The best devices to make your natural juices and smoothies

The juices and smoothies and the value given to the fresh fruits and vegetables they are not a fad or a modern invention. Our ancestors already made offerings of these foods to the gods. And the fermented grape and apple juices they are as old as the first civilizations, just like the olive juice extracted with an oil press.

In the 19th century these drinks had a moment of splendor thanks to the fresh juice and raw food cures prescribed by doctors and naturopaths. The reason is that they are excellent source of nutrientslive enzymes and detoxifying elements for the body, and which are also easily absorbed.

Many consider them light energy from the sun in its pure state and highlight the green juices because, by including vegetables, its glycemic index is lower than in fruit juices only. In addition, they contain chlorophyll and their nutritional density is higher.

What is the difference between juice and smoothie?

Both the juice and the smoothie are healthy drinks. They complement each other.

1. Juices or smoothies

They are obtained with blenders or cold-press extractorsthey are more liquid than shakes and easier to drink, there is no need to add water and more ingredients are used because their pulp is discarded.

Also contain less fiberAlthough this depends a lot on the appliance because the new generation of extractors is getting closer and closer to blenders.

2. Smoothies

They are thicker, you have to add water, you need fewer ingredients because 100% fruit or vegetables are used and contain more fiber because they include both the skin and the pulp.

According to the power of the blenders the textures change a lot. High-end blenders are the most suitable for green smoothies because they manage to break down the cellulose of the vegetables and thus their properties are better absorbed.

What appliance do you need to make your juices and smoothies?

The choice of one device or another will depend on our budget, our personal preferences and the use we want to give them.

To make juice:

To prepare a juice there are 5 types of devices.

1. Classic juicers

Manual or electric, they are used for all kinds of citrus fruits and pomegranates: you just have to cut the fruit in half.

2. Centrifugal blenders

They work with blades that separate the juice from the fiber at high speed and high revolutions. They are very effective in getting smooth juice but, regarding the extractors, they present Some disadvantages:

It produces a heating that somewhat alters the properties and flavor of the juice. The juice it rusts before and it does not preserve certain vitamins and enzymes as well. more humid and abundant pulpthat is, the ingredients are used less. They contain less fiber. They don’t blend very well green leaves.Are louder.

But They also have advantages: in its favor are its price, its speed and its comfort. In addition, the jar is very wide and can fit whole pieces such as apples and carrots. They are from €30.

3. Cold press juicers or slow blenders and extractors

The cold pressed extractors eithercold press juicer They are also known as slow blenders and extractors or slow juicer, because they work with a roller that presses the fruit at low revolutions and low speed. This gives them many advantages:

They separate the pulp from the juice through a filter, with which no oxidation or heating occursTherefore, neither destruction of nutrients nor changes in flavor. These juices are fresher and more nutritious.Have slightly more fiber than smoothies. They retain their properties for about 2 days. The pulp comes out drier and fruits and vegetables are used more than with the blade.They are very efficient with vegetables and green leavesand are used for sprouts, wheat grass and vegetable drinks made from nuts and seeds (soaked). They are quieter and they require fewer watts but their prices are at least triple those of blenders.

The high range with a press is around €300 to €500.

4. Wheatgrass Extractor

He sprouted wheaton land it is squeezed when it reaches about 12 cm. It is considered a superfood, the most powerful raw chlorophyll and a good alkalizing, anti-inflammatory and purifying agent.

The specific extractors for him are manual and smaller than the rest, because the juice is drunk in very little quantity.

5. Blender

juices can be made shredding fruit and vegetables with any blender and using a strainer or cotton cloth as a filter. Gives good results in apple or grape juice.

To make smoothies:

The mixer is used and you have three options mainly:

1. Glass blenders

A standard hand blender It may be enough to make smoothies but they will have a lumpier texture than if you use a more powerful blender. With 600 W you already get good shakes.

The Vitamix brand is positioned as the “Porsche” of blenders with 1,400 W.

2. Vacuum blenders

To achieve even better quality we find the Vacublend, a vacuum blender that removes most of the air from inside the blender jar and glass to store or transport the drink.

These shakes have more color and last longer. All the nutrients are used and no bubbles come out.

3. Individual mixers

500/700 ml, they are comfortable. Some brands combine 2 types of blades to beat or grind seeds and nuts.

The best known are Personal Blender and Nutribullet.

Today, like centuries ago, juices and smoothies are Powerful foods full of vitality. We can continue to make “offerings” to our cells on a daily basis.