Juicing vs Blending: Include Both in Your Diet

juicing vs blending

Many people wonder what is better …juicing or blending…They both serve different yet equally important purposes in the wellness path… so why not include both in your diet?

Juicing makes it easy for us to get a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs into our daily diet, whilst creating drinks that flood our bodies with nutrients which are incredibly easy to digest. But smoothies have their place in a daily menu as well – they offer fibre, good fats and opportunities for adding more protein into your diet all while tasting deliciously decadent. The combinations are endless so make sure you invest in a Juice or Smoothie Recipe Book for some daily inspiration.

juicing vs blendingWhat’s the difference? Juicing vs Blending: 

As opposed to blending, fresh juices require more veggies and fruit to make a juice, and therefore there is a higher dose of vitamins. Freshly pressed juices have the indigestible fibre removed which allows a concentrated amount of nutrients to enter your blood stream almost immediately. This also means that it is hard for the body to control the release of sugars. To slow down the sugar release, make sure you mix carrots and apples with other starchy vegetables like beetroots, spinach and celery. Also, adding some coconut oil or flax seed oil into the drink after it has been juiced will help slow down the release of sugars. The nutrients in a freshly pressed juice are in higher concentrated quantities than if you were to eat the fruits and vegetables whole. When you drink fresh fruit and vegetable juices, your body is flooded with nutrients. It’s like injecting wholesome nourishment into your blood stream, nourishing and feeding your body instantly. Fresh juices are a great way for anyone who feels that they are nutrient deficient to load up on vitamins and feed the body.

Smoothies are easy to make and clean-up, and can be stored up to about 3 days while keeping the vitamins and minerals intact. Unlike juices, smoothies take longer to oxidise – which means you can make one in the morning and have it for lunch, knowing that it is still nutrient enriched. Smoothies still contain all of the fibre from the vegetables – however, the blending process breaks the fibre apart and makes it easier to digest. The naturally occurring fibre in plants will help to regulate the pace at which the natural sugars enter your blood stream. When you drink smoothies, your body benefits from the phytonutrients found in the skin and flesh of fruits and veggies. You also benefit from the large amounts of fibre found in whole fruits and vegetables. Fibre is important for regulating blood sugar, keeping bowels regular, aiding in hunger control, and it may help prevent certain types of cancers. Blended drinks are more filling and generally faster to make than juice, so they can be great to drink first thing in the morning as your breakfast, or for snacks throughout the day.

People who have extremely sensitive digestive tracts often have a hard time with fibre. For these people, a freshly pressed juice may be tolerated much better within the system than a blended smoothie which is rich in fibre.

Both smoothies and fresh juices can be healthy and delicious ways to boost the amount of micronutrients in your diet. If you’re in relatively good health, both freshly pressed juices and freshly blended drinks can be beneficial. It’s really just a matter of personal preference.

Just be sure that on an overall note, you aim to have more vegetables than fruits.

Juicing and blending rules!

  1. It’s best not to combine fruits and vegetables (unless it’s apple). This messes with your digestive enzymes. This doesn’t seem to matter too much in green juices and smoothies, but vegetables like carrots, beetroots, broccoli and zucchini don’t combine well with fruit due to their high starch content. However if you choose to make a 60% green drink, then you can add other fruits as green leafy vegetables mix with anything.
  2. Try to drink your freshly pressed juice straight away. After 15 minutes, light and air will destroy much of the nutrients.

So it’s up to you–you choose what works best for you, either way you are nourishing your body with wonderful nutrients…either way you will look and feel fabulous and your skin will be hydrated and glowing from the inside out!

Photo Credit: Stiftelsen Elektronikkbransjen
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