What is the difference between a juice and a smoothie?

Hands down, my number one question while owning the cafes was what’s the difference between a juice and a smoothie. I answer the same way every time that a healthy, nutrient-rich diet should incorporate both:)!

I am so freaking passionate about this topic because my life dramatically changed when I discovered the healing properties of incorporating organic whole foods, mostly plants into my daily routine. The way I previously ate was a mostly processed diet counting fat grams and calories, even though I was thin, I was super unhealthy and miserable! My hormonal/mood issues, sugar cravings and weight issues all leveled out within the first year that I made the time to create nutrient rich juices and smoothies jam packed with what my body had been deficient in which led to a body that was previously toxic and depressed. 

Overall, the new additions balanced my gut, giving it the healthy bacteria it needed to communicate what my body needed to use and what it needed to expel.  These two additions transformed my life forever thanks to the magic of flooding my body with the earth’s bounty of organic greatness!  And the best part was, once I got into a rhythm of making this my new habit, my body actually craves these foods now, not the processed “dead” food it once did, making it easy to make better food choices because I never want to feel the way I did back then ever again!

JUICING

A juice is a drink made using a juice extractor which provides all the nutrients, removing most of the fiber and leaving only the liquid. In one pint of juice, you’ll receive three times more vegetables and micronutrients than you would for a smoothie, flooding your body with life-giving vitamins, minerals and detoxifying your blood. To maximize the juicing benefits, juicing on an empty stomach is imperative to ensure that all of the nutrients rush into the bloodstream. These nutrients are then transported to every cell of your body allowing the beneficial properties to be absorbed and utilized. Juicing on an empty stomach also ensures that you do not have a stomach upset due to the wrong food combination.

BLENDING

A smoothie is made by mixing whole ingredients into a pulp in a blender which makes it an excellent meal replacement as it retains all the fiber yet is easier for your body to digest as it doesn’t have to work as hard breaking down the foods so your body can retain more of the nutrients! I love to add all the superfoods and adaptogens like lions mane mushrooms, ashwagandha and plant powered protein powerhouses like spirulina and hemp!

Getting into a rhythm of juicing is typically a progression for most people, so if this is all new to you, please start by blending! The amount of vegetables takes up less space in your fridge and it’s a much faster, simpler process.  If you can’t afford to juice or blend everyday, no problem.  In addition to drinking plenty of water throughout the day, I recommend having a glass of warm lemon water every morning on an empty stomach to alkalize the body when you can’t juice.  For optimum benefits, also add a tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar (raw honey can be added for easier consumption) or if you’re concerned about the acid, ½ teaspoon of baking soda will do the alkalizing trick! Another hassle free way to encourage improved gut health is to incorporate organic, fair-trade green tea into your daily routine (for added digestion support, add a pinch of cayenne pepper, cinnamon and lemon).

Juicing and blending doesn’t have to be an all or nothing diet. In fact, for most people it’s better when one uses juice, smoothies and healthy meals. Drinking fresh juice and eating healthy meals is an optimal diet. Juicing makes it easy for one to add vitamins and phytonutrients that are lacking in most of today’s processed food and blending makes it easy to add all the nuts/seeds/powders you want to supplement your diet with. Both help keep your gut in check and in balance which helps end the unhealthy cravings and makes it easier to make better food choices..

Love and Sunshine,

Sarah