The Great Juice vs. Blend Debate

When it comes to health and nutrition, there are so many conflicting recommendations out there. Even I sometimes find it daunting to navigate. So let’s go ahead and conquer one of the hottest topics around right now: Juicing versus Blending.

Look, the net net is that either option is awesome and amazing for your body as long as you are putting the right ingredients in there (fresh fruits, veggies and superfoods). What I’m going to take you through now are the differences between the two so that you can choose the option that’s best for your lifestyle. Because hey, we all deserve a little special treatment right!?

And if you’re still not sure how to proceed...my POV on both options are included.

Smoothies are a fantastic meal replacement if you need to fuel up on the run. They’re also a very versatile treat: you can use for a post-workout recovery, to start your day right with a breakfast shake, sip as a healthy dessert alternative, and to increase your fresh produce intake if you aren’t a regular consumer of fruits and vegetables. They’re also a great way to ensure that you’re getting enough fiber, which happens to be the material that binds all fruits and vegetables together. Fiber is also vital for keeping everything, ahem, running along smoothly in the bathroom.

MY POV: If you aren’t a regular consumer of fresh produce, then this is the option for you.

If you’re a new blender and not too keen on the idea of drinking your greens, then the below recipe is perfect for you. Start slow with the amount of greens you add, then increase as you become more accustomed to the taste. You can also add protein powder and nut butters or replace the almond milk with yogurt, kefir or coconut water depending on preference. Use my recipe as a baseline, then swap out ingredients until you find the perfect smoothie for your needs.

Saranna’s Morning Delight

1 cup unsweetened or vanilla almond milk

1 handful of frozen blueberries

1 piece large frozen strawberry

½ frozen banana

1 handful fresh baby spinach

1 TBSP dried Goji berries

1 TBSP Chia Seeds

Combine ingredients in high powered blender and mix until fully blended. Serve and enjoy immediately.

Fresh Pressed Juices made from raw fruits and vegetables are delicious shots of micronutrients that are essential for helping your body “machine” operate smoothly. During the juicing process the fiber and other rough materials are removed. Because your body doesn’t need to spend any time digesting, it can use the vitamins and nutrients immediately to refuel on energy, battle illness, detox from a crazy weekend etc. Green juice will help battle that post-weekend brain fog, increase your energy levels, balance your mood, and make your skin glow like you would not believe.

MY POV: If you already have a relatively healthy diet and regularly consume fresh produce, this is a great way to supplement your diet.

My juicer has been running non-stop with the below recipe taken off of Joe Cross’ website, star of the documentary “Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead”. Again, if this is too much green for you, start with mostly fruit and sneak in greens gradually. I would recommend carrot-apple-ginger over ice as a starter.

Joe Cross’ Morning Glory (http://www.rebootwithjoe.com/)

4 – 5 large kale leaves

1 large handful of spinach

3 romaine leaves

1 cucumber

3 celery stalks

1 green apple (increase to 1 1/2 if the taste of green is too much for you)

1 lemon, peeled

1 knuckle fresh ginger (my addition, good with or without)

2 large carrots (also my addition, great for adding sweetness)

You can also request this “Cup of Joe” at your neighborhood juicery,  and head to Whole Foods or Starbucks to pick up a freshly bottled version in the refrigerator section.

Cheers, gorgeous.

Xo Saranna