Juices sold at supermarkets are all treated to maintain a longer shelf life. This is accomplished by adding unhealthy preservatives and pasteurizing. VERVE juices are 100% raw and unpasteurized, without additives, preservatives and sweeteners. It is what we leave out of our juices that make them unique.

The juices you make at home or buy at common juice bars are all made in centrifugal juicers or rotary juicers. As the blade inside a centrifugal juicer spins at a high speed, it generates a lot of heat. The heat causes oxidization so you need to consume the juice immediately.

Pasteurized juice is heated to a high temperature before it is sold. About 99% of all juices sold in the European Union are pasteurized, namely because it prolongs the shelf life of juice and is more cost-effective than not pasteurizing. Unfortunately, pasteurization kills the vital raw vitamins, minerals and enzymes making the juices nutritionally deficient. VERVE promotes the consumption of living, fruit and vegetable juice, and therefore we mindfully press, bottle and sell a truly raw and unpasteurized product - unheated and untreated.

Our juices are handmade with love, so at times variations may occur, such as:

Separation: Verve juices have no additives, and only additives can prevent the natural settling process. Before drinking, be sure to give your juice a good shake! That's all!

White Specs: Juices that contain ginger may have white specks in the bottom of the juice bottle. No reason to worry. These white specks are ginger sediment, which naturally settle to the bottom of the bottle.

Color Variation: Because VERVE uses the freshest ingredients available to us at all times of the year, the juice can vary in color each time you purchase it.

Of course! We've designed the taste profiles so that kids love the juices too. Ask your health care professional if our fresh, unpasteurized drinks are right for their developing bodies and minds. Keep in mind that children should not be doing our cleanse programs.

It is worth considering a juice cleanse if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• feeling tired and sluggish
• suffering from slow digestion or constant bloating
• have skin problems
• looking to shift a few pounds
• find yourself craving for sugar foods or caffeine
• feel like you need to do something to kick start a new health regime

Many people can benefit from a juice cleanse, however there are a few people for whom this is not recommended:

• Children
• Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Diabetics or anyone suffering from hypo glycaemia
• People who are underweight (body mass index less than 19)
• If you have a medical condition or are taking prescription medication then you should check with your doctor first

There are lots of benefits of doing a juice cleanse:

• Gives your digestive system a bit of a break: juicing requires less digestive processing and consumes less energy
• Feel nourished: the juices provide a huge nutrient boost. Juicing floods your body with easy to absorb nutrients, phytonutrients, antioxidants and enzymes.
• Rehydrate: many people don’t drink enough fluid and drink too many diuretics such as tea and coffee, a juice fast will help rehydrate and plump up those cells.
• Reduces your appetite: after your cleanse you will feel more satisfied with less food
• May help weight loss: a three day juice cleanse is a great way to help kick start the weight loss process
• Detoxification: reduces the amount of toxins that you are putting into your body and helps eliminate the ones that are already there
• Feel great about yourself: you will feel a great sense of accomplishment when you finish your cleanse and know that you have done your body good

Many people feel revitalized at the end of their cleanse with more energy, clearer skin, flatter stomach and sparkly eyes… what’s not to like about that!

Normally a juice cleanse should last between one and five days. We think that a three day juice cleanse is ideal for most people.

To take full advantage of your juice cleanse it is good to prepare and ease yourself into the whole thing gently. Here are some things to think about:

• Plan ahead and clear your schedule: find a sensible slot in your diary to do the juice cleanse. Ideally free from social engagements so you are not tempted by food and alcohol. You need a quiet weekend when you can just focus on yourself
• Find a buddy: it is easier to do a cleanse with a like minded friend to share notes and keep each other motivated
• Eat clean and lean: for the week before your cleanse shift your diet towards high levels of fruit, vegetables and salad. It would be ideal to eat vegetarian, vegan or raw in the week before the fast. At the very least:
  • Alcohol: keep to an absolute minimum in the week before the cleanse
  • Tea and Coffee: start to cut down the amount of tea and coffee that you drink to avoid headaches whilst on the cleanse. Switch to fruit or herbal teas instead
  • Sugars and sweeteners: minimize your intake of sugary foods in all forms: cakes, biscuits, fizzy drinks, sweets.
  • Processed foods: cut down on anything that comes in a packet or a box, instead eat whole unprocessed foods - so plenty of vegetables and fruit with lean protein such as fish, chicken or beans.
  • White starchy foods: steer away from foods like white bread, rice or pasta
  • Nicotine: …sorry but obviously not!
  • Remove temptations: make sure that your kitchen cupboards do not have any tempting treats. It will be hard to resist if you leave them there.
  • Incorporate: Steamed vegetables, Salads, Fruits, Smoothies (try and add green vegetables like spinach or kale to your amoothies), Fresh juices, Gluten free grains like quinoa, millet and amaranth

• Support: tell your friends and family that you are doing a juice cleanse and ask for their support during this time. They might think that you are a little crazy but they also might be inspired.
• Sip slowly: it can be better to sip your juices slowly through the day rather than drinking them quickly in one go. This can help keep hunger pangs at bay.
• Water, water, water! start the day with a large glass of warm water with half a fresh lemon squeezed into it. Remember to drink plenty of water along with your juices throughout the day (1.5 to 2 litres of filtered water in addition to your juices).
• Pampering: use this time to pamper and indulge yourself. Soak in a nice long bath (Epsom salt baths can help with detoxification), burn relaxing essential oils, book yourself in for a massage or a facial.
• Deep breathing: our lungs are a major organ of elimination so deep breathing enables toxins and carbon dioxide to be released and helps to pump the lymphatic system.
• Sauna: if you have access to one using a sauna whilst on your cleanse is a great way to speed up detoxification. Short bursts in the sauna followed by a cold shower.
• Dry skin brushing: improves the appearance of your skin and stimulates the lymphatic system, which helps with toxin removal. Take a natural bristle brush and work from your extremities in gentle strokes towards your heart.
• Beauty sleep: you may feel a little bit more tired than usual. Plan to go to bed an hour earlier than normal to give your body that much needed rest.
• Colon health: it is important to keep your bowel movements regular throughout this cleanse as this is a key way that the body removes waste. If you are feeling a bit blocked up then try pyllium husks to get thing moving. Start by mixing one teaspoon of psyllium husks into a large glass of water and drink, follow with another large glass of water – gradually build up to one tablespoon if needed.
• Hungry?: some people can feel hungry, particularly during the first day. Keep yourself busy and away from temptation. If you feel like you just can’t survive without something to eat then try munching on the following: a few apple slices, chunks of cold cucumber, a slice of avocado, or a few sticks of raw celery and carrot. A clear vegetable broth can also be quite comforting.

It is common to feel a bit hungry although this tends to diminish quite quickly. Some people can feel tired or experience difficulty concentrating which is why it is often better to base your cleanse around a weekend when you are not working.

Headaches are also quite common and are often the result of caffeine withdrawal. They can be minimized if you follow the guidelines on how to prepare for your cleanse.

Without wanting to put you off other symptoms can sometimes occur: skin breakouts, bad breath, body odour, coated tongue, diarrhea, feeling light headed. These are signs that your body is detoxifying and removing toxins – these symptoms will pass.

It is not recommended to do any strenuous exercise whilst on your cleanse. However, movement is good as it stimulates blood circulation and the lymphatic system, which can help eliminate toxins. Brisk walking is recommended, as is swimming and yoga. Listen to your body and if you feel dizzy or lightheaded then stop.

The first thing to say is well done for getting this far! As much as you might be tempted to eat the contents of your fridge or go out for a big meal, you might benefit from easing yourself gently into your normal routine.

You can extend the benefits of the cleanse by keeping your diet clean and light for the few days after the fast.

You are still in a detox mode when exiting a cleanse, so try to think carefully of what your put into your system. Make sure you drink plenty of water and slowly reintroduce whole foods.

Breakfast: make yourself a fresh fruit salad.

Lunch: eat a large crispy salad with at least 5 different types of vegetables and a simple squeeze of lemon juice. Think about adding in some fermented foods or sprouted seeds.

Dinner: try a homemade vegetable or miso soup or some lightly steamed vegetables.

Try this type of light diet for 2-3 days ensuring that you steer clear of sugar, dairy, gluten, caffeine and alcohol.

On day 3 add to these light meals by including some soaked nuts and seeds, gluten free grains such as brown rice, quinoa, amaranth or millet. Include some good oils such as coconut, avocado, olive oil, hemp or flax oil.

On day 4: start to introduce some clean and light animal proteins such as steamed fish, chicken or egg (ideally organic).

On day 5: re introduce dairy and meat if you feel ready to do this. However, consider non dairy alternatives such as oat, nut, coconut, and hemp milks.

The point of the cleanse is to give your digestive system a break from the intense work it does on a daily basis. It would not be productive to eat solid food on a juice cleanse, because it takes hard work to metabolize the food and break it down.

This is up to the individual. If you are a beginner, you first have to see how your first detox program goes and then decide how often you need it. Many people do a 3 day cleanse once in a month and others do a 1 day cleanse every week. It all depends on the individual and can be tailored to ones needs.

Remember, this is a nutritional cleanse designed to give your digestive system a rest and therefore allow your body to focus on eliminating toxins. Many people do lose weight, you it is just a bonus side effect. If you're already slim and eating well you may not lose much weight. Others who may have some extra weight and are transitioning from a highly processed, low-nutrient diet may even lose half kilo a day. If after finishing your cleanse you stick to a plant and wholefood based alkalkine diet, you will keep the weight off, and maintain your ‘cleansing glow’!

Living plant foods offer a significant amount of proteins. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein and they are in all fruits and vegetables. In addition, all our cleanse programs include one nut milk for the purpose of extra protein.

If you’re on medication, you should check with your doctor before beginning any juice cleanse.

At this time, plastic is actually a more environmentally sound choice than glass. We use recyclable BPA free rPET1 bottles, made from recycled plastic material for the following reasons:

• Plastic uses considerably less energy than glass to be recycled.
• rPET1 doesn't leach, and is generally the safest single-use plastic bottle choice.
• It is dramatically lighter than other bottle options, which means less fuel is used to create and deliver each bottle.
• Plastic is more space and energy efficient way to package our juice. A single plastic bottle uses fewer resources to create, fill, ship, and distribute than a single glass bottle. This is because glass bottles weigh up to nine times more than plastic bottles.

Absolutely. The opposite could be a possibility as well. These are normal side effects of a cleanse and one of the reasons why we recommend colonics or enemas while cleansing.

Our cleanses are designed to be juice fasts, i.e. consumed without solid food. The benefits of a cleanse will be greatly diminished if mixed with solid food. However, we encourage adding our juices to your regular daily diet, as they have many benefits to your health and wellbeing.

Your body’s PH reflects how acid or alkaline your system is and is related to the foods you eat. In order for your vital organs to function properly your body requires an alkaline environment. Consuming fruits and vegetables in the form of fresh, raw juice makes your body makes your body more alkaline helping bring balance to your system and life. Avoiding high acid foods can protect you from inflammation which is the root of disease.