As students are rushing to get out of bed and grab their coffee before class in the morning, DePaul University junior Sarah Curnow is chopping up strawberries and spinach. Fifteen minutes later she is drinking freshly squeezed juice and feels ready to start her day. 

According to the documentary “Hungry for Change,” people can be eating food, but starving nutritionally. The food industry focuses on creating food that has a long shelf life, instead of providing people with food that strengthens their immune system and boosts their energy. One of the solutions the documentary provides to solving this problem is juicing.

As the trend and juice bars become popular throughout the city, students at DePaul are starting to take notice.

Juicing is not drinking fruit punch packed with 32 grams of sugar and food dye; it is the process of making juice out of fresh fruits and vegetables. Juice bars offer a juice cleanse, which is when a person only consumes juice for a fixed amount of days.

David Fortunato, staff member a Peeled Juice Bar located on Sheffield Avenue, offers some insight on the juice cleanse process.

“During a cleanse, the juices flush out all the toxins from your body,” Fortunato said. “Juice cleanses have different effects on people, but many of our customers are happy with the results. The cleanse helps shrink your stomach and can help with weight loss.” 

Peeled Juice Bar offers a cleanse for three, five or seven days. Fortunato said that most customers who come in ask for the three-day, which is $195. During this cleanse, a person drinks six juices every day; one juice every two hours. This includes two red juices, two green juices, a lemonade juice and a cashew juice. 

Alice Murzyn, the owner of Green Corner on Damen Avenue, said by doing a juice cleanse once, one most likely won’t see significant results.

“I would recommend that a person do a juice cleanse twice a year,” Murzyn said. “If they want to lose weight, they should also juice regularly and modify their diet so that they are taking in less carbs, sweets and alcohol.”

Murzyn said that after the holiday season ended, more people have been coming in to buy the juice cleanse, which they offer for $65 a day. She said that after a juice cleanse people feel rejuvenated and experience an increase in energy.

However, a person who wants to try juicing does not have to go on a cleanse. They can incorporate juices into their everyday diet simply for nutritional purposes.       

Junior Sarah Curnow got a Breville Juicer from her parents this past Christmas.

“I make juice about three to five times a week,” Curnow said. “I’m gluten sensitive and lactose intolerant, so I’ve always tried to eat healthy. I enjoy making juice because it’s fun and it really energizes me. I also feel better after I drink it.”

Curnow said that she usually makes herself juice in morning and that counts as her breakfast. She also uses juice to replace a snack throughout the day.

 “I’m obsessed with cooking with fresh produce, and now you can even call me a juice nerd,” Curnow said.  “It’s so easy to make but it tastes delicious and it’s good for you.”

Curnow refers to “The Big Book of Juices” by Natalie Savona for recipes. “All you need is three apples and red berries, and look here at the bottom it shows you all the nutrients you are getting.”    

Another student who recently discovered juicing is DePaul sophomore Haley Loutfy. She said that she became interested in juicing after she watched “Hungry for Change.”

“The documentary scared me from eating processed food,” Loutfy said. “I bought a juicer at the beginning of the quarter and I use it almost every day. I noticed that now I don’t even crave processed food.”

Loutfy said that if she makes juice for breakfast then she drinks it by itself, but if she makes juice for dinner then she has it with something light, like bread. When it comes to making the juice, Loutfy likes to throw in random fruits and vegetables to see how it turns out.

“As long as you add a fruit you won’t be able to taste the vegetables, but you’ll still be getting nutrients from both,” Loutfy said. “A carrot and celery is just ok, but celery and strawberries tastes even better.”

Loutfy said that she spent $99 on her Cuisinart Juicer and it may seem expensive, but it was well worth it. 

Just like Loutfy, “Hungry for Change” inspired DePaul sophomore Taryn Trovillion to buy a juicer. Trovillion said that she bought it two weeks ago and has been using it once every other day.

Trovillion said that through juicing she hopes to give her body a break from chemicals, get the required vegetables and fruits that she needs, and help the environment. She said that she’s busy all the time and doesn’t want to be slowed down by unhealthy foods.

 “Fruits can be expensive, so what I’ve been doing is buying fruits that are on sale and then finding recipes online to make juices with them,” Travillion said. “I’ve already noticed that my blood sugar is more stable ever since I started drinking juices.”

Both Curnow and Loutfy are interested in doing a juice cleanse, but on a long weekend when they wouldn’t have to be at school. Trovillion however, is unsure.

“I believe that everything should be taken in moderation,” Trovillion said. “I love juicing because it’s a nice way to sneak in veggies and fruits, but I don’t know if I’m ready for a full on cleanse.”