Tico’s Owner Ammel De Bernard
The Princeton Public Library series The Taste of Princeton continued this month spotlighting Tico’s Eatery & Juice Bar. While they do sell amazing tortilla-based dishes, sandwiches, soups and salads, the focus of their talk was on the fresh juice they sell.
Tico’s owner Ammel De Bernard was on hand, along with nutritionist Rachel Schaeffer, owner of Kiwi Nutrition Counseling, to explain the significance of juicing. Fresh fruits and vegetables are in abundance year round due to the climate in Ammel’s native Costa Rico. He decided to bring his culture of getting your daily dose of nutrition to Princeton, and has been welcomed with opened arms.
They explained how fresh raw fruit and vegetables are a huge source of enzymes that convert food into energy. Juicing strips the fiber from the fruits and vegetables, making it easier for your body to digest the nutrients. They increase your metabolism, and give you a boost of antioxidants, which fight free radicals that contribute to disease. Juices should be consumed immediately (preferably on an empty stomach), or refrigerated and consumed within hours before they start to break down.
Both Ammel and Rachel emphasized the importance of eating healthy, but know we don’t eat all of the fruit and veggies we should, so drinking them is the sure way of getting the nutrients we need. Tico’s Green Monster is one of their most popular drinks, which is a mix of kale, spinach, celery, cucumber, green apple, lemon, and ginger. Green drinks are lower in calories, and better for diabetics.
Juice cleansing diets can detox your body, help you lose weight, improve your complexion and sleep, make you more alert and energetic, and overall improve your health. Consult your doctor or nutritionist before starting a cleanse. If you’re in the market for a juicer, Ammel recommends an Omega brand. This is a reliable manufacture who would have replacement parts in the future. Get one with sufficient power, that’s easy to clean, and yields very dry pulp (more juice in the cup). You can read this random Omega juicer review I discovered.
Rachel mentioned that there should be a transition between your current diet and a cleanse. More raw fruits and vegetables should be introduced to meals to help prevent getting headaches or nausea that some experience when going instantly to a juice cleanse.
Tico’s and Kiwi Nutrition Counseling will be collaborating on a special cleansing program. It looks like they will provide juices for short and long-term cleanses. The exact details will be disclosed in about two weeks. If you’re interested in their cleansing program, contact Tico’s or Kiwi Nutrition mid-month for more information.