To juice or to blend .. . that is the question. And it’s a question that I get asked quite often. Is it best to make fresh juices or to just take the same foods and blend them for a “whole juice”? Some people feel that blending is the way to go. After all, the fiber (which is what gets removed when we juice) is good for us . . . right? Of course the answer to that question is obvious. The research seems pretty clear, and most “experts” teach that people who eat a high fiber diet, are generally healthier. Of course, eating a diet rich in whole, fresh, plant-based foods provides lots of fiber. Getting an abundance of healthy fiber is just one of the many, many benefits of eating a wholesome diet.
A fiber rich diet with lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains (optimally gluten-free), accenting with some whole, raw nuts and seeds, is a great foundation for promoting good health. When the body has been depleted or run down, or is unhealthy or diseased, it needs extra nutrition in order to get built back up. This applies to vital nutrients like vitamins and minerals, but also to flavonoids, phytonutrients and anitoxidants (and all the other “good stuff” that is found in plant foods). Some of the minerals we need most are vital in helping to get our body’s cellular pH back to a healthy alkaline level. Unfortunately, because of modern day farming methods, the foods that we are eating today are often not as nutritionally dense as they were years ago.
Now back to the question at hand. A juicer does one thing really well. It separates the juice (nutrients) from the pulp (fiber). When we eat the whole food, the body has to do this work through the digestive process. It takes time and energy for the body to do this, and therefore it has a limited ability for the amount of food that it can process. When we digest food, some of the nutrition that we get from our food is used up in the digestive process. If we have not eaten well over the years, we may not have optimal digestion, and consequently may be absorbing and utilizing even less of the nutrients found in our regular diet.
I consider freshly made juice to be the best, and most natural, nutritional “supplement” that we can consume. With any other kind of supplement, we have to trust that it is made in such a way that we will get benefit from it. Actually, research shows that in some cases we may be getting very little from bottled nutritional supplements, and sometimes they could even be causing us harm. These supplements may not be natural at all, and/or we may be taking these man-made or extracted nutrients in amounts that are not natural (potentially causing trouble). And for sure we are not getting the synergy that comes with the balance of the other nutrients that are generally available with the whole food. Research bounces back and forth on this kind of thing, but I really like to get as much of what my body needs from foods. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against taking a few supplements here and there, if/when that is needed. I just have more confidence in a whole food that I can hold in my hand, rather than bottles of pills that I really don’t know much about (and certainly could not reproduce in my own kitchen).
So, when we use freshly made juices to “supplement” an already healthy diet, I see it as a huge benefit. It’s a great option when the body needs nutrition in addition to what we can get from our regular daily meals, without increasing the amount the body must digest or process. In an 8oz glass of freshly made juice, you get the nutrients from approximately one pound of fresh food. So if we don’t juice, but would like to get that extra nutrition, could we blend one or more pounds of food and eat it in addition to our regular meals each day? That would overload our digestion. And if we already have health problems, our digestion may be sluggish to begin with.
Some people, myself included, have used juicing to lose weight, regain energy and improve overall health. Some have overcome pretty serious health problems drinking freshly made juices. In such cases, people may drink multiple fresh juices every day. Some have used health regimens that include drinking as many as 13 fresh juices a day and have gotten well from very grave health issues. If not juiced, that would be thirteen pounds of extra food being processed by the body. Overload, wouldn’t you say? Even drinking three to four extra pounds of fresh produce a day in blended drinks, in addition to regular meals would be impossible. And yet it is very easy to drink these same nutrients in the form of freshly made juices. When someone is looking for increased nutrition, from the most natural source possible, in a form that can be taken in addition to our regular meals (without overloading digestion) . . . freshly made juices are the way to go. I also think that juicing is a great option for people that need to give their digestion a break, through reducing the amount the body must process each day. And by the way, it has been estimated by some that up to 92% of the nutrition in fresh juices is utilized by the body.
So, what’s my take on blended foods? As long as the foods that are being blended are healthy and beneficial, I think blending foods is another awesome option. Lots of folks these days are drinking smoothies made with whole fresh ingredients. Some increase the nutrition by including nutrient dense foods like dark green leafy vegetables, and antioxidant-rich foods like berries and chia seeds. You can get a variety of these healthy foods blended up for a delicious nutrient-rich meal. Blended foods like smoothies, “green drinks”, and “blended salads”, also reduce the digestive stress on the body, while increasing the amount of available nutrition. This can be another great option for anyone wanting to use diet and nutrition to improve overall health, and is especially beneficial for those that have weak digestion.
I usually drink a blended drink that includes and abundance of dark green leafy vegetables five or more times a week. I also drink several freshly made juices almost every day. And sometimes, I let my digestion rest by drinking only freshly made juices and eating no solid food for a day or more. I call this a “juice fast” and I generally do this one day a week, and two or more weeks a year.
So, I don’t see the question of juicing or blending as an either/or proposition. Each method has benefit and can play a role in increasing our nutritional intake from fresh foods, promoting better overall health. Why do one or the other, when we can do both?
“It’s all good” . . . as they say! :)
Blessings and Good Health to You!
Ginny