blender juice or juice juice. your opinions, pro's and cons.

[cherry.chops]

i have looked through all the threads on this,but none anwser my question really.

I want to start juicing and i have always wanted to get a juicer, but i really want to start doing my own nut milk too.
Do i get an expensive juicer to enjoy the fantastic juice, sorbet and nut butters it will give me, OR do i get an expensive blender where i can make nut milk and juice, and just take the time straining the juice through a nut milk bag.

Or do i get a good juicer and a cheap blender?

what are the diferences between a blender juice and a juicer juice?
Im planning to do a long water and juice fast when i get one.

[Revvell]

Im planning to do a long water and juice fast when i get one.There's your answer. Get a juicer.

[sport]

There was a very interesting article posted here yesterday by Victoria Butenko in which she maintains that the oxidation rate of blended food is away lower than that of juiced. She says this is because the blending releases more antioxidents than juicing by breaking more bonds.
This is interesting for many reasons. We have not been told if releasing these antioxidents is a good thing or a bad thing. Yes they keep the food fresher if you are taking a while to devour it but it may be it is better to keep them locked up until our body has use for them and releases them from the food.

[HolyGuacamole]

I admire Victoria Boutenko as much as the next person, but I found that article speculative, illogical, and unconvincing. :)
She has a rather considerable stake in upholding the superiority of blending, and that's just what she's doing. Fine with me, but that article certainly didn't hold up under application of basic critical thought.

So.
Some will tell you it's better to get a blender since it can produce both smoothies/soups/etc., and juice.
Some will tell you the quality of juice is better in one than in the other.

At the end of the day, though, it's all personal choice. As far as I know, there is no proof one way or another regarding whether blender juice or juicer juice is superior.

Anyhoo, for me, personally, if I were going to go on an extended juice fast, I would get a nice juicer, specifically a Green Star (which is what I actually do own and LOVE).
I do also own a Vitamix, use both it and the juicer daily, and I think if I could only save one in a fire, I would grab the Green Star.
My choice in your situation would be:
Buy a great juicer, get a nice (but not high-powered) blender, and save up for a Vitamix or Blend Tec. An inexpensive blender will still make smoothies.

[MrsJohnnyG]

I use my Vitamix at least 20 times more frequently than I use my juicer... mainly because I want the natural fiber in my veggies/fruits left in, not stripped out... that said, it's true that a cheap blender can whip up green smoothies almost as well as a Vitamix, so if you're set on having fiberless juices, then the juicer + cheap blender plan will probably work fine.

[cherry.chops]

thank you for your honest anwsers.

I cant drink smoothies, which is a major pain in the butt, because if i could, i think i would live off them. Their are so many smoothies you can make, saying that there are so many juices you can make!

Im hoping to get a green star, the only problem is they are very expensive, and im going to have to save up for a few months! But i really would love one.

I think im going to get a juicer. Thank you for helping me make up my mind! x

[Aleesha Sattva]

get a greenstar... seriously you will not be disappointed. :)

http://aleeshasrawlife.blogspot.com/2009/04/greenstar-juicer-vs-champion-juicer.html

[Revvell]

She has a rather considerable stake in upholding the superiority of blending, and that's just what she's doing.

No, she actually doesn't. She's a researcher and has changed her stance numerous times and is very honest with herself and her findings. Originally she said everybody should drink like what, a gallon or two of smoothies a day... and everyone should go 100% immediately. When I last spoke with her she's changed her stance about 180% saying many people can't handle smoothies and get bloated, etc. She's one of the few people I trust in the raw food "community".

[Aleesha Sattva]

that's good to know rev... thank you for sharing this with us.

[solis]

I wanted the answer to this exact question and I ended up going for a blender - I love it!

Although I love juicers and used mine a lot when I used to have one, being raw vegan now has changed my needs. I figured that I would keep the crunchy foods I used to juice (carrots, beetroots etc) for eating whole because I like being able to crunch on something. It's also good when eating with others - you don't feel felt out. I make a smoothie when I want something quick or when I'm by myself.


http://www.juiceproducer.com/blenderorjuicer.php

^ I looked at that before buying one too.

[Mary Kay]

If I only had the money to buy one, I'd get the more expensive blender because you can also make fiber-free vegetable juices by straining through a nut milk bag, if you didn't want fiber because you were on a fast or something. It is more versatile. You can also make sorbets AND you can have the fiber blended in if you want without straining. Also, way easier to clean nd much quicker. .

I could have posted a similar/but different question on this thread, but am anxiously awaiting which way is more nutritious a slow-speed juicer, or the high-speed blending - specifically for wheatgrass.

Maybe you'll want to refer to some of the answers up there too! But either way, if you could only afford one - even if EVERYONE comes back to say that slow juicing is beter for wheatgrass, there are many other items besides wheatgrass that you can use in the more versatile blender. Including wheatgrass.

Mary Kay

[Mary Kay]

Just curious: Holyquacamole, why do you think she has a stake in blending? I know she promotes Vita-Mix, but isn't it because she just likes it?

And Revvell, I also like the fact thatshe can change her mind when there's new data. Mercola does the same thing, and whether one may disagree or not, you've gotta like the fact that they go beyond their own egos to say "I was wrong before...."

Thanks for sharing,

Mary Kay

[HolyGuacamole]

No, she actually doesn't. She's a researcher and has changed her stance numerous times and is very honest with herself and her findings. Originally she said everybody should drink like what, a gallon or two of smoothies a day... and everyone should go 100% immediately. When I last spoke with her she's changed her stance about 180% saying many people can't handle smoothies and get bloated, etc. She's one of the few people I trust in the raw food "community".


Well, I respect your opinion, Revvell, and I respect hers, too.

I don't pretend to know her or her motivation. I simply made an observation. (Observation being the exact and only thing she did in that article - make observations. There wasn't a shred of scientific method in it.)

I'm sure she's a lovely person, and I wholeheartedly appreciate all she's done. Indeed she might well appreciate your defense of her, but I for one don't think it's needed, as she wasn't under attack from me.

There was no judgment or accusation in what I said, only my assessment of things, which could of course be wrong. Anything beyond my actual words and their fairly narrow meaning is coming from - and the responsibility of - each individual reader.

And with that, I will bow out of this particular aspect of the conversation and leave everyone to the thinking with which they arrived, which it's not my duty or intent to change. :)


cherry.chops, do let us know what you decide. :)

[Revvell]

I'm sure she's a lovely person, and I wholeheartedly appreciate all she's done. Indeed she might well appreciate your defense of her, but I for one don't think it's needed, as she wasn't under attack from me.


I wasn't defending. I was sharing my knowledge and experience of her having spoken with her personally and I didn't see what you said as an attack.

I'm wondering how conversations and explanations tend to be seen as "war" ~ attacks and defenses?

It's just a conversation and a sharing. Sheesh!

[HolyGuacamole]

I wasn't defending. I was sharing my knowledge and experience of her having spoken with her personally and I didn't see what you said as an attack.

I'm wondering how conversations and explanations tend to be seen as "war" ~ attacks and defenses?

It's just a conversation and a sharing. Sheesh!


That's all I was saying. :)
All is peaceful on this end of things - I'm not even frustrated and wanting to say "sheesh!" ;)
Thanks for the input, Revvell, sincerely.

[freelive]

I am considering Omega 8006 juicer. I have Champion which I love, but I want to be able to juice more greens. I was considering Green Star, but I read a review from the woman wh juices several times a day, and owns several juicers, and she wrote, that set up and clean up was such a pain with Green Star, that it is now collecting dust and she never uses it.