About Organic Avenue

How is Organic Avenue's LOVE* different from other cleanses?

Though there are many ways to cleanse, the process we're dedicated to includes 1) Pure, organic ingredients—always, no substitutions. 2) Glass and eco-friendly bottles. They're an extra expense we feel is worth every piece of polluting plastic kept off the planet. 3) A 9-ton hydraulic juice press—an extraordinary juicer that retains the most nutrients possible. 4) Constant refrigeration—our juice is made in a chilled environment and delivered in a cold-truck. This keeps nutrient retention at a maximum. 5) We focus on detoxing AND restoration. With fruits and vegetable juices high in potassium, antioxidants, and chlorophyll, we help you remove acidity from the blood and tissues and restore alkalinity and balance to your whole system.

Nutrition

Which juices have the most protein? Where do I get my protein?

Where do I get my protein? Hemp seeds and Boku brown rice protein pack our smoothies with protein, so head toward our smoothie section if you're looking for protein. As every vegetarian and vegan in a post-Atkins world knows, "How do you get your protein?" is the most-asked question by far. And the answer is: You can get plenty of protein when consuming a plant-based diet…and it's not exactly "protein" the body is after. We need the amino acids that make up proteins, and these are found in plants in their most digestible form. A variety of plants will supply you with all you need. Think of a horse and her big muscles—and her entirely grass-based diet, and you'll know all you need to about protein and plants.

If you need to boost the protein of a juice, add a scoop of hemp or protein powder or add Appealing Almond Mylk to a green juice.

What are the benefits of the green juices vs. the fruit juices?

We believe the chlorophyll in green plants, leaves, stems, and grasses give the body all it needs to make healthy blood. And that's the first step in creating a healthy body. The green juices contribute alkaline minerals. Although fruit contains "natural" sugar, all sugar—even fructose—is acidic and potentially damaging, tapping the body's reserves, often leaving lower pH environments and putrefying in the gut when consumed in excess. We consider fruits and sweet fruit juices a transition food and an indulgent treat—a potentially overwhelming concept for people just understanding the alkalizing way of life. But the cleaner your system gets, the more you'll find yourself drawn to leafy greens and the rare green fruits like cucumber and avocado that can be consumed liberally. If you do consume sweet fruit juices it's best to dilute them: 8 parts alkaline water, 2 parts sweet fruit juice. And definitely dilute when giving to children.

Exercise

Is it OK to exercise while cleansing?

Yes. Exercise supports the detox process. It increases blood and lymphatic circulation, removing acids through the skin, lungs, bowels, and kidneys.

What's the best kind of exercise for a cleanse?

We recommend low-or no-impact activities like rebounding (bouncing on a trampoline), yoga, walking, swimming, stretching, whole body vibration (see: Vibrafirm, Vibraflex), and breathing exercises. An easy walk will gently encourage lymphatic circulation; a sweaty workout will push toxins out more quickly. Really listen to what your body needs. On LOVE*easy, our food-based program, most people can exercise comfortably. If you're on LOVE*deep or another extended juice-only regime, be mindful to not over-exert. Sometimes rest can be the greatest purifier. Also consider taking a hot salt bath—and almost nothing beats the sweating power of a sauna.

The Alkaline Diet

What are some benefits of an alkaline diet?

Try enhanced health, energy, vitality, and youthfulness—for a start! When the system is rid of dangerous acidity, the body is free to thrive. Once you shift to eating pure fruits, veggies, seeds, nuts and other plant-based wonders, you'll likely see a transformation: brighter eyes, mental clarity, a physical glow, feeling grounded and balanced, clear skin, heightened consciousness, ideal weight, more positive thoughts, increased synergy with people, animals, and the environment, a greater sense of calm, feeling and being more loving, enhanced stamina—overall improved physical, emotional, and spiritual health.

Is an alkaline cleanse the most effective kind?

Yes—the short answer: disease thrives in an acidic system, health reigns in an alkaline one. The longer answer: Eating a plant-based diet, drinking pure water, living a lower-stress life and breathing clean air helps the body become alkaline. Much of the standard American diet and lifestyle creates acid in the body—including animal protein, dairy, coffee, soda, alcohol, sugar, environmental pollutants and stress. Our bodies do their best to maintain balance in this external and internal onslaught of acid. However, if we become too acidic, a tipping point occurs, and excess acidity is thrown into the tissues to preserve the pH balance of the blood. At this point, our bodies begin to break down, with our weakest areas (maybe by genetic predisposition) affected first. According to some nutrition experts, most diseases are caused by the blood becoming too acidic. An alkaline cleanse is the only kind that will help reset your pH level to allow you to thrive from a cellular level.

Are all Organic Avenue cleanses alkaline?

Yes. All are based on our LOVE* principals of Live, Organic and Vegan that result in a satisfying, and often life-changing, Experience. You can also also choose the "Get Alkaline" add-on for optimal support during your cleanse and maintenance post-cleanse. This package includes our OA Green Powder, Alkalizing Salts and Alkalizing Drops—which turn any glass of water into a detox booster!

How are your cleanses designed?

We take the most beneficial health practices into account. Our ingredients include only organic, vegan (all plant-based ingredients) foods and juices—delivered fresh. Cleanses are focused on low-glycemic ingredients and are full of alkaline minerals. This combination, along with thoughtful alkalizing supplementation, makes for an effective, efficient cleansing experience.

Pregnancy, Breastfeeding, & Children

Can I cleanse while I'm pregnant?

You and your growing baby will thrive on a nourishing variety of whole, organic, clean, fresh food. But pregnancy is not the time to make extreme changes, detox, or diet. So if you're currently eating a high percentage of processed foods, refined flours, sugars, and meat, consider a gentle shift—adding fresh fruits and veggies (especially greens), pure juices, nuts, seeds, seaweeds, and more to the mix. Our Creamy Coconut Mylk is a favorite of pregnant women, they find it helps them maintain energy and gives them that "yum" feeling they crave. Always check with your doctor before changing your dietary regimen.

Is it safe to cleanse while breastfeeding?

See above—most of the same principles apply to pregnancy and breastfeeding: Make no radical shifts, check with your doctor, and be sure to get plenty of nourishment, including many fresh foods and juices in your diet.

What age is suitable for cleansing? When is too young?

You're never too young to start eating well! But obviously kids need to ease into any change and they don't need to cleanse like adults, even though they may have acquired grown-up food addictions. Check with their doctor and proceed slowly, making changes fun and preparing food together. This is a chance for a lifetime shift—there's no rush and it's a learning opportunity for you both. You could start by adding some new, live plant foods and alkaline water. Keep quantities plentiful, provide variety, and make sure they have foods that are nurturing, offer comfort and taste yummy! Let the loving connection between you be the largest ingredient—"Vitamin L"—while you're trying new healthy foods. Also find community with other families and children eating a wholesome LOVE*based diet and lifestyle.

Smoking & Other Habits

Can I smoke on the cleanse? Will ORGANIC AVENUE help me quit smoking?

Though we can empathize with all kinds of addictions, it's ideal to stub out the smokes while you cleanse. Many smokers use their cleanse as an opportunity to quit. They often find that once their system is supported by the optimal nutrition a raw, plant-based diet provides, their cravings simply evaporate. You'll be amazed to see what naturally falls away during even a brief 5-day break from toxic foods.

Can I chew gum during the cleanse?

It's not ideal—gum can falsely stimulate digestive juices and create problems. Many people use their cleanse as a time to wean themselves from bad habits—so this could be a great time to step away from the bubbles. But it's not going to wreck anything, so if you really feel the need, proceed!

Can I drink Kombucha, coffee, seltzer/sparkling water, black tea, alcohol, wine, and beer while cleansing?

We highly advise avoiding all of those acid-forming drinks. You'll find yourself getting much better results from the cleanse if you stick to water.

Health Concerns

Do you have a sugar-free or low-sugar cleanse?

Yes! Try our signature LOVE*deep cleanse with a Go Green add-on. Your day will consist of only alkalizing, nutrient-dense green juices. You can also modify our other cleanses and substitute green juices for the fruit juices. Contact our Cleanse Concierge to customize a program that is unique to you!

Can I do ORGANIC AVENUE if I am lactose intolerant?

Absolutely! There are no animal products or by-products in any of our products. Organic Avenue is also proudly wheat- and gluten-free.

I have a gluten allergy, can I do a cleanse?

Yep! No gluten here.

I'm allergic to nuts. Do you have a nut-free cleanse?

Any of our cleanses can be customized to be nut-free. Yet please know that we produce products using tree nuts in our kitchen facility—and even though we take allergies very seriously, please be sure to read labels before ingesting anything. It's always best to talk to your doctor about your particular food allergy and discuss what precautions and safety measures are appropriate for you.

Can I cleanse while taking antibiotics?

It's best to check with your MD if you're taking any medications.

Can I do this if I am on any kind of medication?

Please check with your doctor if you're taking any meds.

Can I cleanse if I have a cold?

Definitely. At the first sign of any cold symptom look at:

1) What have you been eating?
2) How are your bowels functioning (are they moving 2-3 times a day?).

If the answer's not pretty, you can start juicing, reducing solid food intake, engaging in bowel cleansing via colonics and Deep Cleanse supplements and sweating via sauna and hot salt baths. Add proper rest and boom! No more cold. Works for us every time. Though if your symptoms last more than a day or so, consult your doctor.

Is there a cleanse for candida issues?

Yes—try our Go Green cleanse with our Get Alkaline supplementation. All of our cleanses address cleaning the colon, which is where candida thrives. Once that is clean and restored to balance, candida no longer has a home in your body—but beneficial, healthy bacteria do.

What should I do if my stool is bloody?

First, take a closer look—is that blood or is that beet juice? If the water is tinged pink and there's no blood on your body, then it's probably beet juice. Beets will also tie-dye your urine a bit, so see if that's the case too. If so, no worries! If it is blood, it could be hemorrhoids caused by constipation, or something more serious. It's wise to consult your doctor. And then continue toward a fiber and nutrient-rich Organic Avenue approach to balance and heal.

Should I continue to take my multi-vitamins during a cleanse?

It's up to you. Some people have no problem taking vitamins as usual, but some supplements are too strong to be taken on a juice-only stomach without food as a buffer. If you're ready for a multi-vitamin break, during your cleanse would be a good time.

Weight & Calories

How much weight will I lose? Will I gain all the weight back?

Every body is different. If you're already slim and eating well, you may not lose any weight at all. Others who are overweight and transitioning from a highly processed, low-nutrient diet may lose a pound a day. We see our programs as the beginning of a lifestyle shift to eating more nourishing, nutrient-dense, plant-based foods. If you continue the delight of discovering these foods and learning more, any weight you shed will stay off. We also think it's more supportive of yourself to ask, "How healthy and alkaline will I be?" or "How much will I glow?" To us, those benefits, not weight, are how we measure our programs' success. If you need further guidance, feel free to call our support team or stop into one of our boutiques to visit a Cleanse Concierge.

How can I keep the weight off after I have finished my cleanse?

Like any learning process, the more you immerse yourself in the beginning, the stronger your foundation will be. That means understanding intellectually why you're eating this way, and experientially understanding it too. Once you know what to eat to calm your cravings and how to keep your body's systems optimally functioning, you'll be free to make great, nourishing food choices for the rest of your life.

Why do some of your juices have so many calories?

It's true—some of our pure plant juices have a high calorie content. This can be a little alarming to a calorie-counting mindset. But we value high nutritional content and quality ingredients over calories, something we consider an outdated system of food measurement. According to some experts, counting calories is born from a perspective that sees the stomach as a furnace that requires energy to burn an element to ash. We think of the stomach as an alkalinity contributor. People gain weight when they're consuming the meat and potatoes of the SAD (standard American diet)—or even the sugary fruits and processed wheat and oils in many vegetarian, even vegan, diets. People stay slim when consuming fresh vegetables and low-sugar fruits. We suggest dropping the calorie conversation and focusing on the ingredients themselves. Are they whole-food, plant-based, ripe, organic, and alkaline? If yes, eat to your heart's delight. Yet be mindful that if your diet is full of animal products, wheat, and oils and you add a smoothie on top of that, yes, you'll be over consuming. So think about allowing our delicious, high-nutrient products to replace your standard vittles and see how satisfied—yet not over-full—you'll feel.

Duration

I don't have much time, but I'd like to cleanse. Is it useful to do a cleanse for just one day?

s it useful to do a cleanse for just one day? Absolutely! One day can be very helpful. For some, a brief cleanse can be a confidence-building exercise that leads to more intensive cleanses. Others might cleanse for one day a week on an ongoing basis. It's ALWAYS good to add more fresh, ripe, organic, plant-based food and juices, and if you only have 24 hours, you'll still reap the benefits.

I'm very nervous about cleansing. I don't want to feel sick, deprived, or strange. What should I do?

We totally feel you! Trying new things can cause lots of anxiety. Thoughts of so-called failure can be overwhelming. Yet the good news is, there's nothing to prove! You can try this out, and if you feel like you need more food, you can have it. If you crave something else and you want it, you can have it. If you feel "strange" and want to stop, you can. Yet what you may find is that every little step counts toward your overall health. And each little bit of fresh, ripe, organic fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and seaweeds add to your health. Even if you only do one day or half a day, it's a great start. You're creating a new food foundation for yourself—a more nurturing, nutritious and loving way of being with food. And you're not alone at all! Check out our caring online community and Cleanse Concierge for support at any stage of the cleansing—or pre-cleansing—process.

What about juicing only until dinner? I have business dinners that I need to attend, and don't want to seem anti-social.

Many of us long-term juicers frequently "stay liquid" until dinner. Just make sure you drink enough food (blended) and juice (without fiber) so that when you sit down for dinner your hunger doesn't cause you to overeat. Most restaurants will also accommodate special diets. You can ask for a good bottled water (sans "gas"), a nice vegan soup, and a hefty salad (remember to ask them to add avocado, and other veggies you see on the menu or on the "sides"). Ask with a smile and you'll likely get a lovely, healthy meal that might even inspire your colleagues to do their own cleanse!

When should I NOT do a cleanse?

Listen to your body. If you feel junked up, tired, fatigued, achy, have a lot of blemishes, gas, or any other symptoms of unwellness (consult your MD if you feel it's serious), consider resting and increasing your water intake first. But if you feel like your normal self (even if your normal self is a tad run down), go for a cleanse. If you feel that you want to eat solid food, you can always go easy with LOVE*easy, a food and juice-based program (that also has dessert!). You could also choose some of our a la carte items in addition to your regular diet to increase the LOVE*. A cleanse should always feel right to you—don't allow yourself to be pressured into it. But if you do want support, check out our Cleanse Concierge for a variety of options.

During the Cleanse

How and when will I receive my instructions?

To keep more trees in the ground and cleaning the air, we're now emailing the daily notes and instructions. If you don't see them, check your spam folder. If you still do not see them contact love@organicavenue.com or call 212-358-0500 and we'll send them again.

How should I store my juice?

Keep it chilling in the fridge until you're ready to consume it. You can leave your juice out for a few minutes to achieve room temperature before drinking; this is best as too cold is too cold!

How long will my juices last?

It's ideal to consume fresh juices as soon as possible after pressing. Each food and juice made in the Organic Avenue kitchen has an expiration date—ours will be nutritionally intact for about three days. Consume each item by the sell-by date located on the product.

How will I feel on the cleanse?

While we hope that you're a lucky one who feels great from the start, detoxing effects often get worse before getting better. Depending on how many toxins your tissues are holding, reactions range from mild to non-existent, to strong and relatively harsh. Detox symptoms include things like headaches, nausea, sweats, PMS-like symptoms, and more. As best you can, take a "this too shall pass" mindset and increase your intake of alkaline water to flush the releasing toxic matter. You can also get fresh air, take a walk, stretch and/or luxuriate in a hot bath.

But if it's all too much, eat a small amount of your normal "food stuff" to slow things down—and always call your doc if you're concerned. To keep the detox moving along, it's absolutely essential to keep the bowels moving—if they're being sluggish, try Deep Cleanse salts and/or a colonic treatment. Also remember that cleansing can be smooth and easy—the key is to start slow and build up.

Will I feel hungry?

Probably not. It depends on the cleanse program you choose and how much you usually eat. On LOVE*easy, there's so much to consume you may not finish it all. On an all-liquid cleanse like LOVE*deep, you may be hungry initially, but that should quickly go away. You can aid the process by consuming pure water between nutritional beverages.

What should I do if I do feel hungry?

(See above. And…) If your hunger doesn't pass and you feel like you may "cheat," give ORGANIC AVENUE a call or shoot us an e-mail, and we can add additional healthy LOVE* items a la carte to support your experience. And if it can't wait, choose a salad, avocado, or fresh fruit.

Will I get light-headed if I'm not eating solid food?

Not necessarily. It depends on your personal blood sugar, build, and metabolism.

Does it really matter what order I drink the juices in?

Yes. Generally the cleanse programs progress from lightest to heaviest throughout the day. This will help with digestion—for some it may take a while for it to engage, since it is different from what most people are used to. In addition, if you have fruit juice in your program, we like to get that in first for optimal food combining. If something isn't working for you, switch it up and experiment. See how that goes. If you notice indigestion or excess gas, switch back to the suggested routine.

I am not always going to be able to drink the juices due to work or other obligations. Will it defeat the purpose of my cleanse if I have a salad or vegetables?

Nope. Salad and vegetables are a-ok!

I can't get the green juice down; I've tried everything—is it okay if I just skip them?

Some people really struggle with the greens at first—but it's worth it to keep trying! Check out our varied options—it's possible you just don't like one of the ingredients: Green LOVE* has pear and lemon to help it go down; Green Coco is infused with yummy Clearly Coconut Water; Mellow is a little more of a serious green; Splendid Sweet Green is extra-easy and great for beginners. If you've tried them all and still have challenges…Go find a straw, and hold your nose. And JUST DRINK IT! Kidding. Sort of. But really, see if you can stretch yourself. It's very likely that when your body absorbs the nutrients and feels how great that is, you'll eventually develop a taste for them.

What can I do to make the green juice taste better to me?

See above. Also, you could add a hint of Precious Pear or Caring Carrot Juice or a Lemon booster shot. Generally this helps the green medicine go down.

Bowels & Elimination Health

I haven't gone to the bathroom at all since I started my program, what should I do?

It's uncomfortable, but not unusual. The bowel can slow when on a juice-only program. So we suggest keeping things moving with the following: Deep Cleanse (three times per day), aloe juice (this often works wonders and can also help with any nausea you may feel)—drink 2-4 ounces two times a day; get a colonic with a recommended colon hydrotherapist; do a home enema with water; or do a colema (You can find instructions online.)

Why is it important to eliminate during a cleanse?

It's actually essential to eliminate all of the time! Two to three times per day is recommended. Yet most of us do not. The uncomfortable fact is that some people are carrying up to 18 meals in their gut! We believe bowel challenges are at the root of most health problems. Some wellness experts say that if you mess with this fundamental bodily system (as our standard American diets do), then you mess with your ability to produce healthy blood, absorb nutrients and water, and eliminate waste.

How often should I be going to the bathroom?

(See above. And…) It varies, yet generally about 20 minutes after you eat! During a cleanse this can be very different, depending on whether you're on a juice only or a raw food cleanse. Just stay mindful of the situation and order more supplements or ask us for contacts for colonics if you need support.

Do you recommend a colonic?

Yes. A few health conditions make it dangerous, so always ask a physician if colonics are safe for you, but generally, colonics are very safe and can be extremely beneficial. To get the most out of your sessions, make sure you see someone comfortable answering your questions—and ask away! They can really be an educational experience. You can also invest in a colema board to administer to yourself occasionally at home, or use an enema kit while traveling. It's great to be empowered around bowel hygiene—you can make a big difference in your overall health.

I really can't eat anything at all on the all-juice program? Will I get enough calories?

Will I get enough calories? We have a variety of programs. Some are all-juice, others include soups, smoothies or even entrées, salads, and desserts. If you've committed to LOVE*deep–an all-liquid cleanse—hang in there. Most people are amazed at how their hunger drops away, and they feel light and amazing. But our rules are no rules—just guidelines! We consider everyone successful who embarks on a path toward LOVE*.

Can I do ORGANIC AVENUE and eat cooked food too?

There are many ways to "do ORGANIC AVENUE" and a very reasonable way is to eat a consciously cooked whole food, plant-based diet along with a raw, plant-based food and juice diet. A 100% raw experience will allow for deeper cleansing. Most people find an ideal moderate program consists of an abundance of fresh pressed juices, fresh ORGANIC AVENUE salads, and entrees throughout the day, and some consciously cooked vegan foods at night. During a LOVEcleanse though, we suggest keeping it real and keeping it raw!

What do I eat when I'm done with my cleanse? What's the best way to come off the cleanse?

We'll send you instructions on how to break the cleanse, but the best general principles are: Stick to fresh salads and juices permanently, while slowly adding some cooked food, preferably vegan. Then feel free to cleanse again, learn more and ask for more support so we can help you to maintain the benefits you've gained during your LOVE*cleanse.

Shipping, Pick-up, & Delivery

Do you ship nationally?

Yes! We ship all of our juices, soups, smoothies, mylks, snacks and packaged food items. The only products we aren't shipping yet are fresh food items, such as our Sunflower Falafel and salads. Please stand by—pretty soon we'll be able to mail those to you as well.

Where can I pick-up?

Stop by any Organic Avenue boutique. When you sign up for your cleanse, please specify which location, and it will be delivered there fresh each day.

My cleanse arrived and the ice packs are melted. Is that bad?

Not necessarily. The ice packs keep the food cool for a reasonable amount of time. Please place the food items in the fridge upon receipt—this means choosing a delivery time that corresponds best with your schedule so you can do just that. If for some reason the food/juices are warm on receipt, please let us know immediately.

Can I have multiple days delivered at once? If so, how many?

Sure! We suggest a maximum of three days. Though we have a phenomenal juice press that helps the nutrition stay intact, it's best to consume our products as fresh as possible.

What are the delivery windows

Right now it's any two-hour block starting at 5 am. Example: 5-7 am, 6-8 am, 7-9 am, etc.

How soon can you fulfill my fresh food/cleanse order if ordered online?

Organic Avenue is dedicated to providing you with exceptional service and the freshest LOVE* products possible. Due to growing demands for our products we now require all cleanse and product orders to be placed 48 hours in advance of your requested pick up or delivery date. We are unable to accept orders for next day delivery or Pick-up.

Where do you deliver in NYC?

Right now, we deliver mostly in Manhattan, DUMBO, and (local to NYC) Brooklyn areas and occasionally Greenwich, CT. If you'd like us to deliver to your area and are in the within a one-hour drive of Manhattan, just gather a group of six or more and we'll make a special trip for you. Remember, we do ship, and if you are in the boroughs of NYC, you'll get it the next day. If you're in Manhattan, be sure to check us out on Seamless.com for same-day delivery!

How do I have my bottles picked up once I'm done with the cleanse?

Just give us a call (212-358-0500). Or drop an email to love@organicavenue.com to request a bottle pickup.

My cleanse didn't arrive, what should I do?

As soon as you notice a delivery gone missing, please give us a call (212.358.3500) or email (love@organicavenue.com), and we'll do our best to make things right, fast.

I need to change delivery location. Can I?

Yep! Just let us know 24 hours in advance. We can make the change.

Refunds & Exchanges

I don't like my juice/food--can I exchange it?

No, sorry! When you sign up for a cleanse we ask you about allergies and preferences, but once a food item has left the Organic Avenue kitchen, we can't offer an exchange or refund. But please let us know so we can make sure that ingredient is eliminated from future orders. Also, you might notice that your palate shifts as you cleanse—some natural items are an acquired taste—if you initially try something that makes your nose wrinkle, see if you like it a little while later, and watch your food world (possibly) expand!

What if I have more questions or want to order again?

Feel free to call us at 212-358-0500 or e-mail love@organicavenue.com We'll be happy to set you up with a new order and provide you with all the LOVE* you need!