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I
often get asked the question of whether it is better to blend or juice. In
fact, both blending and juicing hold their own respective benefits, it simply
depends on what stage of detoxing you wish your body to undergo. Both juices
and smoothies play a very important role in any health and wellness program or
lifestyle. Below I will compare these two methods as well as list out the
specific benefits of each.
Why
Are Blending & Juicing Different?
Juicing
Juicing
removes all indigestible fiber from fruit and vegetables and extracts the
vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients in juice form
This
means that your body can access and absorb the nutrients faster, especially if
you have impaired digestion (which is often a result of making bad food
choices, or if you have ever taken a round of antibiotics). In addition,
juicing helps give your digestive system a break, so that your body can focus
on rest and repair.
Juicing
also allows you to consume large amounts of vegetables that you wouldn’t
normally consume. Some people find that eating that many vegetables in one
sitting is very difficult, but by turning it into a juice, you can get them
down quickly and efficiently.
Individuals
who juice often report finer mental clarity and focus, weight loss, increased
energy, better complexion and increased immunity. Juices also help cleanse our
liver (especially if you add things like dandelion greens and beets) and fight
off depression (thanks to their high mineral content).
Blending
Blending
includes all fiber and nutrients from the fruit and vegetables
Blending
produce into a smoothie helps preserve the fiber so these mixtures help
regulate and keep our blood sugar levels balanced (and thus, keeps your energy
levels balanced too). Smoothies also tend to be more filling than juices if you
intend on going quite a while without a next meal.
Smoothies
also ensure that toxins in the digestive tract get pushed out with healthy,
regular bowel movements. They also help support the good bacteria in our gut
needed for good digestion! Individuals who consume smoothies also report
natural weight loss due to their ability to stave off cravings and hunger
pains.
Lastly,
smoothies are much cheaper to make than juices. Juicing often takes much more
fruit and vegetables to create a hearty drink than it does to make a smoothie.
Tips:
(1)
When you consume smoothies or juices, make sure you swish around the mixture in
your mouth for 20-30 seconds to assimilate enzymatic activity in your mouth and
to prevent bloating and gas!
(2)
Make sure you combine fruits, starchy vegetables, and low-starch vegetables
properly.
(3)
Try you best to consume the smoothie or juice right away! The nutrients oxidize
quickly, and you want to minimize this as much as possible. If you want to
store your juice for a couple hours, make sure you keep it somewhere dark and
cold like the fridge, and add some high vitamin-C foods like lemons (for juice)
or oranges (for smoothies) to slow oxidation rate!
It's pumpkin season and what better to celebrate than a healthy twist on pumpkin pie?! This smoothie tastes exactly like chilled pumpkin pie in a glass, but without all the added saturated fat and refined sugar that most conventional pumpkin pies are stuffed with. This thick and creamy smoothie makes a delicious filling breakfast or mid-day treat and helps boost your energy levels!
Ingredients:
