Blending Versus Juicing, Is There Really Any Difference?

Smoothie Vs. Juice: Which Is Actually Better For You?

While some studies suggest that fruits and vegetables can not only be healthy for your body but for your mind as well, it goes without saying that both should be a part of our daily lives. With many people turning to juices and smoothies to ensure they’re getting the recommended intake and benefits of bananas, apples, and carrots, the question still remains: which is better for you?

The differences between blending and juicing

While experts recommend eating 5-9 servings of fruit and vegetables per day, it comes as no surprise that many people may find this difficult and even intimidating to consume this amount daily. This is just one of the many reasons many people tend to turn to juicing and blending - however, it’s important to realize that there is quite a difference between the two.

Many people choose to start their day off with a smoothie - which is oftentimes pretty straightforward and easy to make. Using a blender, all you have to do is throw in whatever fruits you like - which are then pulverised, giving you all of the nutrients and fibers that will stay intact throughout the process. While this is the next best thing to eating the fruit whole, you also have the ability to add in other healthy options, such as yogurt, almonds, and even leafy greens, like kale and spinach. This can not only increase the overall “healthiness” of your smoothie, but can allow you to get many more health benefits out of one drink. Juicing, however, is another story.

Primarily used for vegetables, juicing involves using a juicer instead of a blender. While this can be a great way to work in vegetables you might not be able to fit into your meals all at once, such as carrots, tomatoes, celery, etc., it’s important to know that the fiber and pulp is removed from the veggies in the process, though you will still end up with all of the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, still making it a healthy option - which is one of the primary reasons that juicing has gained such popularity in recent years.

The pros & cons

While perhaps one of the biggest pros of juices and smoothies is to get that recommended intake into your diet, there are many other benefits that not everyone knows about. Since juices and smoothies can easily incorporate many healthy foods, the benefits of them are often overlooked. While avocados and strawberries can attribute to clear and healthy skin, antioxidant-rich veggies such as carrots can help to reduce cardiovascular disease. Not to mention that juices and smoothies can be pretty portable and easy to make, making them an easy on-the-go option for those who lead busy lifestyles - which can in turn attribute to a stress-free and successful daily routine.

When it comes to the bad side of our favorite drinks, there are some things to keep in mind. As mentioned before, the process of juicing does remove the fiber in the vegetables, making it a sugary concoction for your body to digest since the fiber isn’t present to slow the absorption of sugar down in your body. When it comes to both smoothies and juices, it’s necessary to know that you can easily “overdo” it - meaning you might easily go over the recommended daily intake pretty quickly. This is due to the fact that when things go into the blender or juicer, you might feel as though you didn’t end up with much liquid to fill your glass, which can prompt you (or trick you) to add and consume more - this can especially prove to be a problem if you’re trying to lose weight, as you may not see as much progress as you’d like due to an increased calorie intake.

Despite the good and bad, juices and smoothies are both great options for easily getting in your daily dose of fruits and veggies - even when on the go, providing that you err on the side of caution when it comes to overdoing it, and consume what your body needs at the time. Aside from that, both can be healthy options and equally as good for you.