Juicing or Blending?
There are many factors that contribute to a lack of proper nutrition, but convenience is one of the most prominent ones. Blending and juicing offer the convenience of increasing your intake of fruits and vegetables on the go, but which one is best for you? Blending and juicing each have their own pros and cons.
It can be difficult to maintain healthy eating habits, especially if you live a busy life. Most people find it hard to consistently eat enough fruits and vegetables. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that only 1 in 10 Americans eat enough fruits and vegetables. So how are you going to get your daily dose? Here is a comprehensive list of the benefits of juicing vs. blending.
What is the difference between juicing and blending?
Though the main concept of juicing and blending is similar, turning fruits and vegetables into a drink, the methods and results have significant differences.
Blending turns the fruits and vegetables into a thick puree by repeatedly dicing them with blades. A common household blender is enough to achieve this. With blending, you may choose to remove the skin and core of your fruit or vegetable to avoid seeds and bulking skin bits.
Juicing is a way to extract the juice from fruits and vegetables by separating the pulp and the juice from one another. There are two popular methods of juicing. These include:
- Centrifugal extraction – This method uses the force of a rapidly spinning blade to extract juice, by forcing the fruit or vegetable against a mesh screen that the juice escapes from. Centrifugal juicers are the quickest way to extract juice from fruits and vegetables.
- Cold press or masticating – This is a slower yet, more efficient way to juice. It simply uses a force to press fruits and vegetables against a filter. The lack of heat ensures that little to no nutritional value is lost in the process.
Should I juice or blend?
While both juicing and blending allow you to benefit from adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet, you must consider which one is right for you. There are several factors that differentiate the two methods. Here are some things to consider when weighing the pros and cons of blending and juicing.
Pros of juicing: Remember the 3 C’s
- Convenient – Pre-made juices in a range of flavors are readily available in most supermarkets. Additionally, centrifugal juicers quickly make juice from your favorite fruits and vegetables.
- Cleansing – Juicing is the perfect way to cleanse. Juices are often high in antioxidant which helps to remove free radicals, or toxins, from your body.
- Combination – You can mix and match almost any fruit and vegetable to get the perfect flavor and the additional benefits. As juice isn’t as thick as blended drinks, they pair perfectly with meals and can be consumed quickly.
Cons of Juicing:
- Just the juice – That’s what you’re getting. While most of the nutrients are extracted during the juicing process, healthy fiber is often left behind in the pulp.
- Sugar – Fruits and vegetables contain sugar. Juicing requires more of these foods to extract more juice, this can lead to an increased sugar intake if not monitored properly.
Pros of Blending:
- Satiety – The thick resulting liquid of blending, can lead people to feel more full, therefore, curbing hunger.
- A little bit of everything – The fact that blending simply purees the food that you want to eat, means that you’ll benefit from getting a little bit of everything, including that healthy fiber from the pulp.
Cons of Blending:
- Texture – Blending foods often leaves uneven bits and pieces in the thick drink. Blending leafy greens or seed-bearing fruits like strawberries can make consuming your drink an unpleasant experience.
- Lack of Convenience – Juicing only requires a cup or two to really reap its benefits. Blending does not reduce the volume of the foods you eat, therefore, limiting your intake and making it hard to balance full meals with.
Conclusion
There are a lot of factors to consider when deciding if blending or juicing is right for you. Do your research and figure out which one works with your lifestyle. If you prefer the consistency and volume of blending then it might be the right fit for you. Put your blender to work. However, if you are simply trying to help cleanse your body, limit caloric intake, and maintain a balanced diet then juicing is the way to go!