Meet Annie Vonheim of Smart Pressed Juice in Orange County

Today we’d like to introduce you to Annie Vonheim.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Annie. So, let’s start at the beginning, and we can move on from there.
My life’s work is in the pursuit of healing. Chronic diseases end up affecting most people at some point in their lives.

Some of us have the genes to develop symptoms earlier in life, so our lives are spent going to doctors, then to specialists, then to labs, then for more tests, taking prescription drugs, suffering from side effects, then taking more drugs and seeing more specialists to stop those side effects.

At the end of the day, we want to give up- we’ve tried everything. We end up leaving the doctor’s offices heartbroken as they tell us, “you’re just going to have to live with it.” I have lived with an auto-immune condition my entire life that has led to decreased mobility in my hands and joints. When it gets bad, I can barely grip a steering wheel. I have to beg my friends to wash my hair because I can’t even touch water at times.

However, the biggest blessing of my life was having a career that taught me about the remarkable power to heal from food. I had a successful career leading the international division of the largest functional medicine company in the industry. I got to work alongside the top physicians and researchers in medical nutrition as they designed health protocols for chronic disease management.

It was after 15 years of work in this field that I discovered that no matter how complex the health protocol, the most powerful medicine in the world came from within the humble green vegetable. This is why I created Smart Pressed Juice- to make phytonutrients accessible to everyone. Phytonutrients, or the superpowers within plants that protect them from disease and predators, translate to extraordinarily powerful health benefits when we consume them.

All the research in health science will eventually point to phytonutrients because, at the end of the day, it’s plants that heal us. Smart Pressed Juice was created for those of us who thrive on the widest variety of plants- because the vast array of the 25,000+ existing phytonutrients in nature doesn’t all come in a kale leaf. My goal is to harness the extraordinary power of plants and to make a simple, organic solution for everyone to access, no matter where they are at in their health journey.

Has it been a smooth road?
Creating my own company around a philosophy has been a challenge. At the end of the day, I am communicating a simple yet complex message to people- everything you need to heal is in plants. However, it’s a matter of choosing which plants, making sure it’s balanced and creating a regimen you’ll actually follow.

After all the research over the years, I decided on a health protocol based on science and what really makes our bodies hum with life. This plant-based protocol is based on three steps to perfect health. In it, I featured a high variety of 10 different plant proteins, 22 vegetables from land and sea, and 15 different types of sprouted seeds for activated, healing fiber.

However, most people don’t understand why they would need such an ungodly assortment of plants and why their green juice doesn’t taste like a sugar-laden Jamba Juice. People are looking for a silver bullet to health, and it’s never that simple.

We are still working on honing our education away from eye-glazing science and back into Instagram-sized bites, and we are beginning to see a great response. Our perfect plant regimen has been renamed into an “organic juice cleanse,” and that has resonated very well with juicers as well because it’s a format they are familiar with.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Smart Pressed Juice – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I am most proud that we have a company that cares. We have a company that makes organic phytonutrient-rich products so people can juice smarter and finally have a natural, accessible way to feel amazing every day.

Smart Pressed Juice offers a powerful line of organic, plant-based whole foods that were designed to provide what our bodies need. Our juices are optimized for the ideal combination of vegan superfood proteins, vegetables from land and sea, and activated sprouted fibers that come together as nature’s perfect “juice cleanse” to support your body’s natural detoxification functions.

As a result, Smart Pressed Juice is celebrated by both the beverage and wellness industry for its fresh and affordable approach to juicing. Smart Pressed started by redefining the juice cleanse in three simple steps. Most health and beauty seekers turn to juicing in order to refresh their body, brighten their complexions and to naturally maintain their weight.

However, once they start their search, they find that juicing is expensive, has too much sugar and is missing key nutrients, so they feel hungry and irritable. With these issues in mind, Smart Pressed Juice created a simple system that solves the problems with juicing so people can get everything they need from fruits and vegetables for the day.

Smart Pressed Juices are made from organic fruits, vegetables, and superfoods that are freshly pressed and immediately dehydrated to lock in nutrients at their height. The product line currently features organic greens, superfood plant protein and activated sprouted fibers.

With these three superfood powders, juicers are able to access a complete and affordable system to organic vegetables and plants on a daily basis. These three juices come together to provide an effective juice cleanse, as well as a maintenance plan to help juicers stay on track.

Smart Pressed Juice is celebrated by the beverage industry for its innovative approach to juicing, after being named the top audience favorite at the BevNet annual conference. Anthony Ferranti of BevNet said, “It’s definitely my favorite brand at BevNET Live. Definitely will be adding this powder to my own daily routine!”

The Smart Pressed Organic Pressed Greens juice was also selected by Vegan Health and Fitness Magazine as a 2017 Top Superfoods winner. “We love this powerful low-temp juiced greens combination,” said Monica Saperston of Vegan Health & Fitness Magazine, citing the fact that the juice tastes “amazing and mixes so easily with both smoothies and plant milk.”

Smart Pressed was also a winner of the California State Board of Equalization’s Toro Tank when the judges acknowledged the growth potential of their complete solution to juicing. And finally, we are proud to offer a juice that is legit. All our products are certified organic, certified vegan, certified Kosher, non-GMO, gluten-free, soy-free and low in sugar.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
After traveling internationally for the last 20 years, I am grateful for a community that celebrates and revolves around a vast array of ethnic food.

Just like a high diversity of vegetables is good for you, eating a high diversity of cultural foods rich in spices and flavors can be good for your immunity, digestion and for your soul. I live to eat, and I know just what to eat to feel my best!

We don’t really have to fly anywhere to get that diversity- we just have to be willing to drive! Which brings me to what I like least about our city… 🙂

Pricing:

• Organic Pressed Greens $34.95 ($1.16 per juice)
• Vegan Vanilla Proteini $36.95 ($1.85 per shake)
• Pineapple Chia Cleanse $34.95 ($1.16 per juice)
• Revive Beets + Roots $34.95 ($1.16 per juice)

Contact Info:

• Website: www.smartpressedjuice.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartpressedjuice/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smartpressedjuice/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/smartpressjuice

Image Credit:
Kayley Elder

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.