In the 90s, the only juice I drank were smoothies made from fruit and sherbet. I also guzzled orange juice (that was probably heated until there were no nutrients left). A few years ago, we bought our first juicer. I loved being able to drink my nutrients in one glass. Even better, my kids were drinking (and liking) kale and other green things that they wouldn’t always eat. However, despite my love for juicing, I’m not going to give up on blending. After all, in the juicing versus blending debate both have their pros and cons.
Juicing Versus Blending Defined
Juicing involves using a machine that takes all the juice and water from a fruit or vegetable and leaves the skin and pulp behind. On the other hand, blending involves combining the whole fruit or vegetable in a blender.
Time and Money
We have a centrifugal Breville juicer. It is very fast and juices entire apples in seconds. However, after you are finished, you have to take it apart and clean it. The hardest part to clean is the screen. Yet, if you consider the amount of money you will save juicing at home, spending 5-10 minutes cleaning out your juicer isn’t much time. If you are using organic produce, making a drink with organic kale and apples may cost close to $2-3 a serving. However, buying the same drink at a juice bar will cost you about twice as much. Cold press juicers are said to retain the most nutrients. However, these usually cost over $200.
Since all you need is a blender, blending is slightly cheaper. In fact, there are plenty of blenders under $50. I use a “Magic Bullet” to make smoothies for my kids. It’s extremely easy. However, I don’t blend everyday. Thus, if you can, invest in a more expensive blender made for smoothies. You might find your pricier blender lasts longer. In addition, I think it’s easier to clean a blender than a juicer.
For me, both blending and juicing are a great way to get a lot of nutrients in a short amount of time. Eating fresh produce is very important. However, if you don’t want to eat a bunch of kale and a few apples in one sitting, then juicing might be beneficial for your health.
Health
According to foodmatters.com, juicing is good for people with a “sensitive digestive system or illness that inhibits your body from processing fiber.” Furthermore, according to the Williams Sonoma blog, juicing allows, “important micronutrients typically more difficult to absorb” to “become accessible to the human body. ” However, be careful about juicing only fruits. Without the fiber, the juice quickly absorbs into your bloodstream. This can cause a “rapid spike in your blood sugar.” Furthermore, even if you are juicing, don’t forget to eat plenty of raw produce too. If you want, you can add the pulp to soups, pastas and muffins for extra nutrients too.
As for blending, this process is good for those who want more fiber in their diet. Furthermore, blending creates “a slow, even release of nutrients into the blood stream.” This helps prevent “blood sugar spikes.” Likewise, since blended drinks contain more fiber, these drinks are more likely to fill you up for a longer amount of time. Finally, fiber helps keep your digestive system moving so your bowel movements stay “regular.”
I really like the clean taste of juicing. However, I like blending for a quick and filling snack. In the end, when looking at juicing versus blending, I’ll use both methods for a healthy lifestyle. Of course, I’m still going to eat salads and plenty of fresh produce to make sure my body is getting everything it needs.
More from Melissa:
A Lazy Girl’s Guide to Eating Healthy
My Caffeine-Free Life: A Love-Hate Relationship
Eating Whole Foods Completes Me
