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Ridgewood Superfood Mecca Helps Owners Heal Following Family Tragedy

RIDGEWOOD, N.J. — Siblings and Ridgewood business owners Jeff Wozniak and Amy Ratleff felt helpless as they watched both their parents die from cancer.

Amy Ratleff making a "DreamSicle" Smovee of Almond Mylk, pineapple, banana, orange, vanilla, Himalayan sea salt, and Herbal Relaxation Blend.

Amy Ratleff making a "DreamSicle" Smovee of Almond Mylk, pineapple, banana, orange, vanilla, Himalayan sea salt, and Herbal Relaxation Blend.

Photo Credit: Lorraine Ash
Super Juice Nation Founders Paula Wozniak, left, Jeff Wozniak, both of North Haledon, and Amy Ratleff of Hawthorne.

Super Juice Nation Founders Paula Wozniak, left, Jeff Wozniak, both of North Haledon, and Amy Ratleff of Hawthorne.

Photo Credit: Lorraine Ash
Jocelyn working the counter at Super Juice Nation in Ridgewood.

Jocelyn working the counter at Super Juice Nation in Ridgewood.

Photo Credit: Lorraine Ash
Paula Wozniak working on a Wheatgrass Shot, step one.

Paula Wozniak working on a Wheatgrass Shot, step one.

Photo Credit: Lorraine Ash
Wheatgrass Shot, step two.

Wheatgrass Shot, step two.

Photo Credit: Lorraine Ash
Cold-pressed CleanGreen Sweet Leaf juice and Maple Walnut SuperMylk.

Cold-pressed CleanGreen Sweet Leaf juice and Maple Walnut SuperMylk.

Photo Credit: Lorraine Ash
Mint Night Raver, a protein and energy smoovee, featuring Coconut Mylk, fresh mint, spinach, vanilla protein powder, Medjool dates, and cacao nibs, for a little crunch.

Mint Night Raver, a protein and energy smoovee, featuring Coconut Mylk, fresh mint, spinach, vanilla protein powder, Medjool dates, and cacao nibs, for a little crunch.

Photo Credit: Lorraine Ash
Jessica cutting golden beets at Super Juice Nation.

Jessica cutting golden beets at Super Juice Nation.

Photo Credit: Lorraine Ash

“We had endured the whole process – the chemotherapy, back and forth to the doctors, surgeries,” Wozniak of North Haledon said.

“And we did it times-two because both of our parents were sick at the same time.”

Back in 2008 and 2009, though, the siblings, who now own Super Juice Nation, didn’t know about healing through food.

At the time, they were working in their father’s pharmaceutical packaging business.

It wasn’t till later that they both raised their consciousness levels about juicing, nutrition, and superfoods.

“We learned that the conventional diet that we’ve been taught to consume is the leading cause of disease, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes,” Wozniak said.

They learned about the Forks Over Knives movement, the China Study, Princeton University Professor Bart Hoebel’s study about the addictive power of sugar and much more.

“When you cut out the garbage, the body operates the way it should be operating,” Ratleff of Hawthorne said. “It’s a machine. You have to fuel it with good stuff.”

Long story short, Wozniak said, there are very few options to get healthy food.

So the two of them – and Wozniak’s wife, Paula – got busy making the delicious, wholesome foods, drinks, and juices they wished had existed for their parents.

In January 2014, Super Juice Nation opened its doors.

In its peaceful atmosphere, with buddhas and bright colors everywhere, it serves up delicious smovees – the Super Juice Nation version of a smoothie billed as “a smoothie that moves thee.”

Examples: Lemon Lift, Mint Night Raver, Protein Powerhouse. There also are fruit smovees, veggie ones, and coffee ones, too.

Super Juice Nation also makes its own Organic Supermylks, all of them non-dairy, creamy, nut-based, probiotic milk substitutes.

There are also Shaker Shots, including holistic energy drinks with names like Chi Force and G.L.O.W. Shot.

“Everything we make has some sort of superfood ingredient in it, and that means it’s high in antioxidants and nutrient dense,” Wozniak said.

Super Juice Nation also prepares healthful grab-and-go foods – including peanut butter pie and chia pudding snacks for dessert – and juices to order.

It also has a separate menu just for those who want to cleanse their bodies and start fresh with a healthful diet.

In addition to its location on Chestnut Street in Ridgewood, Super Juice Nation is on Route 17 South in Paramus in the Staples Center.

A Wyckoff location will open this fall, and a Closter one in spring of next year.

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