Now before anyone starts jumping to conclusions about juicing or thinks “Geez, there is something wrong with everything” (I hate that feeling)—I want to make one thing clear: There is certainly nothing wrong with drinking vegetable juices. But there are a few reasons why I haven’t personally jumped on the juicing bandwagon myself —even after borrowing a friend's juicer and actually trying it out for a week—which is what I'd like to explain today.
Juice Is Not a Whole Food
Juice Is Not a Whole Food
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First and foremost, my main dietary goal is to eat whole foods or what I call “real food” (i.e. 5 or less whole ingredients). Did you know that when you drink juiced vegetables and fruits you are not eating the whole food?
The first time I saw a juicer in action I was actually a little surprised when I saw all this stuff being spit out the side. It turns out that stuff is the pulp (basically the fiber) and not included in the juice you are about to drink!
Now you could technically bake that pulp into a homemade baked good or something (and still consume it), but I am going to tell you right now I would never be "Betty Homemakerish" enough to keep up with something like that. Plus I felt like the kale, celery, cucumber, and other ingredients I purchased to make the juice could have nicely supplemented several meals for the whole family, when instead the juicer transformed these ingredients into 2 glasses (about 10 ounces each) of not very filling juice.
It's Expensive
If you aren't careful, juicing could seriously blow the roof off your budget. The first day I shopped for juicing ingredients I spent $13—on just 2 servings of organic juice! I suppose that wouldn't be so bad if it could actually constitute a meal, but after drinking our morning juice (my husband tried it with me) we were both still hungry enough for our regular breakfast of homemade granola. So during our week of juicing I found myself buying loads of extra veggies to juice in addition to all the groceries I would have normally purchased anyway. Cha-ching!
It Takes Time
When you drink a daily green juice in addition to eating your regular meals it ends up taking extra time out of your day. Imagine having to make a fresh juice and clean the machine on top of cooking and cleaning those three square real food meals each day.
I say that because a juicer is not just any regular appliance—there are 7 different parts that all need to be washed immediately. Which means unless you are about to start your dishwasher right at that very moment you need to stop what you are doing and wash each and every part of the juicer by hand. Have I ever mentioned that I am not a big fan of hand washing dishes? Well, some days I truly avoid it like the plague—so this is officially reason #3 that juicing is not personally for me.
My Takeaway
Like I said at the beginning there is certainly nothing wrong with juicing, and some say it makes them feel great (we didn't personally notice a difference). BUT—as with most food choices—I feel that variety is key. That means variety in both what you eat and how you eat it. If you find that you are getting so much more green in your body through juicing then that is fabulous, but I wouldn't suggest having that be the only way you get your veggies.
And that's because eating the whole food is pretty important as well. Nature actually does a great job of packaging up the perfect combination of vitamins and minerals in each and every whole food. When you start removing parts (like the fiber) it is just not the same. The takeaway I got from my juicing experiment is that —probably like most people—I have room for improvement and could stand to consume more vegetables. So I am glad to be given that reminder.
Now if I suddenly found myself with health issues or was just overall not feeling very well—I would definitely give juicing another chance. At first I wasn't quite sure what I thought about the taste of a green juice, but it actually grew on me fairly quickly, and I came to enjoy it (and drink it much faster) by the end of the week. But for the foreseeable future I can only see myself being a smoothie girl, and here's why.
Why I Like Smoothies Instead
Why I Like Smoothies InsteadI honestly never made (or probably even drank a smoothie) before our switch to real food, but now they make their way into our diet about once or twice a week.
And these are the reasons I like smoothies so much:
- No special expensive equipment needed —any old blender will do!
- When you blend fruits and vegetables together to make a smoothie you are consuming the whole food.
- As a result, I find smoothies to be much more filling than juice.
- My kids like smoothies (they gave the green juice a fair chance, but were not fans).
- A little bit of veggies can go a long way in a smoothie—when I juiced a bunch of kale it seemed that only a couple tablespoons of juice came out.
So what do you prefer...juicing or making smoothies? And why?
Nate says
If you do juice things it really helps to have a garden to get things from.
I grow & juice Kale, cucumber, spinach. I buy apples, carrots and oranges in bulk whenever possible. It's not as expensive as your numbers come out. With 1 apple, 1 orange, 1 cucumber, 4 carrots, a knob of ginger I can make 2 nice sized glasses for my girlfriend and me.
You can use the pulp in compost or add it to breads.
Cleaning an Omega juicer is a breeze, maybe 5 minutes, and doesn't have to be done right away, it can soak in a sink. I will admit though, that Breville juicer looks like a pain to clean.
Also, the Omega juicers can make pasta, nut butters, and many more things to offset it's cost.
Tina Leighton says
If you have a masticating juicer you lose a lot less fiber. Also the leftover fiber can be used for yummy breads.
Amanda Troyer says
I want to Thumbs up or like this comment. :-p
Trudi says
Thanks for a great article! I completely agree! I was skeptical of juicing because of the lack of fiber, the high carb and possibility of high sugar content (albeit natural--it's concentrated) possibly causing blood sugar spikes. Part of eating is the chewing and it's affect on brain signals for satiation. Then there is the feeling from digestive organ sensors of fullness, or satiety. While I think it would be better for me to eat all the fruit and veggies in my green smoothies blended by an old [cheap] blender; this is as far as I will go in terms of any "supplement" for my food intake. I make them twice a week on my busiest days to get the whole food servings I might otherwise not have time to prepare or chew in an equal amount.
Linda W says
I wanted to like juicing so bad. But I was not a fan for all the reasons you mentioned. Plus, I felt like it was giving me a sugar rush, even when it was just veggies. Smoothies on the other hand are a big hit.
I've got a few favs, but right now I am loving: frozen banana, pineapple, light coconut milk...pina colada anyone? yum
Allita says
I am SO relieved and glad to read this post, oh my God. I too prefer not to juice, and have felt like the only person on the planet who doesn't find it helpful. The sugars without the fiber do NOT agree with my body's digestive system. And it's ridiculously expensive with very little output. I know many people who have healed their body by juicing, and I think that's fabulous ,,, for them. It's not the right thing for me, and I'm ok with that. I am just ecstatic to find I'm not alone in how I feel. :-) Thank you!!
Laura says
You're not alone! There's nothing wrong with juice, like Lisa said ... but I'm with you, I'd rather eat the veggies (or drink a nice thick smoothie). :)
Erica says
I love smoothies! I actually have been able to grind them with my 'stick' or immersion blender in a quart mason jar in under a minute so I don't even use my blender. This has encouraged me to prepare them even more. I want the whole food as well so I can dig it. I have recently chosen to purchase a juicer because I needed a beet juice for my pre-run drink at 5am. I found the fiber from grinding beets provided me with a little too much fiber before a run and made me need to run home! LOL And recently I found that my son LOVES a lime, yellow pepper, pear juice. What a $$ treat. I will use juice pulp in my turkey meatballs for moisture, and keep with smoothies! Cheers
Charlie says
Vitamix. There's nothing like it.
BonnyBard says
Personally, I like both. I juice quite a bit in the winter, for the extra vitamins and minerals with fewer calories, especially when we want a regular, filling breakfast, but we also have smoothies once or twice a week for a quick breakfast on the run. I don't find it that much more expensive to juice (then again, I live in Italy now so prices may be different), especially since I don't eat as many raw vegetables when it's cold!
Louise says
I am thankful for your article. I was looking for a juicer but the cost??? I love the whole foods of my Vitamix Smoothies! I guess you helped me make my decision. Thanks!
Louise
Jennifer Riu says
Juicing is awesome! At first wasn't sure I would feel full but with a little time that changed. It is satisfying and I felt less hungry depending on types of veggies you are juicing. Also, juicing before a meal helps consume less solid food which eliminates feeling stuffed from over eating. With that said I don't see why we have to choose one over the other. Smoothies are awesome too! Although , I personally did not like adding water to my nutri-bullet. It gave a watered down feel to the mixture. I would love a Vitamix though!
Rene says
Smoothies. I bought an expensive juicer and now it's sitting to the side. I would love to sell it!
JIll says
Yesterday I my husband were at the Virginia State Fair and there was the Vitamix. I had though about buying one but knew the cost was high but he watched and tasted, juice/smoothie (no pulp-all liquefied), strawberry sorbet (with spinach) and tortilla soup (he saw the hot pepper go in, along with other peppers he will tolerate but not each normally. He asked more questions than me and then asked which color to get! RED!
Said he was sick of getting rid of the pulp - the waste was too much for him to take.
This was no baby step for him, this was massive!
betty says
I've been making juice with my blender for years..... I guess Like a smoothie but not so thick do it's more like juice. My kids live juice and I've found blending my own from fresh fruit and/or veggies is the best option! They love it! Anything I make from scratch at home with whole and raw ingredients is better then buying that crap they make in the stores.
Tom says
The Vitamix is by far the best thing out there. Like you said you don't waste the pulp but get all the good stuff into your diet. The Vitamix does it all. Peanut butter, Almond Butter, Soup, Ice Cream etc. It's a bit expensive but you get a life long waranty with it.
Nicole says
I would have agreed with you on this post if you had used a juicer that is meant for juicing greens. I had the Breville that you have pictures of, and I also thought juicing was a waste. I traded up for a masticating juicer (mine is an Omega, but there are many other great brands) and I get a great deal of juice for my money and time. We juice 6-7 bunches of kale with about a half cup of waste, and we are seeing a great return on our nutritional investment. I feel that juicing is great for us because we don't sit down for 3 meals a day, but we juice every 3 days and get a ton of nutrients on the go a few times a day(also something you can't do with that Breville, but can with a masticating juicer). You just can't beat it, because meal prep isn't always an option, but raw greens are.
Juice or smoothie, cheers to great health! :)
Claire says
Not to mention that blenders are much easier to clean! I haven't used my juicer in years for that same reason- it seemed so wasteful to throw all that pulp away when I could use all of the fruit in a smoothie! My son loves "Green monster smoothies"- simply spinach, banana and pineapple
Becki says
I have never tried juicing, but my husband got me a Vitamix blender for Mother's Day, and we use it to make a lot of smoothies. The blender is very easy to clean, which makes me much more inclined to use it.
Adriana says
It doesn't have to be juicing or smoothing, I love both! And for some fruits & veggies I prefer blending (mangoes, spinach, melons) for others, I prefer them juiced (like carrots) then I mixed them. My kids have a hard time with thick smoothies.
The Breville juicer $99 on Amazon , cleans super fast just three pieces. I love it. That and my Vitamix have helped me feel better, plus loose some weight.
Teresa says
I enjoy smoothies, and just bought a Nutribullet this past weekend after thinking about it for months. Juicing never made sens to me for all the reasons you mentioned. The smoothie from the Nutribullet is worlds smoother and more palatable than the product from my standard blender! I'll be drinking smoothies for a long time to come.
John says
Great topic and info! Thanks for sharing.
Laurie says
We first started juicing over 30 years ago. This year we discovered the Nutribullet. This little powerhouse appliance is under $100. Totally recommend it.
Heather says
I love the zing I get from a fresh, green juice but I consider it a treat, not a meal. I have a nutribullet and honestly, a smoothie is not enough of a meal for me, but it's a great morning or afternoon snack, Also, I have some digestive issues and the green smoothies help. I like them tart, with lemon or grapefruit!
Cindy Klinger says
I just love reading your blog, but I was wondering how you have dealt with "The Hotdog Issue"?. Do Your children ask for them?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Cindy. You can find the organic hotdogs that Lisa will occasionally give her girls in this post: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/08/29/real-food-while-camping/. ~Amy
EternallivingDA says
I juice then put both in the bullet & emulsify. Just don't like putting water in bullet & throwing out all that good fiber from juicing. Wanted it all. It does take forever & have 2 appliances to clean. But then I found these great-big ice cube makers, so I freeze & bag juice. That way I blend 3 ice cubes (all different types) @ a time. Helps that I get free fruit.
Em says
Agree. I find smoothies over juices way more filling & nutritious, but perhaps it depends on your body type.
We bought a thermomix which is awesome; more expensive than the others but its also meant we make all our other healthy meals from scratch now as its so easy. Definitely worth it for us as we spent so much money on takeout previously.
I'm off to make my daily smoothie now!
Mary says
I recently looked into juicing hoping my husband would enjoy it and not take so many supplements but when I read the fiber gets left behind I wouldn't even think of juicing!!! Lots of vitamins and minerals getting left behind with the fiber completely defeating my purpose!!!
Kathy says
We have a ninja blender around $99 extra special one with the small piece to make homemade icecream at Costco $119. It has 3 very sharpe blades that run up the center stem. My husband loves his veggie smoothies and takes them with his lunch. I put some cinnamon, and a few frozen berries at the last. It is thick with puréed veggies and a little fruit. I could never understand the whole juicing thing either? I'm with you we are a smoothie household not a juicing household!
Andrea says
I agree with you on juicing. I purchased a Vitamix over a year ago and we use it daily for green smoothies (and also soups, sauces, salsas, nut butters, bread, ice cream, sorbet, etc.) It is the best machine I have in my kitchen and I am confident that I get the most out of our whole food juicing. The Vitamix blows regular blenders out of the water! It is a must have for anyone serious about their health and wanting to get the most nutrition out of their food, not to mention it is so versatile and fun to use!
Laura says
Well summarized - we arrived at the same conclusion. Juices can be refreshing, a delicious treat ... but do not constitute a long term meal replacement plan. http://goodnotperfect.com/2013/09/20/the-skinny-on-juice/
Lisa says
Vitamix!!! Love mine. I also thought juicing was wasteful, so I go the smoothie route.
Erin says
This is why is want a Vitamix. A juicer is wasteful and my Ninja just doesn't quite liquefy in the same way as a Vitamix.
Gretchen says
2 WORDS NUTRI BULLET!!
Mike says
Gretchen, you are spot on!! Love Love Love our nutri-bullet
It's smoothies in our house. I find frozen cherries are the best for cutting out the taste of the healthy greens for those who are finaky eaters.
lar says
Post breast cancer my nutritionist at sloan kettering suggested that I not juice. She'd rather I eat my fruit and veg instead. She had many rational reasons why, two of which have stuck out in my mind.
1. it is important to eat the whole vegetable to get all the benefits and nutrients. Beginning with the chewing process, swallowing, digesting etc we use all the body parts and each step signals the next. Most importantly she said it was imperative that the healthy fiber worked through the intestines and the colon to keep everything moving and functioning in a healthy process.
2. It's important to get a variety of minerals and vitamins but it is equally unhealthy to get too many in our body. Particularly vitamins A and C make hospitable breeding ground for tumors - they feed off these vitamins as our bodies do and get stronger. I have been cautioned not to ingest too many vitamins now that I'm a cancer survivor. Again rather than taking synthetic vitamins and supplements she said it is preferred to eat a variety of healthy foods rather than ingest lots of juices.
Personally I believe in everything in moderation. I enjoy the ease of eating a whole salad meal in smoothy form and have been on a kick lately of one a day. When it comes to juice once in a while for an added energy boost when I'm feeling run down offers a great pick me up but I don't make juicing routine. I'm with you, whole foods and smoothies give me plenty of energy and healthy benefits - don't see juicing as an efficient way to go.
Cheri says
It could be because you did not actually use the right type of "juicer". There are things like the nutribullet, that pulverizes the entire vegetable!! So there is no pulp or anything left over! They have an entire book of juices that you can make and most of the ones I have taken so far taste good.... So.. perhaps give it another try before you are sold on the idea that its not for you?
Cristie says
I do both, although since getting my Vitamix I have somewhat abandoned my juicer. I like that I get the whole food item and also it is so much easier to clean. Love that thing!!!
Crystal says
Great article. I juice and I use the pulp. Veggie pulp goes in my turkey loafs and breads. The fruit pulp I use in pancakes and cookies.I do smoothies too. I just like knowing where my kids juice comes from. Great perspective.
janet lanier says
My problem with juicing is the fruit and vegetables, if not organic, have to be cleaned to remove the sprays from them. Even some organic fruits and vegetables. That is time consuming and then what do you clean them with? Tell me about Nutri-Bullet, how many parts to clean after use?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Janet. Not sure who this question was for. Was it for someone making a comment about their Nutri-Bullet? ~Amy
Nancy says
I do both, juicing and smoothy's. I feel they both have great purposes, and depending on how I am feeling I choose one over the other. Between the two, I have lost almost 60 pounds over this past year. I know juicing is expensive, but the vitality I feel from it is worth it. I don't get results from any other method than when I juice. Our bodies and are health are worth any effort and price we can afford. I have found by my changes in lifestyle though, I can afford better quality food by cutting out all the junk/meals out we used to do. Get on board with whole foods/plant based foods. It is worth retraining your mind and tastes for greater health. I just turned 50 and look and feel the best I ever have. I wish I had done this years ago. I think the more knowledge we get, the better we can choose. We shouldn't judge where someone else is at, but keep an open mind and heart and you will figure out what is best for you!
Sara says
To each their own.
I’ve been having a juice every breakfast and lunch now for the last couple of months and I swear by it.
I’d like to make some comments from the other side of this:
It is not a WHOLE food: This one I only PARTIALLY agree with – It’s true, I do not eat the ENTIRE food, but I also don’t eat stems of carrots, cores of apples, things like that. It is removing part of the food, but that doesn’t mean it’s not A whole food, it’s just not THE whole food. I do throw away the pulp (with the most fiber) and don’t know that I’d recommend juicing for someone with bowel issues, but for me, I get enough fiber anyway. We tried making crackers out of it, but it didn’t turn out right so I’m looking for a new recipe for that. Until then, we do throw it away. I personally don’t have a problem with being hungry and it not filling me up – I drink about 10oz for breakfast and 10oz for lunch every day. I do make sure to snack and drink lots of water as well.
It’s expensive: Darn right it is! My juice contains 5 cups of spinach, 2 cups of kale, four carrots, 2 cucumbers, two apples, and a lemon. That’s what I use EVERY day and because I drink that much every day, it’s important to me to buy it organic. It’s expensive. BUT. When you consider that I’ve eaten out less since I’ve been juicing in order to offset the cost, it’s not THAT much more expensive. (I decided to spring for the super expensive fancy juicer, but that was a personal preference – There are ones for less than $50 that work just as well).
It takes time: Again, SURE does. Our juicer is one that really pulverizes the juice (a masticating juicer) so it takes quite a while for the juice to be made – About 10 minutes prep, 35 minutes juicing, and 10-15 minutes cleanup. We don’t have kids and it’s only two of us living in an apartment, so this isn’t really a huge issue. I can TOTALLY see how it’d be horrible for someone with kids, especially if EVERYONE in the family wants a juice.
For ME, the reason I don’t like smoothies is because I just don’t like the texture – I like it completely liquid and the juice does this for me. It’s all a matter of personal preference.
I also don’t think that I’d get NEARLY as many vitamins and nutrients from a smoothie because I don’t know that my entire 5 cups of spinach, 2 cups of kale, four carrots, 2 cucumbers, two apples, and a lemon could be consumed in two meals – Though I’ve never tried a smoothie so maybe I’ll use this to try it.
My takeaway: I’m VERY happy with juicing. It’s not perfect, but it’s perfect for me. Since I’ve been juicing, I’m fairly certain that I’ve eaten more veggies in the last couple of months than I have in the last 10 years – I’ve never been a big veggie eater and this is a great way for me to get plenty of veggies in.
Since I’ve been juicing, it’s helped with some weight loss and my blood pressure is FINALLY at a normal level. I don’t think it’s ONLY because of the juicing, but I’m fairly certain that the juicing helped. I’m eating FAR less processed foods and eating out a lot less. I’m pretty sure that no matter what your method, we can all agree that’s a pretty good thing.
Anyway…I just thought I’d share from my point of view.
Jewlz says
When I juice (and it's not a lot) I just throw everything in my Blendtec blender and hit 'whole juice' button. It blends everything up to a liquid and I get the WHOLE fruit and/or vegetable. I think that's the best way to go. A Vitamix will get you the same results :)