Comparison between a juicer and a blender

Preparing fresh juice at home is always a better alternative to buying packaged juice from the market. It ensures that you don't miss out on the live enzymes that dissipate within an average of 15 minutes from the preparation. Needless to say, you don't find them in the cartons stacked in stores. So, the ideal choice for you would be to purchase a juicer or a blender and prepare your own and drink it up as fresh as possible for maximum benefits.

You may have been led to believe that juicers are absolutely necessary to juice fruits and vegetables, but it is not so. Most people make use of a multi-purpose blender for their juicing purposes. It is important to remember that both are distinguishable by form and designed to perform specific and different functions.

A blender comes with sharp blades that chop up items and liquefy produces with water content in the form of a pulp. It does not distinguish between the fiber and the non-fiber parts of a fruit or a vegetable and as such, the extract contains the peels, seeds and all other parts of the plant produce if they are not separated before putting into the blender. A blender can also be used for preparing smoothies or blending a number of items together.

A juicer on the other hand is designed specifically to separate the bulky fiber of a vegetable or a fruit from its flesh and to the juice as its final output.

Choosing one over the other

You may have to consider several points before you decide on your favorite juicing device-

• Type of fruit/vegetable: You need to understand the characteristics of the fruit or vegetable you want to include in your diet in the juice form. Often, you will find it more beneficial to eat a fruit whole instead of its juice. On the other hand, not all fruits and vegetables cater to your palate and you may need to provide a punch to make it appeal to you. Fruits and vegetables that you choose to put in your juice extractor should necessarily have high water content; as otherwise, you'll only be able to extract insignificant quantities of juice. A blender can be handy in such situations and will be able to pulp fruits and veggies with low water content as well.

• Diet requirements: If you are a diabetic, refined extracts may cause more harm than good as they might spike blood sugar levels. It is necessary to include fiber along with the natural sugars to delay the digestion process and keep the blood sugar level as stable as possible. On the other hand, if you have a weak digestive system or have experienced symptoms like bloating, gas or stomach ache after consuming vegetable or fruit smoothies, it may be wiser to clear out the fiber and make it easier for the body.

With a little patience and time to spare-

Investing in a juicing machine may not always be economically feasible. A blender has a much lower price tag and is often favored by customers. If you want to stay fiber free and let your body absorb the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants easily, there is a way out. Invest in a juice bag or a nut milk bag that will help you extract the juice from a blended pulp. It may seem to be a little time consuming, but with a little patience, you will be able to prepare a glass of high quality juice.