Juices vs. Smoothies: Which is Better for You & Why
As someone who practices holistic health and wellness, it’s obvious I believe in the practice of total well-being, which includes the foods we eat.
Think about it: if you were to eat an entire apple with the skin on, you’re going to get more nutrients than if you were to eat a peeled apple. Why? Because food is made to be eaten whole. When you leave the peel on you get double the amount of potassium, vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin A, and of course double the fiber. That’s one of the main reasons why many health professionals find blended smoothies to be more beneficial for the body than juices, because you’re getting double the nutrients, and in some cases, the skin holds unique enzymes that help your body digest the fruit or veggie as well.
When juicing though, you’re getting more concentrated amounts of vitamins and nutrients, plus easier absorption due to the lack of fibrous materials for digestion. In some cases, juicing is beneficial when it comes to veggies. Take celery juice for example; our bodies are not able to easily digest three stocks of celery in one sitting due to the high amount of fiber and water in the veggie. When juiced, celery packs a punch of nutrition for the body.
So where do I stand? Well, nothing’s truly better for your body than eating these whole fruits and veggies, as the effort put into chewing and metabolizing the whole foods revs up the metabolism preparing the body to digest. With that being said, our bodies are all different and you must find the best way to consume the most fruits and veggies for you! I love good juice (check out this recipe from a local shop on the HU Instagram) but when I’m with my kids, we’re all smoothies all the time.
As a mom, smoothies are the easiest way to provide the most nutrition, even when the kiddos only finish half their cup. It is also a super sneaky way to add in veggies they would usually not eat. (However, I do have to applaud my Hudson because he is a good baby tree eater… yay for broccoli lookin’ so cute!) He came out of the womb smoothie incentivized. If he did something good, he got a smoothie. Listen, we have to do what we have to do to make it work!
Here is a go-to recipe we love for smoothie time. You can add or omit the peanut butter or make it your own with your favorite nut butter!
1 1/2 cups frozen strawberries
1 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup frozen raspberries or blackberries (Make it simple! I buy a bag of mixed organic frozen berries and use about 3 cups.)
2 cups almond or oat milk unsweetened
2 scoops organic salted peanut butter
· 1 scoop of grass-fed vanilla protein (Julian Bakery is my favorite)
Handful of ice
Toss it all in a blender and blend away! FYI: Add in your powders after the smoothie is fully blended, then do a final pulse to mix.
A couple of tips: For quick blending purposes, I always use frozen fruit unless I have some whole fruit that is ripe and ready to use like nectarines or bananas. Also, I always use alternative milk I just think it helps make the smoothie creamier, but water is an option for less calories and simplicity. I try to avoid fruits super high in sugar on a daily basis and stick to berries that are high in fiber and are known as a superfood. Lastly, I’m a powder girl and love to add in some collagen or grass-fed protein powder, even herb powders (Navitas is a great brand.)
Make it a habit by investing in some fun smoothie cups for summer… there are so many cute and reasonable options on the market! Plus, it’s more sustainable than using red solo cups on a daily. We love Buoy’s reusable water bottle and supporting their mission: awesome kids inventing what our world needs and making their earth a cleaner and happier place.
So, what will you be doing this summer, juicing or blending? Either way, you’re doing your body a favor and giving it the TLC it needs. Cheers, Happy drinking!