Why blending is better than juicing

A while back, when people wised up and decided to switch from sodas and other junk drinks to healthier choices, juice extractors became popular. Unfortunately, juice extractors don’t really give us healthier drinks. When extracting juice from fruit, all the good stuff like fiber, gets discarded. That is tragic. Juicing gives us a sugary liquid without the part that not only fills us up, but also helps us stay healthy, the fiber. It takes more juice (meaning, more sugar) to satisfy us because the fiber is missing. For example, eating an apple is satisfying, but juicing an apple requires multiple apples, which gives us too much sugar.

On the other hand, blending retains all the nutrients and fiber from the fruits and vegetables. All the goodness that comes from fiber is crucially important for the body.

What’s so great about fiber?

Fiber is only found in plant-based foods and it is far more beneficial when we consume fiber from fruits and vegetables, instead of store-bought powders.

Regular fiber intake from plant-based foods:

• Keeps the intestines clean, removing toxins, including carcinogenic substances.
• Is associated with lower rates of colorectal cancer
• Helps satisfy hunger
• Improves hemoglobin levels in the blood
• Reduces constipation
• Is associated with lower blood cholesterol

What’s so wrong about sugar?

Most of us know the downside of too much refined sugar in our diet (diabetes, tooth decay, inflammation, high blood pressure, etc.). In the case of juicing, even though we get complex sugars from the fruit, that is still too much sugar for the body to handle. By contrast, the whole fruit comes neatly packaged with fiber, vitamins, minerals, and multiple other nutrients. The key is to stay away from refined sugars, not the complex carbohydrates found in fruits and vegetables.

The ideal ratio

It is important to balance the ratio of fruits and vegetables when blending, being careful not to make smoothies with only fruits. For example, spinach and cucumbers are wonderful to add. Smoothies are easy to make; all it takes is putting delicious, chopped up fruits and veggies into a blender, adding enough fruit to keep them tasty. You can also add oats, chia seeds, flaxseed, ginger, turmeric, etc. Adjust ingredients until you find a taste you enjoy. Make sure to use water when blending, as this is the healthiest choice.