Juicing vs Blending – Which is Better?

What’s the difference?

Juicing – when the pulp (fiber) is removed from the fruit or veggie and you are left with the water, nutrients, and natural sugars

Blending – when all ingredients are blended together in a blender (aka Smoothie) leaving the fiber content intact.

Benefits of Juicing:

When you juice a fruit or veggie, you are removing most of its fiber content leaving you with the water, nutrients, and natural sugars.  By removing the fiber content, you are, essentially, bypassing the digestion process, which, in turn, allows the juice to be absorbed into the body in a matter of minutes rather than the hours it can take to digest the fiber.

So, why is this so important?  Many of us in the developed world who grew up eating the Standard American Diet (SAD) have put so much ‘wear & tear’ on our digestive systems via processed foods, additives, rancid oils, excessive alcohol consumption, etc. and, as a result, have developed a variety of digestive issues, including gluten sensitivities, lactose intolerance, bloating, gas, indigestion, and many more.  Additionally, many of the foods eaten on the SAD are mucus forming – meaning they cause/leave behind mucus in the body.  The more mucus you have in your body, the more acidic your body will be – too much acid in the body causes a whole host of health problems, including some cancers.

I said all of that to say THIS… 

Digestive issues and excessive mucus lead to MALABSORPTION – aka Nutrient Deficiency – aka Difficulty absorbing nutrients from your food!

Whether you have digestive issues or just a bunch of MUCUS in your body (as many people do), your body is only able to absorb a small amount of the nutrients in the food you eat (even health foods).

Interesting Side Note:  Many Naturopathic Doctors believe that most diseases stem from toxicity and/or deficiency. Many of us focus a lot on detox (removing toxins) but not enough on addressing deficiency issues.

What does this have to do with juicing??

Without all the fiber, your digestive system doesn’t have to work as hard to breakdown the food and absorb the nutrients; as a result, the nutrients from the juice are able to pass directly into the bloodstream and supply your cells with much needed fuel within a matter of minutes!  Juicing is the quickest way (IMO) to strengthen your immune system because you are literally saturating your cells with nutrients.

Not sure when juicer you should buy, check out my other blog post:  How to Choose a Good Juicer

Benefits of Blending:

Adding your fruit and veggies into a blender keeps the fiber content intact – This is commonly referred to as ‘Smoothie.’  The cool thing about Smoothies is that they can serve as a meal replacement since you are, essentially, eating several servings of fruits and veggies within one glass.

What about all that fiber though??

Yes, smoothies do contain a lot of fiber, especially green smoothies!  This is wonderful for eliminating excess waste in the colon – they say an average American has 10 lbs of waste backed up in their colon – so if you’re feeling bloated and heavy, I suggest incorporating a smoothie per day.  This will help you stay regular and avoid bloating

My Opinion/Experience:

When I first began this health journey, my digestive system was SO damaged from all of the gluten and damaging processed foods I’d eaten my entire life!  Eventually, I was tested for gluten issues.  Little did I know that all of this damage and mucus residue was affecting my ability to absorb nutrients from my food.  Even though I was eating “health foods,” I was probably only absorbing about 20-30% of their nutrients!  This left me extremely depleted in several vitamins and minerals!!  Nutrient deficiency can lead to a whole slew of health issues.  A few I was beginning to experience – brain fog, lethargy, inability to focus for long periods, lack of motivation – just to name a few!

JUICING was my miracle!  I began incorporating juices into my daily routine and here I am 3.5 years later feeling like a new person!  Juicing helped me to replenish much needed nutrients back into my cells while also giving my digestive system a break so that it could heal itself.  Now, my digestion is 10x’s better!!!

So, which do I think is better??

Personally, I believe juicing is the better option in our current time where so many of us are nutrient deficient due to digestive issues.  Juicing will help to drastically and quickly strengthen your immune and digestive system and heal your body.

But, I also love smoothies because they help to quickly detox the colon (excess waste) and can be used as a meal replacement while ingesting several servings of fruits and veggies at once.

Although I believe juicing is more therapeutic and beneficial in terms of healing and nourishment (which many of us need), I like to incorporate both into my daily/weekly routine.  Drinking the juice will ensure adequate nutrients to my body while smoothies will ensure regular elimination with their high fiber content.

I hope my experience and feedback is of benefit to you all… leave your opinions and experience below!

Common Questions:

• Won’t all of this fruit spike my blood sugar? If you have Type 1 or 2 Diabetes or are pre-diabetic, I always suggest consulting with your doctor beforehand.  For juices, I suggest juicing mostly veggies (especially greens) and adding 1-2 granny smith apples for taste.  As for smoothies, the high fiber content helps to slow the release of sugar.
• When is the best time to drink a juice?  Personally, I like to drink juices on an empty stomach to maximize absorption.  For me, that’s first thing in the morning and mid-afternoon. 24-32 oz.
• When in the best time to drink a smoothie?  I usually drink a smoothie as a meal replacement for lunch or dinner.  16-32 oz.

Not sure when juicer you should buy, check out my other blog post:  How to Choose a Good Juicer