Differences between blenders and slow juicers

It often turns out to be quite difficult to get enough fruit and vegetables every day. This is exactly where juicing and blending can help you. With a blender or slow juicer it is much easier to get the recommended amount. But what is the difference between a blender and a slow juicer?

The Food Bureau advises to consume at least 250 grams of vegetables and 200 grams of fruit daily. Despite the fact that we have become much more aware of healthy food in recent years, the average Dutch person still appears to eat too little vegetables and fruit .

Blenders and slow juicers are extremely popular with people with a healthy lifestyle. By making a delicious juice or smoothie from all those fruits and vegetables, it is often no longer difficult to get the RDA of fruits and vegetables.

The differences between blenders and slow juicers

There are differences between a blender and a slow juicer. They are both completely different devices and they work in a different way. Let's take a look at the advantages and disadvantages.

Benefits of a blender

Both blending and juicing grind and pulverize the fruit. A juicer separates the juice from the pulp, after which the pulp can be discarded. The difference between a slow juicer and a blender is that the latter uses the whole fruit. And that’s a good thing, because the pulp is very rich in fiber. Blended fruits and vegetables still contain their fiber, an important nutrient for healthy digestion and helpful in preventing a whole host of chronic diseases.

The pulp that is not used in juicing, but is used in blending, also contains an abundance of flavonoids. This is a powerful antioxidant that is essential for the metabolism of vitamin C.

A big difference with a juicer is that the blender is also easier to clean . A blender does not have many loose parts that you will have to take apart, brush clean and put back together. A blender can be cleaned very easily in a few seconds.

Disadvantages of a blender

Although they do not spike your blood sugar as quickly as most juices do, a sweet smoothie from the blender can still cause higher blood glucose levels and thus contribute to metabolic syndrome. A smoothie is liquid and we can consume it quickly. This makes it possible to consume too many calories.

We humans are designed to chew our food well and calmly. The fruits, roots and leaves that our early ancestors ate were considerably richer in fibre than the soft peaches, strawberries and apples that we eat today. Smoothies ensure that we do not have to chew our food even more. If your daily diet consisted almost exclusively of smoothies, this could make your jaw muscles weaker. Moreover, chewing plays a very important role in a feeling of satiety.

When you make smoothies yourself with a blender, you have complete control over the ingredients you use. If you buy a ready-made smoothie in the store, you obviously don't have that. These smoothies are often full of additives, such as fructose, artificial colors and flavors. If you like to drink a smoothie, it is best to make them yourself.

Benefits of a slow juicer

Juicing can provide a high concentration of nutrients, because most vitamins and minerals are in the juice and not in the pulp. By using a slow juicer, you will also get more antioxidants and vitamins. A difference between the blender and the slow juicer is that juice from the juicer is easier to digest for people with a disturbed digestion. This makes it easier to absorb nutrients from the juice.

This is because fibre binds the sugars in vegetables and fruit and slows down digestion. A juice from the juicer will therefore give an energy boost more quickly. Athletes will therefore benefit more from a juice just before they have to perform. Incidentally, beetroot juice and cherry juice offer athletes the most benefits.

Disadvantages of a slow juicer

Juicing is not all roses and moonshine. As we wrote earlier: juicing removes the vast majority of the fibers from the drink, which ensures that the sugars from the vegetables and fruit are absorbed very quickly. Your sugar levels can therefore quickly peak, but can also quickly drop again. That can cause all kinds of complaints.

Another difference between the slow juicer and the blender is that juice from the juicer does not give you the same feeling of satiety as a smoothie from the blender. You therefore easily consume too much juice. This can be a problem if you drink a lot of juice from sugary vegetables and fruits. However, a homemade juice is still much healthier than a juice from the store. Ready-made juice contains many unhealthy additives and cannot really be called healthy.

A juicer removes almost all the fibres from the drink. The pulp is collected and thrown away afterwards. Which is a disadvantage compared to the blender, because a lot of good nutrients are lost.

The difference between blenders and slow juicers

Plant-based food is incredibly healthy. We should definitely all consume more fruits and vegetables. Both the blender and the slow juicer can play an important role in your daily battle to get enough healthy nutrients. Although you miss out on the benefit of chewing food, both the slow juicer and the blender can play a leading role in getting enough vitamins, minerals and antioxidants on a daily basis.

A big difference between slow juicers and blenders is the difference in fibers in the final product. A slow juicer catches all the pulp. A blender pulverizes the whole fruit or vegetables and the fibers are therefore part of the final product. This makes juice from a blender more nutritious, while juice from a slow juicer is easier to consume.

However, the fact remains that for most people both the slow juicer and the blender are a valuable addition to increase the daily amount of fruit and vegetables they eat.