To an inexperienced eye, juicing or smoothies might seem more or less similar. Although both of the drinks are essentially made from fruits and vegetables, there are notable differences between the two.
A smoothie is made up of a variety of ingredients, making it thick in consistency while a juice has a thinner consistency and leaves out the pulp of the fruit or the veggie which is commonly found in a smoothie.
A common debate that is often seen is whether juicing is better or a smoothie. Which is it? Juicing or smoothies? Both drinks have some pros and cons which we will discuss here. On the basis of the positive and negative aspects of both the drinks you can conclude on your own which one seems better to you.
Juice (Pros)
Juice is a great option for those who are reluctant to eat fruits or vegetables. You might have noticed among kids and teens, that they might not eat spinach, but if you make a yummy spinach juice mixed with other tasty fruits (to make it more flavorful), they will happily consume it. Hence, the juice is an easy option to take in all the necessary vitamins and minerals of the fruit and veggies.
Moreover, various kinds of fruit or veggie juices help in maintaining a healthy body and dealing with chronic illnesses. For instance, an orange or a grapefruit juice is known to boost the immune system while watermelon juice is known to reduce the chances of blood pressure and heart diseases.
Juice (Cons)
Juicing fruits and vegetables means getting rid of their skins, pulp, seeds and what not—these things are extremely rich in nutrients which we never get access to. For example, dietary fiber is the main nutrient that is absent in fruit juices. What happens is that juicers normally filter out the pulp which typically consists of the fiber.
Juices can also contain more levels of sugar which then become a no-go area for people suffering with conditions like diabetes.
Smoothie (Pros)
Smoothies, unlike juices, are a blend of whole foods, which means all the nutrients present in the fruits or veggies remain intact.
Another great benefit of smoothies is that you can use other extra-beneficial ingredients in it such as yogurt and milk as base! Additionally, you can use mint, seeds, cocoa powder etc as toppings to raise its nutritional value even further. This way a smoothie becomes more fulfilling and wholesome as compared to juice.
Smoothie (Cons)
One of the major downsides of a smoothie is that it is packed with extra calories. Since smoothie consists of extra ingredients, unlike juice, it becomes a heavy beverage. Drinking a smoothie can go against your plan of losing weight. In fact, it will lead to more weight gain.
People are often seen drinking a smoothie with a meal rather than as a meal, which is like consuming two meals at once. If you’re trying to lose weight, this can really set you back on your goals!
Both juicing or smoothies are considered best in their respective ways. Some experts at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics may say that smoothies are the healthier option, but it really depends on how you make them and how you make your juices. It all comes down to you to figure out which one works best for you according to your diet and nutrition needs.
