A vibrant lifestyle doesn’t have to be complicated, take a ton of time (and money), or add to your busy to-do list. You don’t need to overhaul your kitchen or feel restricted. By simply adding these nutrient-dense beverages to your daily life, you’ll be making health deposits (instead of withdrawals) and establishing a solid foundation for well-being. In fact, juicing and blending can be one of the easiest ways to achieve the freedom and vitality we seek.

•    Want to strengthen your immune system during cold season? 

•    Facing a health challenge and looking for a way to contribute to your well-being?

Think of your green juices and smoothies as your personal pick-me-up in a glass.

What’s the difference between juicing and blending?

If I had a buck for every time someone asked me that question, I’d be able to stock your fridge with organic produce for life. Each method has its unique perks, but rest assured they’re both fabulous ways to incorporate nutrition-packed produce into your diet.

Juicing

Juicing extracts the liquid from the fruits and vegetables, leaving the fiber behind. By removing the fiber, all of the nutrients in the plant’s juice—vitamins, minerals, enzymes—instantly flood our bodies with goodness. Just think of the added volume of veggies you can pack in your belly, sweet unicorns! Even those of us with the heartiest of appetites would find it challenging to consume the same amount of raw vegetables and fruits with a fork.

Juicing also gives your digestive system a little rest, and since your body works hard on your behalf 24-7, it’s nice to give it some R&R. 

Got digestive ouchies? Juicing is a great option for folks who love to eat plant-rich diets but whose digestive systems are too sensitive to handle lots of fiber. If that’s you, juicing ensures you can enjoy the benefits of boatloads of awesome produce without suffering any tummy troubles for your efforts. For people focused on healing or repair in general, juices offer maximum health benefits in a gentle, easy-to-digest, easy-to-assimilate form.

Blending

Blending on the other hand . . . blends! The ingredients are whirled and pureed into scrumptious smoothies, fiber and all, providing the benefits of fruits and veggies along with their heart-healthy, gut-friendly fiber.

Folks who are watching their blood sugar sometimes prefer blending to juicing because the fiber ensures a slow and steady absorption of sugar into your bloodstream. It’s definitely possible to create juice blends that are lower in sugar, but if you feel that smoothies are a more appropriate option for you, that’s fine. The important thing is to get green drinks in your diet. Take your time and experiment with both juices and smoothies to discover which one or what combination of the two is right for you and your health needs. In a typical week, my morning concoctions are usually split about 50/50 between juicing and blending. But it’s not a hard and fast rule; I go with my “gut,” so to speak.

Besides all the great fiber, smoothies allow you to use fantastic foods that would piss your juicer off. Take sprouts, instance, those tiny powerhouses of plant nutrition. Sprouts will shoot right through a centrifugal juicer without getting juiced, but they blend up perfectly in smoothies. Nut butters and superfood powders can give you (and your energy levels) a powerful boost, but they can’t be juiced. Blend them up, though, and you’re on your way to all sorts of unusual, flavorful, and even medicinal drinks. 

Smoothies have another important advantage, which is that they can help you feel fuller longer. Protein, healthy fats, and carbs create sustainable energy. If you fill up your smoothies with lots of nutrient-packed ingredients, they can even serve as well-rounded, convenient, and delectable meals.
Did I mention snacks? Smoothies can work as an afternoon snack or a refreshing sip on a sizzling summer day. The fun thing about smoothies is that you can choose your own adventure: add healthy fat and protein for a meal or post workout-worthy treat, or keep things light for a midmorning revitalizer.
Smoothies are also a great way to sneak veggies into finicky kids’ meals, or to help your family (or yourself) develop a taste for leafy greens. Yet another great advantage to blending is time. Blending is faster than juicing, without a question, and the cleanup is a snap, too.

The bottom line is that both juicing and blending are wonderful and efficient ways to maximize your consumption of the good stuff: greens, vegetables, fruits, and superfoods. 

•    One has fiber, the other doesn’t. 

•    One allows for maximal nutrient intake in one sitting, while the other allows you to incorporate a wide range of ingredients and take advantage of fiber, protein, and healthy fats. 

•    Over time, you’ll probably find yourself enjoying both types of drinks according to your schedule, appetite, and mood, and that’s great—it’s hard to go wrong when you’re flooding your body with alkaline goodness!

•    Choose what makes you happy and motivated to drink your way to wellness.

My new book Crazy Sexy Juice will be released in December. In the meantime, here's sneak peek... two recipes to make at the first signs of a sniffle.

Detox Darling

If detoxing could taste this good all the time, we’d all be fit as fiddles! The sprouts give this blend an earthy, nutty flavor, which is balanced perfectly by sweet pear and banana. Sunflower sprouts are one of the most nutritious sprouts around, featuring plenty of protein, B vitamins, and zinc, the latter of which is essential for immune function, while the leafy greens support your body’s natural detoxification processes.

Makes 2 Servings (16 to 20 Ounces)

½ cup dandelion greens, tightly packed

1 cup baby spinach, tightly packed

1 third cup sunflower sprouts, tightly packed

½ large or 1 small pear, cored and seeded

1 banana, frozen

1½ cups almond milk or non dairy milk of choice

1 Wash and prep all ingredients

2 Blend til smooth and serve

Antioxidant Boost

This smoothie is an antioxidant, free-radical busting, inflammation-fighting superhero! You could literally serve it in a cape and tights. Goji berries, which have been used for years in Traditional Chinese Medicine, are a complete source of protein and provide iron, zinc, and vitamin C along with their incredible phytonutrient stores. The catechin EGCG, which is abundant in matcha powder, is associated with a reduced risk of cancer (and the little boost of caffeine will perk you up, too). See, I told ya it was a superhero in disguise. To your health!

Makes 2 servings (16 to 20 Ounces)

1 cup mixed berries, frozen

½ cup blueberries, frozen

¼ cup goji berries

1/½ cups cashew hemp milk or non dairy milk of choice

½ teaspoon matcha green tea powder

1 cup spinach, tightly packed

1 Wash and prep all ingredients

2 Blend and serve