Ever thought about juice cleansing for that extra boost whether the goal be weight loss, a detox, or just starting a healthier lifestyle?
Look no further than Chomp Eatery & Juice Station in Santa Monica, which has been specializing in customized juice cleanses since opening last April.
Co-owner Rolan Pongpuntara, known by regulars as the “Juice Queen,” brings her experience of six years in pharmacy as a technician to the juice cleansing trend.
“I had my own dispensary at a doctor’s office where I prescribed a wide-range of natural remedies as well as prescription medication,” Pongpuntara said. “I learned a lot about weight loss, detoxing and cleansing, irregular thyroids and hormones, and fatigue and depression. Learning from the doctors and pharmacists that I worked with, I have seen how much the world is moving towards more of an organic and natural form when it comes to remedies.”
Pongpuntara has created a menu with more than 40 juice flavors and developed a variety of cleanses called Juice Queen, Sunlight, Jade, Lemonade, Beautox, Pineapple, and Watermelon.
She said the key to a successful juice cleanse was the balance of all flavors to make it taste delicious.
“I used to have other green juices from a local juice bar and it tasted watered down probably due to adding too much cucumber and I had Almond Mylk and it tasted watered down as well,” she said. “My goal here is to add ingredients to benefit a person and make it taste delicious. Just like food, we don’t like bland food, we want tasty food. That’s the main concept of ‘Chomp’ juices with bite. That’s what makes our juices so special and unique.”
She said her favorite ingredients were adding superfoods to her Almond Mylk concoctions such as raw organic Maca and raw organic cacao.
“The Maca is a root that belongs to the radish family, have that creamy texture and taste that makes it taste like a malty milk shake,” she said. “Maca is good to balance hormones, gives energy, and supports mood. This is what I love about it because it gives me the energy to work every day and supports my mental health.
“Cacao on the other hand is also my favorite because it makes me stay away from chocolate and gives me many benefits. Putting cacao in my Almond Mylk makes me feel like I’m having a chocolate milk without feeling guilty. The main benefit that I love from cacao is the antioxidants.”
Pongpuntara said her nickname “Juice Queen” came to fruition as she creates customized cleanses for customers depending on their goal, type of diet, and on the person.
“I see what fits best for each individual rather than having to put someone on a standard menu,” she said. “The reason is nowadays we have all types of people doing the cleansing with different weights and different goals. It should not be standard in my eyes. However some people go with the standard menu since they don’t know what to pick or they are used to other juice companies.”
She said the secret to her cleanses were the main ingredients lemon and cayenne pepper.
“Lemons are packed with vitamin C, B-complex vitamins, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and fiber,” she said. “They contain more potassium than apples. Cayenne pepper is packed with high minerals and vitamins. But what I love about cayenne pepper is the natural process of detoxification is streamlined. Cayenne also causes us to sweat which is another important process of detoxification. When combining lemon and agave it makes a great detox drink.”
Chomp Eatery is located at 1612 Santa Monica Blvd. It is open Monday and Tuesday from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, Wednesday to Friday from 8:30 am to 9 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 am to 8 pm.
For more information, call 424.238.3398 or visit chompeatery.com.
Chomp Eatery’s Juice Cleanse Tips For Beginners
1) Choose a cleanse that best fits your experience. Don’t select the hardest cleanse if you have never juice cleansed before.
2) Eat healthy before the first day of the cleanse to help ease your body into the cleanse rather than shocking it.
3) Clear your schedule and don’t let any partying or any special events be the cause of failing the cleanse.
4) Drink lots of water during the cleanse. This is the number one secret to success.
5) Pamper yourself by getting a massage, hot yoga, mediating or riding a bike around Santa Monica Beach.
6) Schedule a colon cleanse to help get rid of toxins. Also, try going to the sauna to help release even more toxins.
7) Daily dry brushing helps release more toxins as skin is the biggest organ in the body.
8) After the cleanse, maintain eating habits and remember all the hard work and progress that went into meeting your goal.
