Juicing vs. Blending

Juicing vs blending: Which one preserves more nutrients? A juice is the liquid of the plant, with all of the plants fiber removed. Juices in our minds, are healing drinks. They refer to them as “vitamin and mineral infusions.” Juicing removes all of the fiber and some of the protein from the plants you are juicing. This means that your body does not have to do any digestive work in order to extract the nutrients from your juice, as they are absorbed directly into your bloodstream. You can juice any plant that has juice to extract. Fruits, vegetables and herbs are the most common juice ingredients.

Smoothie

Continuing the thoughtful comparison of blending vs juicing, we will explain what is a smoothie and how does it affect digestion. A smoothie is a drink composed of blended foods. This means that the foods have been broken down into liquid form but, still retaining all of their fibers. Because the fibers are just slightly broken down but not removed, your body will still have to do some digestive work in order to fully break down and digest your smoothie, but not as much as it would have to if you just ate the produce. You may find this analogy a little gross, but you can think of your smoothies as being pre-digested for you. Smoothies are a little more versatile in the ingredients that work well within them. You can do greens, other veggies, fruits, nuts, seeds, superfoods, protein supplements, herbs, spices, really anything that you can dream up you can add to a smoothie!

Health Benefits

Unlocking the nutritional benefits: Juicing vs blending. Juices are really amazing healing drinks. Juices are particularly good for people who have damaged digestive systems, who have difficulty digesting vegetables, or are ill in any other way. This is due to the fact that removing the fiber releases all of the nutrients from those plants, without your body having to do any work. Juices are great to have when you want to do a cleanse of your body. This is because your body will not be putting any effort towards digestion, so all that energy can be directed to ridding the body of built up waste and toxins. Juicing allows the body to focus on healing while still providing nutrients to your body that would not be present during a fast.

Smoothies are awesome for those who need a quick meal on the go and do not have time to sit down and eat something. They are great for a meal before or after a workout, because smoothies are light enough that they won’t weigh you down but they are substantial enough that you won’t feel hungry again in 15 minutes. You can also pack them full of ingredients that will help with your recovery after a workout. Smoothies are also great for those who are coming off of a fast of any kind, as they will help to re-introduce your body to solid foods again in a more gradual way than jumping straight into eating would. Smoothies will help to cleanse out your colon, because they contain the fiber that will help to “sweep” out your intestinal tract. These fibers will bind to toxins and usher them out of your system. Smoothies are also amazing for those who want to start introducing more raw foods into their diets, but don’t know how. You can hide a number of less popular ingredients like dark greens and superfoods under the sweet taste of fruit in a smoothie. However, juicing vs blending, it's up to you to choose what suits you best!

Avoid Juicing These Foods

Too much fruit: It’s best for your body, and your liver in particular, to avoid juicing large amounts of fruit. Fruit is best processed in our bodies when it comes with all its natural fibers, otherwise, the sugars present are released too quickly into your bloodstream, and your liver has to work extra hard to filter them. It is best to keep your juice fruit free, or limited to small servings of green apple.

Spinach or Chard every day: Spinach and chard are high in oxalic acid which can cause kidney stone issues in those people who are susceptible. You should do spinach and chard only every other day, as opposed to every day, just to be on the safe side. Aside from these two greens, you should be fine to juice greens every day.

Avoid Blending These Foods

Starchy, hard to digest veggies – It’s best to avoid putting really starchy veggies like sweet potato or regular potato, as well as very hard to digest root veggies like beets and carrots in your smoothies. These ingredients will just be hard for your body to break down, even in blended form. Stick to the more water rich veggies and leafy greens. Too many ingredients – It can be very easy to get carried away, wanting to add an abundance of nutrition into your daily smoothies. There are lots of superfoods, powders, potions, herbs, fruits, veggies and leafy greens out there, but you do not have to put them all in every smoothie that you make! Keeping your smoothies on the simpler side (2-6 ingredients) will be much better for your digestion. Otherwise, it may do more harm than good and calories can be racked up quickly.

As you can see, both smoothies and juices have a place. Neither is better than the other, but rather they just have different applications and different areas where they shine the most.

Key lime smoothie: 3/4 cup lime juice, 1 scoop vanilla protein, 3/4 cup almond milk (vanilla can be used) 1 cup of ice, and a pinch of salt.

Healthy Mary: 2 tomatoes, 4 stalks of celery, 1/2 cucumber, 1/4 cup of cilantro, 1 seeded jalapeño, 1/4 lemon.

Final Thoughts

Juicing involves extracting the liquid from fruits, vegetables, and herbs, while removing the fiber. This allows for easy absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream and can be beneficial for those with digestive issues or during cleansing periods.

On the other hand, blending creates smoothies that retain the fiber of the ingredients, requiring some digestion but providing a more substantial and versatile option. Smoothies are suitable for quick meals on the go, post-workout nutrition, and introducing more raw foods into the diet.

Ultimately, neither juicing nor blending is superior, as they serve different purposes and have unique advantages. The choice between the two depends on individual preferences, health goals, and dietary needs. Both juicing and blending can be valuable additions to a balanced and healthy diet, providing a wide range of nutrients and flavors.

FAQ

What is healthier a blender or a juicer?

One study that evaluated the impact of juicing vs blending on the nutritional composition of fruit juices discovered that juicing particular fruits retrieved more vitamin C, while blending entire fruits conserved more antioxidants and beneficial chemicals overall.

Do you lose more weight by juicing or blending?

Smoothies and shakes with a well-balanced mix of ingredients have a better macronutrient profile, are more substantial, and contain a variety of important vitamins and minerals. Juices are much less filling than smoothies, which means you'll binge less and lose weight.

Do fruits lose nutrients when blended?

No important nutrients are lost, and you might even be improving your overall nutrition and health.

Do you get more nutrients from blending?

Blending is healthier than eating a salad because your body can absorb more of the nutrients. This happens as a result of the blender's ability to disintegrate plant cell walls. The antioxidants are released as a result, making digestion simpler.

Do vitamins disappear after juicing?

Unfortunately, freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices soon lose their nutritional value. Because of this, you should preserve them right away after pressing.