Question:

Veggie juicing, my wife and I do it every morning (juicing) with a mixture of veggies. We have a Breville juicer and a Bullet. One takes out all of the pulp and one does not. We have only been using the Bullet for the last year. What is the deal, should I be using both alternately, throw one away or what? What is the best strategy to get the most out of juicing? Thanks, Debbie.

– Terry N.

Answer:

You’ve spotted the main difference between juicing and blending – the pulp. Removing or including the solid matter from produce will affect the final liquid in texture and nutrition. Juice enthusiasts relish in the highly concentrated nutrients in a more limited volume of smooth juice, whereas high-power blender users rely on the bulkier smoothies to fill them up for fewer calories.

Which is right for you depends on your intention. If you’re going for micronutrient absorption, you’ll get more vitamins and antioxidants from juicing, but with more calories per glass. Our previous article Just Juice It! explores juicing pros and cons. Juicers work best with water-bound produce, not avocados or sweet potatoes.

Blending the whole vegetable could be more satisfying, leading you to consume fewer calories in the morning. A blender allows one to add smoothie components such as ice, yogurt, protein powder, peanut butter, etc. You’ll be better off doing that if your intent is to substitute a solid breakfast with your beverage.

Which takes home the gold? Juicing is a win if you’re only trying to increase pure vegetable consumption. The blender wins for smoothies, though.

Getting the most from juicing includes adding produce you wouldn’t otherwise eat. Perhaps you can sneak in beets, sprouts, or thick-leaved greens. Spice things up a bit with a little ginger, chives, or turmeric. Consume the juice right away when nutrients are at their peak.

– Debbie J., MS, RD