Juice vs. Smoothies
The debate over the superiority of juices vs. smoothies is an endless one.
“We need the fiber. No we don’t! Juices are too high in sugar. Juices are medicinal!”
The truth here, is that both are incredibly beneficial and should be included in the diet regularly.
A smoothie is made in a blender, and is a liquified form of fruits and vegetables, including their fiber. Juice is made in a juicer, and removes the fiber from the fruits and vegetables, leaving only their water-content behind.
The huge benefit of smoothies is that it “predigests” the vegetables, so that digestion is much easier. You are also able to add in many nutrient dense ingredients for a power-house drinkable meal.
Juice, on the other hand, has no fiber to break down so it is a faster absorption of nutrients, and requires little effort for the digestive system to break it down. The one concern with juice is the inclusion of high-sugar fruit, which spikes blood sugar and is considered a prerequisite to developing insulin sensitivity, leading to Type 2 Diabetes. Therefore, be sure to make (or order!) juices that are mostly vegetable based, with only a bit of low-sugar fruit to sweeten, such as pear or green apple.
Like with anything these days, everyone has their opinion that they will shake into you until you believe it. It is important to experiment on your own body to see how they feel for you. I incorporate both almost daily!