Over the past few months, juicing and blending have become more than just ways to boost your health — they’ve become fads. Fads that just so happen to be very efficient ways to get your health back on track.
So what exactly is the difference between juicing and blending? Juicing is essentially extracting the juice content from a vegetable or fruit and blending is simply grinding up the contents of the vegetable or fruit.
More fiber is conserved in the blending process because the pulp of the fruit or vegetable is kept in the smoothie-like drink. Juicing is more for cleansing and detoxifying your body rather than delivering a substantial amount of fiber.
So why are people ranting and raving about juicing and blending? Are they really healthy options?
Juicing and blending are the ideal options for the busy college student or young adult working in an urban setting such as downtown Phoenix, where it’s not always possible to get fresh produce every day and when time is a precious commodity.
With everything we have going on, making time for nutritious meals can be a challenge, and that’s where juicing and blending can really put you at a distinct advantage in terms of preserving your health.
How does juicing or blending really benefit you? Which is the right option for you?
Juicing and blending really benefit those who don’t like veggies or fruits in their whole form, don’t have time to make dishes rich in veggies or cut up fruit, or are really committed to losing weight or eating clean to promote wellness.
Nutribulletblog mentions that juicing offers fast delivery of nutrients and vitamins into the blood stream, gives your digestive system a break by facilitating the cleansing process and providing 80 percent to 90 percent of the nutritional value of the food being juiced. Blending offers all the same benefits of juicing and adds extra fiber into the mix. This added fiber allows you to feel more full, so you don’t have to eat a lot of other items. Blended food actually takes up less space than a full meal.
Juicing is a good short-term option. It’s a great opportunity to cleanse your body and prep it for blended drinks and other healthy foods.
Sara Tanveer, a biological sciences student at ASU, is a strong proponent of juicing and blending.
“I started the juice/smoothie-cleanse diet in order to become healthier, and within a month of having juice for breakfast and dinner, I lost seven pounds (and I) felt more energetic, healthier and positive about life.”
Juicing and blending really helped jumpstart Tanveer’s health drive and it can do the same for you, if done right.
One thing to make sure you don’t do is go overboard with juicing. Juicing allows for very fast delivery of sugars to the bloodstream, according to Nutribulletblog, and this could be problematic if you consume too much juice, as it could result in unwanted weight gain. Juice can also attract bacteria quickly, so it’s vital to drink up within a short amount of time after making the juice.
The key is to juice in moderation and then transition over to blended smoothies, which really are a better long-term diet aid. After you have cleansed your system with the juices of various fruits and veggies, smoothies will allow you to get that daily serving of fruits and veggies without having to cook them and spend a lot of time in the kitchen.
It’s always better to make your own, but if you’re really strapped for time or are away from home, there are a few places downtown that offer some nutritious and healthy smoothie options. Bowl of Greens on the ASU Downtown campus is one. You can also find some interesting flavor combinations at Fair Trade Cafe in Civic Space Park or at Central Avenue and Roosevelt Street. Finally, if you’re on the light rail near the Central Avenue and Osborn Road stop, there’s always Jamba Juice.
Juicing and blending are really great options for the downtown Phoenix resident, and I encourage everyone who’s on the go to give it a shot!
Stay healthy, my friends!
Contact the columnist at wshahid@asu.edu
