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When it comes to juicers and blenders, many people can easily get confused between the two. This is because they perform similar actions, but actually are quite different. Many people simply want to use the fruit and vegetables they have and turn it into a healthy drink. However, there are a few ways to go about this, and it is important to know what they are in order to choose the right option for you.
In this article we cover juicers vs. blenders, giving you a bit of information on both so that you can hopefully make a better informed purchase decision next time you go shopping for either one.
Juicers are machines which extract juice from fruit and vegetables by removing the pulp and leaving the skin and any extras behind. The end result is a juice that is highly rich in vitamins and nutrients, but less so in fiber. The drink is good for your digestive system and can be absorbed quickly into the bloodstream.
The majority of quality juicers can mix many items including apples, celery, carrots, kale, ginger, wheatgrass and even spinach. There will be some juicers, however, that are best suited to processing leafy green vegetables than others can.
Juicers work at varying speeds. Centrifugal juicers, for example, blend just as fast as blenders can in order to cut the fruit and vegetables while extracting the juice. Slower juicers on the other hand, work a little slower to squeeze the contents to extract the juice rather than cut.
With so many different brand of juicers out there, the price range can vary quite a bit. A good quality juicer can be found within the $60-$150 range, while the more masticating juicers can be a little higher, costing quite a few hundred bucks. The most well-known brands include Omega, Breville, Decker, and Hamilton Beach among others.
Blenders perform a little differently to juicers, and literally blend everything you put into it. This means all the fruit skin, all the pips and everything else in between. Nothing is left behind and everything is consumed. It can make good banana smoothies, strawberries, coconut, tomato and even avocado. Blenders are especially favoured for the leafy greens as the sharp blades have no issues mixing the leaves into a liquid.
As no pulp is removed in the process, it keeps all the extra fibre from fruit and vegetables that a juicer would otherwise leave out. This extra fiber aids in your digestion and helps prevent constipation by continually moving waste easier through the body. As this process happens, the body takes a longer while to absorb the nutrients which helps you to stay full for longer!
Blenders work extremely fast with their blades spinning around 10,000 times a minute. With such high speeds, it means your drink can be ready within minutes. The only disadvantage with such high speeds is that it may remove some of the nutrients through the amount of heat generated, which is also known as oxidation.
The plus side however is that blenders are fairly easy to find for under $100. There are a few famous brands out there which include NutriBullet, Oster, Breville, and Vitamix.
Blenders and juicers can be quite different with a variety of purposes. Both of them turn fruit and vegetables into a nice, tasty and nutritious smoothie, but how they do it and the way it works is really different.
Juicers work by separating fibre from the fruit and vegetables which only leaves the juice to drink. Any pulp remaining is usually discarded which can be seen as a waste by some. The benefit is you can place more fruit and vegetables in each cup and still receive all the vitamins and nutrients in a digestible form.
Blenders perform by processing the entire fruit and vegetable, including the extra fibre. The end result? A thicker drink which is known as a smoothie, and which generally takes longer to digest properly. You receive all the nutrients; however, they are released slower than from the juicer.
A lot of people believe juicers are not the best as they leave the extra fiber out, and therefore are wasteful. However, they do allow you to receive all your key nutrients fast. Therefore, both juicers and blenders have their own perks, and each has their place within a healthy kitchen.
Blenders process it all, leaving absolutely nothing behind. This allows for an easier clean up at the end of your blend session, and a drink which includes a good amount of fibre.
All the fibre from fruits and vegetables work their way through the digestive system, and help remove any unwanted toxins which are harmful to the body.
Due to the amount of fibre in the drinks, it means your energy is released slower and more evenly. This stops any sugar highs or lows which will allow you to feel more satisfied after consuming it.
The Juicing process itself removes most of the extra bulk from any drink you make, and therefore there are more vitamins and nutrients included per glass made.
After extracting the juice from the fruit and vegetables, all the pulp is discarded. This makes the vitamins and minerals a lot easier to absorb into the body, allowing the goodness to go exactly where you need it.
Finally, as the fibre has been removed, the content is easier for your digestive system and this is especially better for those who suffer with any digestive problems.
Juicers and blenders continue to be debated as to which is the best product for your health. There really is no winning answer as both methods can work for everyone, and it really does depend on what you prefer.
You may choose one based on the extra fibre, or even the digestion benefits to the simple fact that you are shopping on a budget and need the most inexpensive option. All in all, both products equally make pretty healthy drinks, so we believe it is a good idea to give them a chance!