Last Updated on August 5, 2022 by
There’re lots of myths flying around the internet and social media, claiming that blending vegetable destroy fiber. These videos also claim that not just the fiber being lowered, it also impacts other nutrients in the food and vegetables as well. So let’s really find out if blending vegetable actually destroys the fiber content in it.
Blending vegetables doesn’t destroy fiber because fiber is a tough cookie that can pass through tough places like the digestive track, molars in your mouth, and digestive enzymes without being destroyed. So 15 seconds of being blended can’t destroy the fiber in vegetables.
Lots of people looking to stay healthy have made a habit of blending fruits and veggies. While this habit is one that can easily be described as beneficial, there are any questions surrounding how effective it is in helping people get the best out of a vegetable.
What is Fiber?
If you must find out the effect of blending on fiber, then you should know exactly what fiber is. Knowledge of what fiber is will help you understand how much it can be impacted by blending and if it has what it takes to go through the blending process without being destroyed.
Fiber is a form of carbohydrate that is found in plants. This means you will be consuming fiber if you eat meals that are plant-based. It is a form of carbohydrate that cannot be digested by the body. Unlike other carbohydrates that get broken down into molecules of sugar, fiber stays intact when eaten. It goes through the gut without being digested. It might not seem like fiber is important. However, it comes in handy in regulating how your body uses up sugar. That’s not all. It keeps blood sugar in check.
DO SMOOTHIES HAVE FIBER?
Yes, smoothies have fiber! Since we have established that blending doesn’t affect fiber, which means that smoothies retain the fiber in vegetables and fruits in their whole form.
I recommend smoothies over juices and having a lot of fiber in your diet can help with the following:
- Fast weight loss
- Stabilize suhar levels
- Lower cholesterol
- Support gut health
Does Blending Have What is Needed to Destroy Fiber?
Fibre has a reputation for going through the digestive system without being destroyed. This is an attestation to how tough it really is. Beyond simply going through the digestive system without being damaged, fiber also has the ability to resist the effect of digestive enzymes and molars.
Now, eating takes time. So does digestion. If fibre is able to go through the chewing process and digestion process without being destroyed, what is the likelihood that it will be destroyed by a blender that acts on it for about 20 seconds?
Although it is generally believed that blenders can destroy fibre, if the process of digestion is unable to destroy fibre, then, blending definitely can’t destroy it.
Does Blending Have an Impact on Fiber Structure
Blending might be unable to destroy fibre. However, it has some impact on its stricture. According to research, when plants are grinded, the particle size of fibres gets affected. This could affect their functional properties. While grinding is able to affect the functional properties of vegetables, it cannot be compared to blending that lasts only a couple of seconds.
So, you can be certain the fibre structure of a vegetable never gets affected when it is blended.
Do Smoothies Come with Fibers?
If blending is unable to destroy the fibre that comes with vegetables, then, smoothies are expected to contain fibres. Going by this, when blending vegetables and fruits, you are sure you will get the nutritional value associated with fibres after consuming the smoothie.
Does Blending Affect the Nutritional Content of Vegetables?
At this point, we have already established the fact that blending does not destroy fibres. However, one thing that seems unclear is the effect of blending on the nutrient content of vegetables?
Do vegetables maintain their nutritional value after being blended?
There are several beliefs that nutrients get lost during a blending process. These beliefs are based on the act that the process of oxidation can reduce the nutritional content of veggies and fruits.
Now, oxidation is a process that takes place in fruits and vegetables when they are cut and are exposed to air. While this might seem like it could have an effect on the nutrients contained in a vegetable, you must note that oxidation is not something that takes place in a couple of seconds. It is a phenomenon that takes time. If this is anything to go by, blending might expose vegetables to the air, however, it is a very short process. Because of how short a process it is, the loss of nutrients through oxidation when Blending will be very minute.
Does Blending Come In Handy in Unlocking Nutrients?
There are many ways people see the relationship between blending and nutrients. While some are of the school of thought that blending reduces nutrients, others, believe that blending comes in handy in unlocking nutrients. As a matter of fact, the school of thought that blending unlocks nutrients is just as popular as the school of thought that blending reduces the quality of nutrients in a vegetable.
Regardless of how popular the belief that blending unlocks nutrients is, how true is it?
The notion that blending unlocks nutrients are one that has been made very popular by many blender producing brands and it is a strong marketing tool. However, is it true?
While some of the most established blender brands in the world sometimes claim that blending unlocks nutrients while marketing a product, there is really no research that proves that you can get more nutrients when vegetables are blended.
In as much as there is no research that shows that blending gives you more access to nutrients, studies have actually revealed that juicing might make more nutrients available.
Conclusion
While we might not be able to completely erase the notion that blending vegetables and fruits reduces fibre and destroys nutrients, the truth remains that you do not get to destroy a vegetable’s fibre content by simply blending it. That’s not all. You will have access to the same level of nutrients regardless of how you decide to take your vegetable. Whole or blended.
Related Articles
Can A Blender Replace A Mixer?
Best Hand Blender for Soap Making
Can You Whip Cream in a Blender? Find Out Here