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Is juicing better than blender?

Juicing and blending have both become popular ways to increase fruit and vegetable intake. While both methods extract nutrients from produce, there are some key differences between juicing and blending. This article will compare juicing vs blending to help you decide which is better for your health goals.

How Juicing Works

Juicing extracts the juice from fruits and vegetables, leaving behind the pulp and fiber. This is accomplished by using a juicer, which pushes produce through a shredder or grinder to separate the liquid juice from the solid pulp.

The juice contains most of the vitamins, minerals and plant nutrients from the produce, in a concentrated, liquid form that is easy to consume. However, the fiber content is significantly reduced when juicing.

Here are some of the pros and cons of juicing:

Pros:

  • Concentrates nutrients from produce into an easy-to-consume liquid form
  • Allows you to consume a large amount of fruits/veggies easily
  • Juice is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream

Cons:

  • Removes fiber content that is beneficial for digestion and heart health
  • Nutrients are concentrated into juice but fiber is left behind
  • It’s easy to consume excess sugars from fruit juices

Juicing is ideal if you want to increase your vitamin and mineral intake from produce, but don’t enjoy eating a lot of fiber. It provides an easy way to get nutrients from veggies you don’t like eating whole. But juicing removes valuable fiber, so it shouldn’t completely replace whole fruits and vegetables.

How Blending Works

Blending, also called smoothie-making, combines whole chunks or pieces of produce into a thick, drinkable beverage. All parts of the fruit or vegetable are included – the juices, fiber and pulp.

This is accomplished by using a blender, which finely chops and purees the produce with a blade attachment. Popular types of blenders include single-serve personal blenders and high-powered blenders like Vitamix.

Here are some pros and cons of blending:

Pros:

  • Contains fiber from whole fruits/veggies for better digestion
  • Nutrients and fiber are retained in the beverage
  • Blending breaks down cell walls to release more nutrients
  • Can hide tastes of veggies by blending with sweeter ingredients

Cons:

  • Fiber content makes it thicker and harder to consume large quantities
  • Ingredients may separate or settle at bottom
  • Can still contain high sugar if fruit-heavy recipes are used

Blending retains valuable fiber that juicing removes. It also breaks down plant cell walls to release more nutrients. However, the fiber content makes blended drinks thicker and harder to consume in large amounts.

Nutrition Comparison of Juicing vs Blending

Below is a nutrition comparison between 8oz of juice from juicing versus blended juice drink:

Nutrient 8 oz Juice (Juicing) 8 oz Blended Juice Drink
Calories 112 127
Total Carbohydrates 26g 31g
Sugars 21g 25g
Fiber 0.5g 4g
Protein 2g 2g
Vitamin A 15% DV 20% DV
Vitamin C 180% DV 210% DV
Calcium 4% DV 6% DV
Iron 6% DV 10% DV

As you can see, both juices and smoothies contain carbohydrates and natural sugars. The blended smoothie beverage retains more fiber, iron and calcium versus juicing. Juicing removes fiber content almost completely.

So while both can provide concentrated nutrition from produce, blending is typically more balanced with fiber and other nutrients.

Juicing vs Blending: Which Is Better for Weight Loss?

Both juicing and blending can help support weight loss, but in different ways.

Juicing may be more beneficial for quick weight loss because:

  • It’s very low in fiber, so juices digest rapidly into bloodstream
  • Fast absorption leads to quick burst of energy and feeling of fullness
  • Easier to consume larger variety of veggie nutrients in juice form vs eating whole

However, blended drinks may provide longer lasting fullness:

  • Contains filling fiber that slows digestion and stabilizes blood sugar
  • More satiating than juice, keeps you fuller longer
  • Requires more chewing, allows more time for brain to receive fullness signals

For the average person trying to lose weight sustainably, blending may be the better option most of the time. The fiber content helps control appetite and cravings throughout the day.

But occasional juicing can also help increase vegetable intake and provide an energy boost around workouts. Using both juicing and blending can support weight loss goals.

Is Juicing or Blending Better for Absorbing Nutrients?

In general, blending is considered better for absorbing a wider range of nutrients.

Juicing may provide higher concentrations of some vitamins and minerals. But without fiber, the body may struggle to properly absorb and utilize some of these nutrients.

Blending retains healthful fiber needed for digestion and nutrient absorption. The pureeing action of blending also breaks down plant cell walls, releasing more nutrients like carotenoids for the body to absorb.

One study compared absorption of carotenoids from blended vs. juiced carrots. It found that the carotenoid absorption was 6 times greater from blended carrots than juiced.

So when it comes to nutrient absorption, blending has advantages over juicing because it retains important fiber and breaks down anti-nutrient compounds.

Juicing vs Blending: Which Is Easier?

In terms of convenience, juicing has some advantages over blending:

– Juicers separate pulp from juice automatically
– Juice pours into cup or container rapidly
– Quick, easy cleanup of juicer parts
– Most juicers have wide feed tubes that minimize prep

Blending requires a bit more work:

– Ingredients usually need to be chopped or sliced before blending
– Takes longer to thoroughly puree and blend ingredients
– May need to stop and scrape down sides of blender
– Blender pitchers can be tricky to clean fully

However, for a quick morning routine, both can be fast and convenient options. Personal blenders allow quick blending of single servings, mimicking the speed of juicing.

Overall, juicing tends to be faster and easier on a daily basis. But when in a hurry, grab-and-go blended smoothies can also be quite convenient.

Additional Pros and Cons of Juicing vs Blending

Here are some other pros and cons to consider when comparing blenders and juicers:

Juicing Pros:

  • Juicers extract higher juice yield from produce
  • Juices have longer shelf life than blends (2-3 days vs 24 hrs)
  • Some find juice flavors more palatable than thick smoothies

Juicing Cons:

  • Not as filling due to lack of fiber
  • Nutrients may spike blood sugar levels rapidly
  • Not recommended for diabetics due to sugar content

Blending Pros:

  • Smoothes texture makes blends easy to drink for some
  • Blends retain nutritional benefits of whole fruits & veggies
  • Can blend endless combinations of produce and ingredients

Blending Cons:

  • Thick texture of blends harder to drink for some
  • May need to chew blended smoothies with each sip
  • Fiber content can cause temporary bloating issues

As you can see, both options have pros and cons. Juicing provides more juice yield and convenience, while blending retains more fiber and nutrients.

Should You Be Juicing or Blending for Your Health Goals?

There are a few factors to consider when deciding between juicing and blending:

  • Weight loss – Blending may be better for longer lasting fullness, but occasional juicing provides low-fiber energy boosts.
  • Nutrient absorption – Blending retains fiber for better nutrient absorption.
  • Convenience – Most find juicing faster and easier, but personal blenders can be simple too.
  • Health conditions – Blending is typically better for managing conditions like diabetes or gut issues.
  • Ingredient tolerance – Juicing can dilute strong flavors, but some may dislike pulp of blends.

There is no definitively “better” option. Including both juiced and blended drinks can complement one another.

For example, you could blend nutrient-dense smoothies for breakfast and after workouts. Then make a mid-afternoon vegetable juice for an energizing snack between meals.

Balancing juices and smoothies based on your schedule, tastes and health goals is ideal. Both can be great options as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Conclusion

While juicing and blending share some similarities, they produce quite different nutritional drinks.

Juices contain concentrated produce nutrients, but lack the important fiber of whole fruits and vegetables. Blending retains fiber and breaks down plant cell walls for better nutrient absorption.

For most people, regularly drinking blended smoothies made from fresh ingredients is the healthier choice. But adding the occasional vegetable juice can also provide a concentrated nutrition boost.

The ideal approach is incorporating both fresh juices and blended smoothies as part of a healthy diet. Take advantage of the unique benefits of both – juicing to flood your body with micronutrients, and blending to get a wide array of fiber and nutrients. Vary your juice and smoothie recipes based on what produce is freshest and in season for maximum nutritional value.

Drink your vegetables and fruits consistently, and you’ll be giving your body the nourishment it really craves. Both juicers and blenders can help you get there in delicious and convenient ways.