Juicing vs Blending
Too often, I get asked the question “Which is better for me, juicing or blending smoothies?” Well, I am here to tell you that is a double-edged sword. The answer is, they’re both good for you.
Juicing
If you are not a big fan of eating your daily serving of fruits and vegetables, juicing is an excellent way to up your intake. It requires the use of a special juice machine that extracts juice from fruits and vegetables and often gives a sweeter taste than eating them plain, not to mention you can whip up some interesting combinations to give you unique flavors you would not otherwise find eating them whole. You absorb the nutrients almost instantly. Eating them whole requires your body to break down the food whereas the juicer has already gone through that process for you. It is also cost effective because juicing allows you to use up any produce that is about to spoil, instead of wasting product.
The downside? You strip the fruits and vegetables of their skin, which houses the natural fiber. Fiber is essential in your diet because it keeps you fuller longer and provides bulk for your digestive tract. Without an adequate amount throughout the day, you might experience irregularity and constipation.
Try adding this juice recipe to your collection for a boost of iron, Vitamin K, Vitamin C, calcium, an abundance of antioxidants and more!
Serves 2
- 4 kale leaves washed thoroughly
- 3 small red delicious apples washed and cored
- 2 oranges peeled
Blending
Blending smoothies, on the other hand, does contain the fiber from fruits and vegetables because you are blending them whole. You get a little more bang for your buck, are fuller longer, and can spend less time in the kitchen. Blending allows you to throw just about whatever you want into the mix – fruits, vegetables, superfoods (i.e. maca powder, chia seeds, cacao, etc) and you generally only have one or two dishes to clean.
The downside? It is hard to find a combination that is enjoyable to drink. It is a lot harder to mask the taste of gritty kale leaves and chunky celery in a smoothie than simply gnawing on them raw or drinking them in pure liquid form. This leads to adding sweeter options or foods higher in fat to change the taste or texture, adding calorie after calorie after calorie.
Before you know it, you have a morning smoothie that boasts 600+ calories. Yikes! Juicing and blending smoothies are often thought to be a way to diet and/or cure medical ailments. While this can be debated depending on the expert you talk to, the majority of that thought process is wrong. They are an excellent way to sneak in extra nutrients to an already healthy diet or to one lacking certain nutrients, but neither is a miracle cure for your waistline or overall health. Before considering either option, be sure to check with your doctor as some vitamins and minerals interact with certain medications.
