Juices or smoothies. Smoothies or juices. In a new post on the Life Smoothies blog we will see some of the differences between these two drinks, that although they are family-friendly, are different in many ways.
The main difference is that while in juices only the liquid is extracted from the fruit, smoothies include pieces of fruit, including the skin in some cases, and then a liquid component is added to them, such as water or some kind of juice. At Life Smoothies we recommend using apple juice as it has a neutral flavour.
It is precisely because of how they are made that means they have a different effect on the human body and means smoothies have many benefits. Let’s see why.
More fibre
Smoothies have more fibre. This is because by including the whole fruit, the nutrient that is present in the pulp and especially in the skin of many fruits, is preserved better.
Many people eat less fibre than the recommended daily amount despite the great benefits it has for humans. Among the most immediate and well-known benefits is that it regulates intestinal transit, but it also helps keep the intestine healthy in the long run. It also helps reduce cholesterol levels and control the amount of sugar in the blood.
More filling
And because of the fibre in them, smoothies are more filling. So, if we want to avoid eating other less healthy foods between meals or, for example, for breakfast, they are a great alternative.
Juice, on the other hand, is practically water with the sugar released from the fruit, so it is not recommended to replace any food with it.
Less sugar
As we said before, juice is made by squeezing the fruit, so that it only includes the liquid part of the fruit. Sugars are released in this process, causing a significant rise in blood glucose.
Also, to make the same amount of smoothie as juice we will need more pieces of fruit, which will mean even more sugar. And more waste! Since the rest of the fruit is thrown away.
Smoothies, on the other hand, do not go through this process and can also include vegetables, with the benefits they provide. Vegetables have different substances to fruit and also don’t have this level of sugar.
More nutrients
Smoothies have more nutrients than juice for several reasons. First, as we said, adding the skin preserves the vitamins and other substances present in this part of the fruit and which are often different from those in the pulp.
We can also add vegetables to smoothies, which will provide other different nutrients.
The same applies to milk, yoghurt, cereals and even nuts. All these ingredients can be added to our smoothie and allow other nutrients not present in fruit to be added.
More energy
From everything we have told you so far, smoothies will give us much more energy than just squeezed juice.
That’s why they are perfect for breakfast. The fibre, vitamins, carbohydrates and even protein they can provide, depending on the ingredients we add, will give us the strength to get us through the day.
For this very reason, they are also highly recommended for after a workout. We fill up our stomachs and recover the salts we have lost through exercise.
Easier to make
And finally, although it is not a characteristic that makes smoothies healthier than juice, it does make them more appealing to make.
Juicing involves squeezing the pieces of fruit one by one. Smoothies, on the other hand, simply require you to add the pieces of fruit, no washing, cutting or peeling, as Life Smoothies does it for you.
In fact, you can have the pieces of fruit washed and cut in the freezer to keep them fresh.
Throw them in, hit the button and that’s it. Ready to enjoy.
Are you a fan of smoothies? Let us know in the comments and if you have any healthy recipes, do not hesitate to share them.