Juice bars and smoothie franchises are big business now. We see one or both even in shopping centers and tourist destinations. There are some sound reasons for the rise in popularity of fresh juices and smoothies. They are extremely healthy, and people are increasingly turning to these kinds of refreshments over sodas and other sugary drinks. But which is healthier: juices vs smoothies?
When deciding between juices vs smoothies, the choice most often comes down to personal taste. But for people who are considering making serious changes to their diet, or for people who are interested in detoxing or a cleanse diet, the choice between juices vs smoothies becomes a more serious discussion.
Juices vs smoothies and which has the right health benefits depends in large part on your specific goals. For people who are primarily interested in weight loss, the juice may lean toward juices. For people who are looking into detox and cleanse diets, the choice may be for smoothies. In either case, juices vs smoothies can be sorted out according to some simple facts.
What are the differences between juices vs smoothies? Of the choices between juices vs smoothies, which will work best for you? This guide will give you the information you need to decide between juices vs smoothies.
What are juices?
The first thing we need to make clear is what we are talking about when we talk about juices. By juices, we do not mean the kinds of juices you commonly find in the grocery store, and we certainly do not mean the sugary drinks found in convenience stores. Even some of the healthiest juices sold in grocery stores contain things like added sugar.
By juices, we mean juices that are made with fresh vegetables and fruits. This is done by a simple process that extracts only the fresh juices, removing the solids and seeds, and leaving only fresh juices. These kinds of juices are made for several purposes. The two most common reasons people make fresh juices are for general health and detox or cleanse diets.
Juicing is done by one of two methods: Centrifugal juicers grind the fruits and vegetables and extract the juice through a high-speed spinning action or with Cold-press juicers, also called masticating juicers, crush the fruits and vegetables and extract the juice more slowly. Both processes produce juices that have roughly the same nutritional value.
Juices health benefits
There are several great benefits to juices and juicing. Besides the great taste of the freshest fruits and vegetable juices, juicing can get you on your way to some serious health benefits. These can include:
Cleaning and detoxification
A strict diet of fresh vegetable and fruits juices for a specific period can help detoxify and cleanse your body. Drinking fresh juices can help rid your body of toxic chemicals and help your natural systems of cleaning and elimination return to top efficiency.
Supplementing your diet
Fresh vegetable and fruit juices are loaded with nutrients. To add more nutrients to your diet without taking pre-packaged supplements, you can simply drink fresh juices. Fruits and vegetables are full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and plant compounds that may protect against disease.
Weight loss
A diet of fresh vegetable and fruit juices, as directed by a healthy program like the detox and cleanse programs with Spartan Detox, can help you begin to lose weight. The low-calorie and low-fat intake that naturally attends a juice diet for a short period will jump-start and weight loss program.
What are smoothies?
Smoothies are thick, creamy drinks made by blending fresh juices with things like yogurt and milk. Many people use non-dairy alternatives like almond milk and soy milk to eliminate the fat and lactose issues that can come with dairy products.
Most smoothies work with two basic ingredients: a fresh juice and some type of milk product, whether it be dairy or non-dairy. These are blended to make a thicker creamier beverage than just juice alone.
Smoothies are extremely versatile, and the only limit is our imagination. Some of the most common ingredients in smoothies include:
- Fruits: berries, banana, apple, peach, mango, and pineapple
- Vegetables: kale, spinach, arugula, wheatgrass, microgreens, avocado, cucumber, beetroot, cauliflower, and carrots
- Nuts and seeds: almond butter, peanut butter, walnut butter, sunflower seed butter, chia seeds, hemp seeds, and flax meal
- Herbs and spices: ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, cocoa powder, cacao nibs, parsley, and basil
- Nutritional and herbal supplements: spirulina, bee pollen, matcha powder, protein powder, and powdered vitamin or mineral supplements
- Liquid: water, fruit juice, vegetable juice, milk, non-dairy milk, coconut water, iced tea, and cold brew coffee
- Sweeteners: maple syrup, raw sugar, honey, pitted dates, simple syrup, fruit juice concentrates, stevia, ice cream, and sorbet
- Others: cottage cheese, vanilla extract, soaked oats, cooked white beans, silken tofu, and dairy or nondairy yogurt
Smoothies health benefits
Smoothies provide similar benefits to fresh juices. Smoothies are often a component of detox and cleanse diets, especially those that are designed to eliminate additives and fats. Fresh juice and non-dairy milk products can provide the same detox and nutritional benefits as fresh juices.
Smoothies generally contain more calories than juices alone and can therefore be more satisfying. For some people, smoothies allow them to do a detox or cleanse with fewer difficulties than a juice cleanse alone.
Can help boost your fruit and vegetable intake
Since smoothies consist of just fruit and/or vegetables and a milk product, they can increase the amounts of fruits and vegetables you consume. This has the benefit of increasing essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants.
Can reduce inflammation
Increasing your fruits and vegetables with smoothies can reduce inflammation, improve digestion, and lower your risk of chronic conditions like heart disease, osteoporosis, obesity, and age-related cognitive degeneration.
Increase fiber consumption
Fiber is important for digestion. It helps promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria and prevents constipation. Researchers have shown the healthy levels of fiber in our diet can help reduce inflammation, promote a healthy immune system, and help with mental health.
A healthy fiber intake has also been linked to a reduced risk of illnesses like heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Differences between juices vs smoothies
The real differences between juices and smoothies are the calories and nutrient quantities. Smoothies tend to contain more calories because they contain things like dairy products or non-dairy milk alternatives.
Many of the dairy and non-dairy milk alternatives will increase the levels of specific nutrients. The exact nutrients that increase will depend on which milk product you decide to use. One of the most common nutrients that increases in smoothies is calcium.
For people on a detox or cleanse diet, smoothies may prove to be more satisfying and help them get through the diet program with fewer complications.
The health benefits of juices and smoothies are roughly equivalent.
Pros and cons between juices vs smoothies
The pros of juicing are that they contain nothing but pure and simple fruits and vegetables. Juices condense the health benefits of fruits and vegetables into a simple form that you can drink and be on your way.
The cons of juicing are that they do not contain all the nutrients you need to stay healthy. Juices do not contain things like protein in quantities that are sufficient to maintain your health. Juices are a supplement to a healthy diet, not a replacement.
The pros of smoothies over juices are that they tend to be more filling. A smoothie that contains your favorite vegetable and fruit juices plus the added bulk of something like almond milk will make you feel full. This can be helpful when you are doing something like a detox or cleanse diet.
The cons of smoothies are the same as juices. While smoothies do contain large quantities of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, it is difficult to make a smoothie that contains all the nutritional requirements of a healthy meal. That said, a smoothie can be a meal substitute for part of your day, especially if you are working on a weight-loss program.
Juices vs Smoothies FAQs
What are juices?
By juices, we mean juices that are made with fresh vegetables and fruits. This is done by a simple process that extracts only the fresh juices, removing the solids and seeds, and leaving only fresh juices. These kinds of juices are made for several purposes. The two most common reasons people make fresh juices are for general health and for detox or cleanse diets.
What are smoothies?
Smoothies are thick, creamy drinks made by blending fresh juices with things like yogurt and milk. Many people use non-dairy alternatives like almond milk and soy milk to eliminate the fat and lactose issues that can come with dairy products.
What are the benefits of juices?
Cleaning and detoxification: A strict diet of fresh vegetable and fruits juices for a specific period can help detoxify and cleanse your body. Drinking fresh juices can help rid your body of toxic chemicals and help your natural systems of cleaning and elimination return to top efficiency.
Supplementing your diet. Fresh vegetable and fruit juices are loaded with nutrients. To add more nutrients to your diet without taking pre-packaged supplements, you can simply drink fresh juices. Fruits and vegetables are full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and plant compounds that may protect against disease.
What are the benefits of smoothies?
Smoothies provide similar benefits to fresh juices. Smoothies are often a component of detox and cleanse diets, especially those that are designed to eliminate additives and fats. Fresh juice and non-dairy milk products can provide the same detox and nutritional benefits as fresh juices.
Smoothies generally contain more calories than juices alone and can therefore be more satisfying. For some people, smoothies allow them to do a detox or cleanse with fewer difficulties than a juice cleanse alone.
Spartan Detox Plans
Our natural juices & smoothies are prepared every day using the best quality fruits outdoors offering an exceptional taste and drink experience that will help your body feel energetic.
With the Spartan Detox, you are consuming far more fruits, vegetables, and herbs daily than on any other detox. You also have a detox shake or juice often enough to avoid any hunger or drops in sugar that you might experience with other styles of detoxing.
We help ensure you succeed in finishing your detox and feel your best because people tend to do so much better at following a plan when there is support. We are on your team and once you try our detox, you become part of our ever-growing family, the SpartanDetox family.
Conclusion
It seems unlikely that anyone has not at least heard about juices and smoothies. These products are available almost anywhere now, and you can even buy pre-made products in the grocery store. Juices and smoothies have gained in popularity for the simple reason that they are healthy. Juices and smoothies, when made correctly, provide tremendous nutrition without all the added junk that comes in too many common products.
After all the sugary juice products and soda drinks, people are coming around to the amazing health benefits of juices and smoothies. Real fruit and vegetable juices and smoothies made with real ingredients contain only the vitamins, minerals, and fiber present in natural foods. These provide a serious supplement to your diet.
Juices and smoothies make up the main part of a healthy detox or cleanse diet. By setting aside a specific period to consume only fresh, healthy juices and smoothies, you can help your body eliminate toxins and restore your health. Beyond the great nutrition of juices and smoothies, these things contain large concentrations of things like antioxidants that fight chronic inflammation. By switching over to fresh juices and smoothies, you can significantly reduce your risk of chronic diseases like obesity, osteoporosis, and type 2 diabetes. You can also reduce your risk of developing cancer. Fresh juices and smoothies can even improve your mental health.
