Thirst Quenched: Cold-Pressed Juice Is The Ultimate Back-To-School Drink

After one of the hottest summers on record, many students are desperate for cooler temperatures now that school is back in session. But just because summer is on the way out doesn’t mean the heat is going anywhere anytime soon. With students around the country searching for ways to stay hydrated and keep cool, there’s one drink that’s been trending as the top thirst-quencher around: cold-pressed juice.

As students are getting back into the routine of waking up early for classes, joining new clubs, and reuniting with sports teams. With schedules growing busier every day, they’re looking for ways to stay hydrated in the late summer heat. Cold-pressed juice has been around for years, but it’s recently made its way into the spotlight for being a convenient, tasty way to add a little nutrition to one’s day.

Is cold-pressed juice really worth all the hype? Here’s what everyone should know about the trendy beverage:

Cold-pressed juice is made from a press that uses hydraulic power to crush the juice out of fruits and vegetables. Unlike some juicing processes, it requires no heat and little processing to create the end product. As a result, cold-pressed juices retain most of the nutrients of their ingredients and deliver a much stronger taste than traditionally extracted juices.

The nutrition level of a cold-pressed juice depends a lot on the quality of the brand and the ingredients that go into it. Juicing methods that use heat can kill off a lot of enzymes and nutrients from the juice, so cold-pressed juices will automatically retain a lot of the nutrients that other methods lose. But just because a juice is cold-pressed doesn’t mean it’s automatically healthy. Some cold-pressed juices contain artificial additives, preservatives, or added sugars, which can lessen their nutritional quality. The best cold-pressed juices are made from organic produce and contain nothing but 100% fruits and vegetables.

Part of the reason that cold-pressed juice is trending is that it’s convenient, nutritious, and delicious. To get the same level of nutrition from one bottle of cold-pressed juice, one would have to eat a whole basket of fruits and vegetables. Not only do most students not have the time (nor the appetite) for that, but stocking fresh fruits and vegetables can lead to lots of rot and food waste. Buying a bottle of cold-pressed juice gives one a convenient shot of nutrition they can take out the door and consume on the go. It also helps that it’s a lot tastier than many of the alternatives!