This is a question that we get asked all the time.
Which is better: juicing or blending? Does one offer more health benefits than
the other? Juices and smoothies both play an important role in any wellness
program and we discuss the benefits of each in both of our films, Food Matters
and Hungry For Change. We believe that both juicing and blending are very
beneficial, but in different ways.
Blending
Blending
simply combines all the ingredients you place in your blender, leaving the pulp
and fiber intact. Fiber is a healthy addition to your diet and can reduce your
risk of heart disease and diabetes, according to MayoClinic.com. Another
benefit of blending over juicing, notes Disease.com, is that there is a slower
rate of sugar absorption. Blending
is like eating the whole fruit or veggies plus the enzymes, co-enzymes,
co-factors and some essential nutrients that can be found in the pulp
and the fibers of both vegetables and fruits. Making frozen drinks is easy with a blender as you
can simply add frozen vegetables or ice to your smoothie. The ease of clean up
compared to juicing is a plus to many who choose to blend rather than juice.
Juicing
Juicing is
the act of extracting the pulp of vegetables or fruits, leaving the juice in a
liquid, non-bulky state. Proponents of juicing cite absorbing nutrients more
effectively as a benefit because your body is not expending energy digesting
fiber. Other claims are that juicing helps with removal of toxins from your
body and with losing weight, if done in a specific manner. The purity and high
nutritional content of the juice that is extracted is valued among juicers.
Conclusions
According to
MayoClinic.com, there is no sound scientific evidence that extracted juices are
better for you than eating the fruit or vegetable itself. Juicing can be used
as a tool to get more fruits and vegetables in your diet, though, so to that
end it is beneficial if you don't normally eat whole veggies. One of the
benefits of both vegetable juicing and vegetable blending is that you can mix
in vegetables that you would not ordinarily eat alone. If you don't like
carrots, try them in a smoothie or juice them with other vegetables that you do
like. Whether you choose to blend or juice your vegetables, you are nourishing
your body with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that have both short term
and long term health benefits.
