Saltwater Nutrition opens in Pensacola with health-focused shakes, teas and more

A new smoothie and juice bar on East Nine Mile Road sets out to satisfy more than just your taste buds.

Saltwater Nutrition is also looking after your digestive health and your energy levels, with its unique, three-in-one beverage experience. 

Now open in suite 2 of the newly redeveloped plaza on 960 E. Nine Mile Road, Saltwater's cornerstone menu item is its aloe, tea and shake sequential combination. 

Owner Courtney Whitbey said each facet of the combo brings its own health benefit to the table. 

"It's a healthy alternative to any breakfast or lunch," Whitbey said from behind the counter of her brand new 1,400-square-foot shop. "First thing you get is a shot of aloe, that's going to soothe your digestive system and soothe that stomach lining. And then in step two, you get to choose between a non-sweet or sweetened energy tea." 

The tea and tea bomb precedes the shake, and is meant to stimulate the metabolism and increase energy. 

"And then you can choose from these 28 lovely shake flavors," Whitbey said. "They all have 24 grams of protein, 200 calories. They're full meal replacement shakes. We do that because it gives you a lighter, more nutrient-dense option for breakfast or lunch." 

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The full three-in-one combo costs $10.75. Shakes, which can be purchased for a lower price individually, include flavors like brownie batter, orange cinnamon roll, birthday cake, Reese's cup, Dole Whip and more. 

Courtney Whitbey and her husband, Devon, decided to launch the business shortly after she retired from the Navy in 2019. 

"We were like, 'You know what, it's time to take on our own venture,'" she said. "We were excited to start this and bring another healthy option to the Pensacola community."

Also available for individual purchase are Saltwater Nutrition's energy teas, which are topped with sweet tea bombs rich in B vitamins, ginseng and biotin. The new business substitutes real fruit — which contains a lot of natural sugar — with protein and herb powders. 

"The biggest thing with us is, we want to make sure your core nutrition is at its fullest and fine tune, because you need that to get through the day," Whitbey said. "The biggest thing is honestly just offering options that are better than sugar-based smoothies."

Saltwater Nutrition is open from 6 a.m. until 2 p.m. from Mondays through Fridays and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. The new smoothie bar is closed Sundays. 

First-time customers are encouraged to message the new business on its Facebook or Instagram accounts to learn about dollar-off deals on your initial visit. 

Jake Newby can be reached at jnewby@pnj.com or 850-435-8538.