L: We were a regular couple, we had regular jobs, Jovan was an auditor working with KPMG and I was working in renewable energy for the Australian government. Jovan was a little more special – he was representing Australia in Judo and was in peak physical condition, but about four years ago he discovered a lump on his thigh. When doctors diagnosed him with stage three non-Hodgkin’s follicular lymphoma our lives were turned upside down.

2. How did you come up with The Fix concept?

L: After the diagnosis we were a little shell-shocked. It did not make any sense that Jovan would be unwell given how fit he was. So we began a quest for answers. A family member told us about plant-based nutrition and juicing and we started researching from there.

J: We conducted a little experiment too. Before I began radiation therapy, we took up a raw vegan diet and juiced every day for six weeks. In that time, the tumour reduced significantly in size, approximately by 30 per cent. To be honest the doctors were a little baffled by our experiment.

L: He did undertake the radiation therapy for three months anyways, but we kept juicing and during that time Jovan rode his bike to work every day, took up kite surfing and only missed two days of work. No one even realised he was unwell. He is now in remission.

J: So The Fix seemed to be the most logical name for our company. We learnt that health is about much more than keeping active – to be healthy one needs to eat well, think well and move well.

3. How has plant-based nutrition improved your wellbeing?

L: We learned that there is a significant body of evidence that supports plant-based nutrition and we found that actually the proof was evident in us. The longer we stuck to the approach with our eating habits the better the benefits seemed to get over time. I have lost eight to nine kilograms since changing to a vegan approach, we need less sleep and have more energy, we fall ill far less frequently and there is a general sense of wellbeing that was absent before.

4. Where do you get the produce and ingredients from?

L: Ingredients are locally sourced wherever possible. We visit the local farmers markets in Canberra to source our fruit and veg and everything else comes from the Sydney market. We want to go directly to the farmers as much as possible because we want to know who is growing the produce we juice.

5. Where do you make it?

J: All of our juices are made here in Canberra. We have a food-grade facility in Fyshwick where we wash, crush, cut, squeeze and press the vegetables. We bottle cap and package our juices from this location as well. All of our pulp waste is collected by a local farmer who feeds his chickens, cows and pigs. I am told they love it!

6. What flavours do you offer?

L: We have two green juices, two carrot-based ones, an almond milk, a beetroot-based juice and a chilli lemonade. The juices have all been designed with specific health benefits in mind. Basically, the juices are veggie based, which is a little different from conventional juice. Vegetables have amazing nutritional properties that can act to prevent diseases like diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Every single one of our ingredients has been chosen for its unique nutritional benefit.

J: The lettuce found in our Pint of Greens is low in calories and really hydrating. It also has natural salts in it which act as a muscle relaxant, so if taken at night, it helps you sleep. The turmeric found in our Orange and Spice has amazing anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties, and the beetroots found in our Heart Beets are an amazing liver cleanser. There is a little blurb on each on our website.

7. Where can people find The Fix in Canberra?

J: We have about 18 dispensaries around Canberra including V Spot Cafe, The Food Co-op, Sweet Bones, Elk & Pea, Power Yoga Canberra, and more. Our aim is to get 40 by the end of the year.

8. Besides founding The Fix, has your history with lymphoma inspired you to give back in any way?

L: Yes! Jovan also established the Opera 2 Parliament bike ride with his twin brother Nikola. This bike ride was established to raise awareness and funds for lymphoma sufferers and has been running for the past four years. This event has raised more than $100,000 since its inception and it’s the one way we can give back to Lymphoma Australia, which helped us immensely when Jovan was diagnosed.

W: thejuicefix.com.au