Page 32 May 2016 By Andrea Barkley Cold-pressed juice shops are popping up all over town and popular health documentaries like Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead are in major favor of the juicing lifestyle. But, what about blended smoothies and protein shakes? Which is better? The truth is that there are pros and cons to both juicing and blending, but primarily pros! In fact, I have both a juicer and a commercial grade blender on my countertop and they both get used with regularity (but my blender more so). Let’s start with the pros of juicing: Juicing is wonderful for getting large amounts of nutrients into your bloodstream rapidly, which is fantastic if you happen to be feeling rundown or if your immunity is compromised. Juicing is also an excellent choice for getting large amounts of greens and other colorful veggies into your life. Rarely would we sit down and eat three leaves of collard greens, two whole red peppers, a nub of ginger and four apples. I also like juices when I’m on the go, traveling or need extra doses of greens in general. I always try to pair a juice with a protein to keep my blood sugar from spiking and dropping. One of the negatives of juicing is that the fiber is stripped from the fruit or vegetable during the juicing process. Fiber is important for healthy digestion and elimination as well as feeling satisfied. If you’re already a health conscious person, you might really enjoy the taste of a carrot, bell pepper, collard green and grapefruit juice. But the taste of some juice concoctions might have others trying to choke it down in the name of health. The other major issue to be aware of with To juice or to blend? Breaking down the difference juices is that while they are packed with nutrients, they are also high in sugar and calories, so just make sure to keep that in mind if you’re sugar sensitive or being conscientious of your calories. Now let’s take a look at blending protein shakes: Some of the benefits of protein shakes include how easy they are to make, and they taste fabulous. While it’s true that some shakes can have a chalky texture, a quick search online for healthy and delicious protein shake recipes will yield some decadent concoctions. Protein shakes can also be loaded with fiber because the whole fruit and vegetable is used. In addition, you can add extra protein and healthy fats like nut butters and avocado. This balance of macronutrients helps prevent blood sugar spikes and creates a greater feeling of satiety. Protein shakes can also satisfy any sweet tooth, whether it’s for rich chocolate, tart or fruit. Plus you can easily sneak in greens without tasting them. The cons of shakes are that there is a less rapid absorption of nutrients than in juices and a less overall volume of fruits and veggies. What I would avoid in general are smoothies, which are normally just high volumes of blended fruit. While there is a lot of nutrition in a smoothie, they are the highest in sugar and in calories. In conclusion, drink juices when your immunity is compromised or you need extra produce. Enjoy shakes regularly as long as they have quality protein and fats, too. Be wary of all-fruit smoothies. — Andrea Barkley is a local personal trainer, cook and author. FOOD WISE