To juice or to blend? That is the question.
Each morning I have a tough decision to make… To juice or to blend? If I’m really feeling tired I know that juice is going to give me a faster kick, but I know I’ll feel full longer if I blend. Lately I’ve been staying up late listening to audio books so juice seems to win out. But juicing all the time isn’t going to give my body everything I need, so I’ve made a conscious decision to alternate.
Though what I choose in the morning usually depends on my mood, let’s talk about the pros and cons of both.
Juicing
Pros:
Pack a ton of nutrients into a small glass or delicious goodness!
Juicing can be good for people who have damaged digestive systems. This is due to the fact that removing the fibre releases all of the nutrients from those plants, without your body having to do any work.
Juices are great cleansing your body. This is because your body will not be putting any effort towards digestion, so all that energy can be directed to ridding the body of built up waste and toxins. Juicing allows the body to focus on healing while still providing nutrients to your body that would not be present during a water fast. Juices are also awesome for supporting the healing of a damaged gut, and a plethora of other health issues depending on the ingredients present.
Tips to getting the most out of juicing. Chew your juice. Literally chew while you drink to stimulate saliva and digestion. Slow the nutrient blast but adding some form of fat to your meal. I like some form of healthy toast with almond butter to go along with my juice.
Cons: If made only with fruit, juices can be loaded with sugars.
Add a little bit of fat (like almond butter) to your meal to better digest the juice.
Blending (I’m talking about vegetable soothies – not bananas and ice cream)
Pros:
You get all the benefits of the vegetables in their raw complete form but easier to digest. Fiber is great for your body!
Smoothies make a complete full meal. They are light enough that they won’t weigh you down but they are substantial enough that you won’t feel hungry again in 15 minutes. You can also pack them full of ingredients that will help with your recovery after a work out.
Smoothies are also great for those who are coming off of a fast of any kind, as it will help to re-introduce your body to solid foods again in a more gradual way than jumping straight into eating would. Smoothies will help to cleanse out your colon, because they contains the fibre that will help to “sweep” out your intestinal tract. These fibres will bind to toxins and usher them out of your system. Smoothies are also amazing for those who want to start introducing more raw foods into their diets, but don’t know how. You can hide a number of less palatable ingredients like dark greens and superfoods under the sweet taste of fruit in a smoothie.
Cons: If made with fruit, juices can be loaded with sugars.
Wonderful green smoothie (2 servings)
- 1 cup Organic Spinach
- 3/4 – 1/2 Organic avocado
- 1 half Organic peeled cucumber
- 1 teaspoon Organic spirulina
- 1/4 cup loose Organic cilantro
- 1 cup crushed ice
- 2 cups water
- Optional: juice 1/2 Organic lime
- Optional: 1/2 teaspoon skinned and chopped fresh Organic ginger
Experiment with adding your favorite veggies, ground flax hemp or chia seeds. If the smoothie is “too green” tasting for you right away try adding half an apple sans seeds.
What is your favorite veggie smoothie or juice blend recipe?