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I awoke in the morning feeling under-rested and sluggish; my body seemed stubbornly resistant to my efforts to move it with anything resembling grace. I felt like I was wading through pudding. I thudded into the kitchen, gulped down a mug of coffee and headed out the door for my interview with the lovely ladies of Daily Juice, hoping that by the time I reached my destination, I would be alert and coherent enough to conduct an interview. Upon my arrival, I was met by five of the Daily Juice goddesses: Annabelle Galvan, Meghan Doherty, Jessebelle Denver, Jessica Russell and Tamara Mico Jons. I was immediately struck by the healthy, natural beauty radiating from each of these women. If I was going to ask someone for advice on healthy living, I would definitely ask these ladies, and I did.
As they shared their knowledge about juices and raw foods, one of the women presented a tray loaded with a round of “Mr. Res-istor” shots, which are a blend of fresh lemon and organic ginger juice, oregonal (a potent oil made from oregano) and cayenne pepper. We toasted our health and slammed back our healthy, guilt-free shots. Minutes later, I began to feel more alert and lighter, a feeling that continually increased after sipping on a delicious custom smoothie, full of fresh fruits, coconut juice and greens. This sense of renewed and vibrant health is why Daily Juice customers return to the beloved raw foods shop again and again.
There are plenty of scientific reasons for this increase in energy. Raw foods contain nutrients that are destroyed or damaged by cooking, including proteins and biophotons. Biophotons are photons of light that are emitted from life forms. Plants store these biophotons exceedingly well, but cooking destroys them. Thus, eating raw fruits and greens allows you to benefit from the transfer of that vital energy. Enzymes are another essential element of raw foods; they are proteins that facilitate and accelerate chemical reactions in the digestive tract. The enzymes in raw foods transform what we eat into chemical structures small enough to pass through the digestive tract and into the bloodstream, providing you with maximum nutrition. Cooking foods breaks enzymes down, decreasing the amount of nutrients your bloodstream will absorb and depriving you of healthy sustenance.
In a society where people spend 90% of their grocery money on processed foods, raw foods may be seen as exotic and even mysterious, but the staff of Daily Juice intends to make “eating raw” easy and enjoyable. “It makes you feel so much better,” says Denver. “It really is instant gratification,” adds Galvan. The Daily Juice menu features a wide array of juices and smoothies as well as an assortment of healthy, raw snacks; there’s something for everybody, from the newly initiated to the hardcore health nut. “I’m really into the algae and greens,” says Doherty. “I like a smoothie variation of the “Green Party” juice, and I add a banana. You can never get too much chlorophyll.” For the slightly less adventurous, there are such delectable creations as the “Marigold” with mango, peach and orange (I recommend adding goji berries), and the “Sure Thing” with strawberry, banana and organic apple.
Transitioning into a diet rich in raw foods is well worth your while, so be patient with yourself. The divas of Daily Juice advise you to be prepared to go through a detoxification, part of which involves craving processed foods; their advice? Go get some juice. “Keep it simple and be compassionate with yourself as you adjust your mental state to the change,” advises Mico Jons. “Fill up with fruits and vegetables. Ask yourself what you can add, not what you can take away,” says Russell. The ladies also recommend making a visit to Daily Juice for sustenance and support. “We’re not snobby or pretentious; we want to be open and friendly,” says Denver. “When someone walks in the door they’re good with me, just for coming in,” Galvan adds. “I enjoy seeing people who are seeking health and striving for that,” shares Lelani Galvan, Annabelle’s sister, who is also a member of the Daily Juice family, “I admire people for that.” For those who may be concerned about financing their new lifestyle, Daily Juice offers wholesome goodness for every budget. “Everyone should be able to afford health,” says Doherty.
Daily Juice promotes a lifestyle that starts with the individual and expands out into the community. A healthy diet, abundant in raw foods, nourishes us on the inside and out; we have more energy, clearer skin, shinier hair, healthy digestion, enhanced mental clarity, a leaner and stronger body and an improved outlook on life. Those closest to us witness and reap the benefits of our renewed vitality and may be inspired to change their own eating habits. When you visit Daily Juice, you are contributing to the local economy, supporting local farms and adding to the Daily Juice compost, which is used to replenish depleted soil. Even the convenient on-the-go beverage cups are made of biodegradable corn, and are completely recyclable. Daily Juice also encourages customers to leave their cars in the garage, offering cyclists 15% off of their tab. Russell sums up her feelings about healthy choices and Daily Juice, “When we eat organic foods we are voting for our health, our local farmers, and for the healing of the planet.”
Raw Food Recommendations for Common Ailments
• Allergies: lemon, ginger, cayenne pepper, oregano, bee pollen and blue-green algae
• “Mr. Resistor”
• Pain Relief: noni, pineapple juice, aloe juice and MSM sulfur
• Weight Loss: cacao, ginger, grapefruit, smoothies containing whole foods (as a meal replacement)
• “Master Cleanse”
(A 10-day detoxification plan designed to break up old
buildup in the digestive system)
• Liver Detox: wheatgrass, beet, carrot, celery, kale and parsley
• “Barton Springs”
• Common Cold: lemon, ginger, cayenne pepper, grapefruit, orange, pineapple, lime, garlic, ginger, echinacea, astragalus, noni and goji
• “Mr. Resistor”
• “Vitamin C, I Told Ya”
• PMS/Menopause Symptoms: maca root, goji, cacao, magnesium, coconut, calcium from greens
• “Chocolate Prana”
MORE INFO
Daily Juice
512.804.0049
www.dailyjuice.org
See website for locations