Pressed Juicery Gives The Real Scoop On Juicing

Whether you're working in the health field or just reading Cosmo, you know that juicing is having a major moment. So, we teamed up with one of L.A.'s hottest juice providers Pressed Juicery to offer an exclusive 12-juice set (with overnight shipping!) to all of our non-Angeleno readers who can't readily stop by the company's storefronts for a taste of their raved-about concoctions.

While we were at it, we thought we'd sit down with Pressed's delightful (and quite fashionable) founders for a little chat on the whole juicing thing. Turns out Hedi Gores, Carly Brien, and Hayden Slater –– while they probably ingest 400 times the amount of vitamins we do on a daily basis –– have a pretty balanced view when it comes to incorporating juicing into your lifestyle. Read on to get all the deets, and don't forget to tell us what you think!

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What made you all decide to dedicate your careers to juicing?
"As so many people can attest, working crazy hours –– whether it's as a mother or a producer –– can really take its toll on your health and happiness. For each of us, we had experiences where our quality of life was vastly improved by the incorporation of fresh vegetable juice into our lives. It led to such a passion for wellness that we all chose to make that a top priority and leave our other careers to see this vision through (except motherhood, of course!)."

How long have you been juicing?
"We have all been juicing for about eight years."

How has juicing changed the way you feel?
"It has changed everything! We (along with many of our customers) have so much energy, we sleep better at night, and we feel more focused and invigorated. Basically, it's as though everything has become clearer."

Have you noticed any physical changes since you started juicing?
"Aside from the energy boost it provides, juicing is an incredible secret weapon when it comes to beauty. Almost overnight, skin gets clearer and dewier –– it's really amazing. Generally, people also report weight loss, especially because many use juice as sort of a "gateway" to other healthy choices like exercising and eating more nourishing whole foods."

How do you incorporate juices into your daily diet? Can you give us an example of your menu for an average day? "We encourage drinking at least one Greens juice a day. A sample menu would be a Greens juice upon waking, a small breakfast of fresh fruit or oatmeal, a Greens or Roots juice as a snack, light lunch of salad with a lean protein, an apple, lemon, and ginger juice as a snack, and dinner of leafy greens with protein."

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Do you think it’s possible to balance a healthy lifestyle with some not-so-healthy vices?
"Absolutely! None of us are perfect. We all have our vices. What's the point of life if you can't enjoy the things you love once in a while? One of the incredible things about our bodies is that they are so resilient. We are able to indulge in a couple of cocktails or some dessert one night, and then wake up the next day and repair the damage by doing something good for our bodies. Detoxing with a healthy juice, such as a hydrating coconut water, and working out is really all it takes (of course, if you've been indulging moderately!)."

Speaking of vices, what are some of your favorite “bad” behaviors or indulgences?
"We all love to go out to big dinners with friends and enjoy the foods everyone loves. It's no fun to be the person at the table that won't have a slice of pizza or a drink. It's also not healthy to go to that extreme. We all drink wine and have those late nights, and as we mentioned earlier, if it's a special occasion, dessert is not to be skipped! As in most things, moderation is the key … along with a big juice the morning after!"

Are you also big advocates of fitness? What kind of exercise do you do?
"We all love to get our heart rates up, and we are so lucky to live in a place where we can work out in great weather. There are so many great hikes all over L.A., and the Santa Monica stairs are great. We all do some form of organized exercise –– usually Pilates, yoga or spinning –– at least once a week along with our outdoor activities."

Do you have any advice for juicing newbies? What’s the best way to introduce yourself to the process? "Be adventurous! Some of the most delicious concoctions are just a result of trial and error. Don't be afraid of using ingredients you've never tried. And, if you don't want to do it yourself, buy some Pressed juices!"

What do you have to say to all of the juicing naysayers out there? "As we mentioned before, we believe in moderation. We are not proponents of cleansing all the time but believe it can be a good way to give your body a break once in a while. Other than that, everyone knows green vegetables are some of the most important, nutrient-dense foods that your body needs. Getting them in the form of juice allows those vitamins a quick and efficient pathway into your bloodstream and leaves your digestive system alone. Having a veggie juice each day is a great way to get nutrients while allowing the digestive system to heal. Once people try the juice and see how they feel, there usually isn't much left to say."