or would find at a gym, work by using a flat cutting blade at the base of a rapidly spinning strainer, pushing the produce through tiny holes in the strainer. Heat, static electricity, and large amounts of air are drawn in, and nutrients and enzymes are destroyed as oxidation occurs. In contrast to the rough extraction and high speeds of centrifugal juicers, cold press juicers operate at lower speeds and gently compress fruit and vegetables to squeeze out the juice. Although cold pressed juice is typically more expensive, it is extracted through a much slower and thorough process that produces a more nutrient dense juice.

Then there is HPP (High Pressure Processing).

We do not use HPP because we believe that juice is best served fresh. HPP juices have likely been sitting around in the storeroom, shipping truck, and supermarket shelves for a long time before you drink it. While enzymes are not destroyed or killed in the HPP process, vital and good companion bacteria are destroyed.  Bacteria pays a key role in good nutrition. Truly raw and unprocessed juices taste better, are the purest form of nutrition, and spoil on their own with no unnatural delays – as fruits and vegetables should!

How often do you recommend going on a juicing cleanse? 

Whenever you are feeling like you need a “jump start” for better eating or want to give your body a break from solid food.  Personally, I try to incorporate two green juices in daily, making it an easier transition when I do decide it’s time for a cleanse.

For a first timer, what is the suggested timeline and instructions for a juice cleanse?

2-3 days

  • Make an extra effort to hydrate throughout your day (at least two liters/day). Drinking water helps set the stage for a smoother cleanse because it allows your cells to eliminate toxins more easily, decreases tiredness, and reduces food cravings.
  • Before your cleanse, avoid the following foods: alcohol, nicotine, caffeinated and diuretic drinks, meat & poultry, dairy & egg products, fish & seafood, sugar, refined carbs and processed foods.
  • Before your cleanse, incorporate the following: steamed veggies, salads, fruits, smoothies, fresh juices, gluten free grains (i.e., quinoa and millet).

How should you prepare for symptoms of hangriness or fatigue?

If you are really hungry, you should eat! We recommend keeping it simple and consuming foods that are whole and raw. Avocados are a great way to add some healthy fats to your diet while on a cleanse. Salads are also a great supplement. Again, listen to what your body needs!

How do you come up with your juice concoctions?

Lots of trial and error 🙂

How can we get MOJU? 

You can stop into any of our three locations or order from Grub Hub or Postmates.

 

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