By Jean Sumner
Over the past few years I have been asked whether people should juice or blend their fruits and vegetables. There always seems to be some confusion about which is better. For starters when you juice you eliminate all of the fiber, you only drink the juice. When you blend you will be consuming the entire fruit or vegetable. You would use a juicer for juicing and a blender for blending.
Juicing – Again, when you juice the liquid portion of the produce is squeezed out and separated from the solid fibrous portion (pulp). Only the liquid portion is consumed. The pulp can be utilized in other recipes. I have had brownies that used the pulp and added a lot of moisture.
Juicing gives the body a rest from solid food digestion and nutrition is not wasted to fuel the digestion process. Nutrients are rapidly assimilated when you juice. Fresh juice is a live liquid vitamin supplement. The juice of fresh vegetables and fruits is the richest whole food source of oxygen, enzymes, vitamins and minerals. Green juices are very effective at hydrating the body. Drinking juice assists in the healthy elimination of body wastes. The only negatives to juicing are that it is more time-consuming and there is a lot of waste.
Blending – After blending, the fiber remains as a part of the final product. All foods can be blended to a smooth consistency. This is ideal for anyone with dental problems, digestive concerns and babies.
Drinking blended mixtures assists in healthy elimination. The blender is quick, easy and requires minimal clean-up. The negatives to blending include the fact that high-speed slicing and aerating effects of blending cause rapid nutrient destruction, oxidation and enzyme loss. And the slower digestion of blended mixtures requires more energy.
So there you have it. Personally, I do both. First thing in the morning I have a 16 oz. glass of green juice.
After that I am usually not hungry until 10:30 am, at which time I often make a smoothie.