Juicing vs. Blending

Fruits and vegetables intake is known to be good for our health. Based on some studies, eating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day can help decrease the risk of stroke by 26 percent, as well as the risk of suffering from cardiovascular disease. However, it can be difficult for some to consume five or more servings of fruits and vegetables in a day. This is why some like to juice and blend fruits and vegetables because these healthy foods are easier to consume in these ways.

Today, there are some discussion about which process is better, juicing or blending? Both juices and smoothies are healthy and blending and juicing are both beneficial in different ways. We will give you the differences between juicing and blending and you can be the judge on which you think is a better option.

Blending

Blending is the process of liquefying whole fruits and vegetables through chopping with the use of blades. The result of blending fruits and vegetables is a pulpy puree-like drink also known as smoothie. Smoothies are great to drink first thing in the morning as breakfast, or as snacks throughout the day because there are more filling due to the fiber it contains.

Pros:

 

raw food on a budget
  • Blending fruits and vegetables to create a smoothie can be faster compared to juicing them, but this depends on the equipment you have.
  • Low-water content fruits like bananas and avocado can be blended into smoothies but they cannot be juiced.
  • Blended smoothies can ward off hunger longer compared to juices because the pulp is still in the smoothie.
  • Most of the blenders are cheaper than juicers and most people already have a blender at home.

 

Cons:

 

  • Green leafy vegetables may taste grassy and unpalatable when blended. You may need to add powders or other ingredients to improve the taste of the smoothie.
  • Blended smoothies have high fiber content, therefore, the nutritional value is not as high compared to a glass of juice.

 

Juicing

Juicing is a process where water and nutrients from produce are extracted and the indigestible fiber are discarded. In juicing, you will be able to get a thin and concentrated liquid product which contains vitamins and minerals. Juicing makes the nutrients more readily available to the body in much larger quantities compared to eating the fruits and vegetables whole.

Pros:

 

  • When you juice fruits and vegetables, you will get a higher nutritional value per ounce. When you drink juices rich in vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, enzymes, and anti-oxidants, it will make your cells happy.
  • Vegetables may taste better when juiced compared to when blended.
  • Juicing is good for people who have poor digestive systems because juice is absorbed in the body quickly compared to fibrous blended smoothies which often takes hours to digest.
  • A juicer breaks open the cell of the fruits and vegetables which releases vitamins and minerals while a blender just basically chops and mashes them. There are still soluble fiber retained in juices, and the discarded fiber by the juicer has less nutritional value compared to what’s in your juice.

 

Cons:

 

  • A juicer is more difficult to clean compared to a blender.
  • A juicer is more expensive and juicing can be more expensive as well because you need to use fresh fruits and vegetables to be able to extract good juices.

 

The Right Equipment

No matter which process you choose to be able to consume the suggested amount of fruits and vegetables in a day, the important thing is to use the right equipment.  Investing in a good equipment will allow you to get the most benefit from your juices and smoothies.

If you’re into juicing, make sure to get a good-quality juicer. It doesn’t necessarily mean you need to buy an expensive one. There are cheaper juicers out there which can give you good juices as well. But if you’re planning to juice fruits and vegetables regularly, investing in premium juicers is better. Also, premium juicers can last longer compared to cheaper ones. The same goes if you’re into blending. Try to find one that is gentle on the fruits and vegetables and will not heat up the enzymes and destroy the nutrients in the fruits and vegetables while pulling the fibers apart.

Both juicing and blending have their advantages and disadvantages. But when it comes to contributing to our health and wellness, they are both beneficial. By knowing the pros and cons of each process, have you decided which one you prefer?