TEN years ago, walking into the office with a drink made of beetroot, red pepper, carrot and spinach would most likely earn a few curious glances from colleagues.

But now, as juice bars pop-up in cities across the UK, fresh juices made of vegetables which you would usually find with your Sunday dinner are becoming increasingly popular.

Walking down any high street, it is no longer unusual to see people sipping green juice through straws in plastic cups – and now Newport is no different.

Kelly Miles, from Tredegar, opened The Raw Juice Bar in Upper Dock Street in June after having noticed the health benefits that juice had given her.

The juice shop is the first of its kind in the city and offers juices including the Sunday Squeeze, made of mint, pear, lemon, green apple and coconut water, and the Green Green Grass, containing spinach, cucumber, broccoli, celery, apple, ginger and lemon.

For those who would like a simpler or more traditional juice, the bar offers pure apple and orange juices as well as traditional flavours with a twist, for example the You Glow Girl – pineapple, apple, cucumber and lemon.

Ms Miles explains how the juice bar came about.

“I worked abroad on a yacht for the last few years,” she said, “and we made fresh juices for our guests every morning.

“This gave me a bit of a taste for them so I started experimenting with different recipes which went down a storm on board, and I researched the nutritional aspect too to see which fruits are good for which ailments.

“When I started drinking a daily juice it was incredible the difference I felt in myself in just a few days.

“My job involved lots of running up and down stairs, and one day I just really noticed how much lighter I felt.

“I didn’t click that this was anything to do with the juice until I stopped doing it for a week – and then I noticed a slump in my energy levels.”

When she did decide to return home, Ms Miles started to think whether creating the same juices back in South Wales could be a good route to go down for a business.

She said: “There is a definite lack of healthy choices available when out and about so hopefully we provide a slightly different option for people trying to take care of their health.”

The health benefits of fresh juices have best been extolled by celebrities from models to film stars.

It is clear that ordinary consumers have taken up the trend too; in 2013 Lakeland reported a 4,000 per cent rise in sales of juicers so health-fans could make their own at home.

But while juicing has been cited as a perfect way to get your five a day – without having to endure a huge plate of vegetables – experts have highlighted dangers too of “juice cleanses” or “juice fasts” which can see consumers replace meals with juices.

But the common advice remains that as long as it does not become obsessive, fresh fruit and vegetable juices are incredibly healthy.

Ms Miles said Newport was an “obvious option” for the juice bar. She said: “Friars Walk has made a huge difference to the city and it’s clear to see that the only way is up over the next few years.”

Of the health benefits, she said all ingredients used are fresh.

“There’s not a carton of juice in sight,” she said.

“This is because we know that you get the best health benefits from the produce when the juice is extracted and drank immediately.

“This is in direct contrast to most store-bought juices which are juiced weeks previously and cooked to kill off anything which could cause harm if sat on a shelf for a month. This also kills off anything good.”

She said that is how the juice bar got “raw” in its name. “A lot of people have questioned the name, and now they know,” she said.

The shop also sells a range of smoothies, which Ms Miles said are becoming increasingly fashionable too.

“Our smoothies again couldn’t be further away from most store-bought smoothies.

“Take for example our berry smoothie; to make this we juice an orange right there, then we add in a handful of raspberries, blackberries, strawberries and blueberries plus half a banana, a spoonful of yoghurt to make it creamy, and a tiny squeeze of honey for sweetness.

“In our other smoothies we use almond milk or coconut water as a base, with other ingredients such as avocado, chia seeds, pineapple, mango, oats, even spinach! You can drink one of these and feel amazing, knowing you’re doing yourself a big favour.”

The independent family run business said they are always open for suggestions for additions to their menu and are thinking of expanding to do breakfasts as well.

For more information, please visit facebook.com/newportjuicebar