The Benefits of Smoothies

Both blending and juicing are beneficial ways to consume more fresh fruits and vegetables. One method is not better than the other, it just depends on your specific needs and goals. 

When you blend you combine all your ingredients in one container, pulverizing your food to one smooth, blended drink. You can add a wide variety of plant-based foods to the container to get the texture and taste you enjoy.

Blending offers the opportunity to bring in additional food groups beyond fruits and veggies, and to get creative with preparation styles like smoothie bowls, desserts, soups, dips, and more.

Some smoothie add-ins include protein powder, nut butters, nuts, seeds, nut milks, bananas, avocados, and even things like oats and dried fruits. The texture of your smoothie depends on what you add to it—some blended smoothies can be thick enough to enjoy with a spoon.

If you are looking to add more protein, boost calories, increase fiber, have a liquid meal, or enjoy a blended smoothie bowl or soup, you might choose using a blender instead of a juicer.

 Another important distinction is that blended drinks contain both soluble and insoluble fiber. 

• Soluble fiber: dissolves in water and other body fluids and helps feed good gut bacteria
• Insoluble fiber: absorbs liquids and sticks to other materials to help form stool

Smoothies contain both soluble and insoluble fiber, which help add bulk to stool, improve transit time, prevent constipation, and aid in carrying out excess toxic waste from the body.

PS: Juice still contains soluble fiber, which has benefits like regulating the gut microbiota by producing beneficial short chain fatty acids and helping to lower cholesterol. 

Benefits of Blending

• It can be more filling or satiating thanks to both soluble and insoluble fiber being present
• Blending provides balanced nutrition with protein, carbohydrates, fat, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, depending on your ingredients.
• It may serve as a convenient and healthy meal option—you can make a smoothie for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert
• You can add extra ingredients beyond fruits and vegetables such as superfood powders, fats, proteins, dairy, nuts, and seeds
• Easy cleanup with one vessel
• You can try more preparation styles such as smoothie bowls, soups, dips, desserts, blended batters for muffins or pancakes, and blended baby food and purees