Opinions on Juicing & Smoothies?

peachfigs

Yesterday I was gifted a soup maker that also juices and makes smoothies. I've read a lot about how juicing is supposed to be amazing for your health but I can't help but think it's all hype - what about the extremely high sugar content in the juice/smoothie when you're mainly using fruit?

Maybe the vegetable juices aren't so bad, but I'm not sure if I'm convinced fruit juices/smoothies are that healthy. What do y'all think?

DebbieLyn63

Juicing mostly takes out the fiber in fruits and veggies, leaving a very concentrated amount of sugar. IMO, it is much better to just eat the whole food.

IamBorg

I think juicing is good if one is on a liquid diet or wants to ingest fruits or veggies that don't taste good whole. Juicing is how my sister is able to eat veggies that she doesn't like (which is most veggies, really).

Otherwise I agree with you- lots of hype. I think I get a lot more out of eating whole foods, and I'm too lazy to clean a juicer anyway!

Juicing for fun? Yep. Juicing to save money or get better nutrition over store-bought prepared fruit juices? Of course. Juicing as a miracle cure for health/medical problems or weight loss? Not so much.

IMO

Querian

I juice daily and I love it. Watch Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead. I also make smoothies quite often, usually green smoothies.

I seriously don't care about the sugar content from fruits and veggies. I think the more fruits and veggies, the better. But a lot of people disagree with me. Personally I want to eat as many plants as possible. :flowerforyou:

carrieous

kind of a PITA to juice up all those fruits and veggies and then clean the machine when you could just eat whole fruits and veggies instead.

peachfigs

I juice daily and I love it. Watch Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead. I also make smoothies quite often, usually green smoothies.

I seriously don't care about the sugar content from fruits and veggies. I think the more fruits and veggies, the better. But a lot of people disagree with me. Personally I want to eat as many plants as possible. :flowerforyou:

I would like to watch that! Thanks for reminding me.

Juicing mostly takes out the fiber in fruits and veggies, leaving a very concentrated amount of sugar. IMO, it is much better to just eat the whole food.

I've been thinking this too. I wonder if it could play havoc with your digestive system? Mine isn't very good, and fruit sugar sometimes makes me feel bloated.

Cr01502

It is all hype but if you like to drink juice go for it. Just eat whole food also.

As far as the sugar content goes I wouldn't worry about it unless you have a medical reason to keep your sugar low. Otherwise just track your total carb intake.

dnish53

Not so wild about juicing since you take out things like fiber. However I am in love with smoothies. I keep all of the vitamins and fiber and it makes it easier for me to get in extra servings of vegtables and fruits.

Iron_Feline

I like a juice occasional and sometimes a smoothie - I think they are both fine occasionally but not as a permanent meal replacement. Though at least you keep the fibre with a smoothie.

kerricolby

I have a regular blender and make smoothies almost every morning. I use whole fruit and veggies so it's just a way for me to get a lot of nutrition in the morning. I also add things like chia seeds.

KANGOOJUMPS

JUICY
SMOOTHY!

Grumpy2208

I have a blender sort of thing - I throw in spinach, grapes and carrots with water; fill it up in my bottle, bring it to work, leave it in the fridge the whole day and drink it right now ;-)

I love it. I don't snack so I consider this as a snack.

Lrdoflamancha

Juicing mostly takes out the fiber in fruits and veggies, leaving a very concentrated amount of sugar. IMO, it is much better to just eat the whole food.

This For the win.... This is exactly correct. Unless you need the concentrated sugar.

leighann881

No on the smoothies and straight fruit juice.

Yes on vegetable juice.

dsendre

I picked up a juicer 2 months ago and, honestly, I could not imagine starting my day without my morning juice anymore. I have a juice for breakfast and then eat real food for lunch and dinner. My daily juice is more about consuming large quantities of vegetables (and some fruits) that I would otherwise not eat instead of a magical-fix-everything-and-make-me-awesome wish of a solution.

We (my girlfriend and I) pretty much stick to mostly-vegetable juices but our juices do usually contain at least 1 apple and/or 1 lemon. The rest is kale, spinach, cucumber, carrots, celery, parsley/cilantro. The vegetable juices don't have too much sugar in them.

The movie that actually got me interested in juicing was Hungry for Change. However, I do not see myself going on an all-juice diet any time soon.

I do believe that there have been some benefits from having a juice each day plus eating clean for my meals (feel free to check out my diary - yes, I still drink beer a couple times a week):

1) My girlfriend swears that she has noticed a significant improvement in our skin. I don't know about mine, but I definitely notice a difference with hers.

2) There is no doubt in my mind that the "Palate Reset" phenomenon is real. I really do crave my juices every day and have found myself hungering for fresh vegetables more so than any point in my life. Also, junk/processed/unhealthy foods really don't taste as good anymore and are very unappealing to me now. Seriously, i'm not making that up.

3) I feel more alert and energetic in the morning after consuming my juice. However, I feel that I can't give my juices all of that credit since I'm also working out and losing weight. However, the first week of drinking juices in the morning there was a very noticeable change in my alertness.


I'm hooked and don't see that changing any time soon. If you choose to give it a try, this website is a great resource for recipes as well as estimating the nutritional values of your homemade juices: http://myphytos.com/

micheleb15

I have a green juice once a day. I don't replace meals with it, but it's a supplement to help get in more nutrients. It has kale, spinach, celery, cucumbers, one apple, lemon and ginger.

ericahassinistermotives

Juicing and smoothies are really helpful if you don't like vegetables, because you can cover the veggie taste up with fruits.

I don't like to clean though, and I'm not that picky, so I just eat the food.

kellijauch

It's definitley NOT hype. Juicing keeps the foods raw, and extracts almost all the nutrients from them. It is GREAT for you, especially the veggie juices (carrot apple is a tried and true combo and doesn't taste too green). It is high in sugar, but it's natural sugar, and as long as you exercise regularly that isn't a problem at all. If you are on here, i assume you exercise at least moderately. Think about Jack Lalane. He juiced daily and when he was in his 90s he was super healthy and looked like he was 50. Fruit smoothies are nutritious as well, don't count them out, just the veggie juices are more nutritious. If you don't like the veggies, even the fruit smoothies will do you well. Think about adding in something to amp up the benefits if you are staying strictly with fruit, such as Maca Powder, or Spirilina. Totally worth it and beneficial for sure.

peachfigs

Yesterday I was gifted a soup maker that also juices and makes smoothies. I've read a lot about how juicing is supposed to be amazing for your health but I can't help but think it's all hype - what about the extremely high sugar content in the juice/smoothie when you're mainly using fruit?

Maybe the vegetable juices aren't so bad, but I'm not sure if I'm convinced fruit juices/smoothies are that healthy. What do y'all think?

A "smoothie maker" doesn't make juices. It kind of sounds like you're talking about a vitamix, but those are expensive so i doubt it.

A smoothie has all the fiber in the juice, a juicer takes out all the fiber. Health wise, juicers are usually used with vegetables, smoothies have all the fiber in them...so it takes longer to digest than pure fruit juice, slowing down the rate absorption of the sugar.

Nope, it is a juicer with a smoothie maker. You can make soup in it too.

jabadahut

I prefer green smoothies because I just wasnt getting any fiber in my diet.(you still get soluable fiber when juicing, although most blenders will tell you juicers are throwing the fiber away) I have one 2 hours after breakfast, lunch and dinner. They keep me full all day so I dont crave the junk food anymore and my blood sugar has dropped dramaticly.

riley711

I like juicing because I get veggies that I wouldn't normally eat. But I HATE cleaning that darn juicer!!! Also don't like that you can't like make a whole pitcher of juice and store it.

I do like smoothies, but just don't do it as often. :ohwell:

SpinCyn

I juice daily and I love it. Watch Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead. I also make smoothies quite often, usually green smoothies.

I seriously don't care about the sugar content from fruits and veggies. I think the more fruits and veggies, the better. But a lot of people disagree with me. Personally I want to eat as many plants as possible. :flowerforyou:

im used to fruit smoothies and im affraid to gravitate towards veggies ones! what tastes go good in the veggies ones?

Health_Gal

If you use a blender to make fruit and/or vegetables into a smoothie, you get ALL of the food in the drink -- including the fiber.

I had a juicer that I used for a while, but didn't like the fact that so much food was left in the pulp chamber that I either had to (1) look through my recipe book and figure a way to use or (2) throw in my compost bin.

browncurlz3

As others have said..don't use an actual juicer machine. It takes all the good stuff out! Use a blender and you're sure to get all the good stuff.

Also, include veggies! Don't just add fruit. That's too easy. Add kale, swiss chard, a scoop of protein powder, and/or something like Barleans green organic powder. Doesn't change the taste and it is way good for you!

I was TERRIFIED of juicing until my neighbor introduced me to it yesterday morning, and I'll tell you what...it's a healthy, no-preservative way to get a ton of nutrients at once.

Good luck!

RunnerElizabeth

I got a vitamix before starting my half marathon training this year. Has made a huge difference with my long runs because I have a hard time eating in the morning before running, but my stomach can handle a green smoothie. The extra energy really helps. As long as you use it responsibly and don't add sweetners, I'd say smoothies, not necessarily jucing can be a good and healthy thing yo add to your diet.

cgfol1

If you use a blender to make fruit and/or vegetables into a smoothie, you get ALL of the food in the drink -- including the fiber.

I had a juicer that I used for a while, but didn't like the fact that so much food was left in the pulp chamber that I either had to (1) look through my recipe book and figure a way to use or (2) throw in my compost bin.

Agreed!

weightloss12345678

Depends on the ingredients mines one of those food extractors and i use

kale
spinach
carrots
various berries

donnalspencer

I like your thoughts. The main thing I have been disappointed with on fitnesspal is the amount of sugar allowed daily. Can't even eat two pieces of fruit per day on the restrictions. How can this be good for you?

Goldie2u2

Thanks for the website..I've been wondering what types of fruit/veggies people use for different combos...this site looks awesome! Thank you!

Iron_Feline

I like your thoughts. The main thing I have been disappointed with on fitnesspal is the amount of sugar allowed daily. Can't even eat two pieces of fruit per day on the restrictions. How can this be good for you?

I ignore the sugar to be honest - I changed it to calcium to track on the website.

I'd defo ignore the sugar from fruit :bigsmile:

strflt

Honestly? I make smoothies to increase my vegetable intake. I really, really don't like vegetables. I could easily go a week without touching more than two servings. (Sprinkled liberally throughout the week, at that.) Since starting my smoothie making, I easily eat twice as many vegetables now as I would otherwise, even with my newfound commitment to healthy eating in mind. Replacing breakfast with a smoothie also (usually) keeps me away from the Pop-tarts. Always a good thing.

If you like them, eat them. Some folks say you don't have to worry about the sugar, others say you do. Personally I just try to keep it moderated through use of water or watered down juice instead of 100% juice, and cottage cheese instead of yoghurt for the 'smoothy-ness' factor.