Health Benefits of Wheatgrass: Discover the {Hidden Power of this Superfood}

Health fads come and go in today’s world. Recently there’s been an abuse of the word superfood. The word was originally designed for foods that offer significant amounts of nutrients for the body. One superfood I personally consider the most powerful food on the planet is wheatgrass. Wheatgrass is left out of medical conversations; sadly, most people will use other supplements before they consider this powerful form of chlorophyll. It’s time to re-consider.

Read more: 5 Delicious Green Smoothie Recipes to Boost Your Health

What is Wheatgrass?

Wheatgrass is a nutritional supplement prepared from the embryonic first leaves, known as cotyledons, of common wheat. It is sold as either a fresh juice or as a freeze-dried powder. Wheatgrass is a nutritional powerhouse packed with chlorophyll, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and amino acids. All wheatgrass is gluten-free because it is extracted from sprouts prior to new seed formation.

The History of Wheatgrass

According to archaeological studies and genetic analysis, wheat plants were first cultivated around 12,000 years ago in the Karaca Dağ mountain region of southeastern Turkey. It is believed to have spread from there to North Africa, East Asia, and Europe. Cultivated wheat was a staple food for ancient Egypt, and stores of emmer, Khorasan, and einkorn wheat have been found preserved in pottery beneath the Saqqara Step Pyramid.

Spaniards brought wheat to North America in the 16th century, and pioneers colonizing the Great Plains in the 1870s planted huge crops of wheat. In the 1940s, a man named Charles Kettering funded a scientific study of the medicinal value of chlorophyll. During this same time period, a holistic health practitioner and nutritionist named Ann Wigmore began advocating the consumption of wheatgrass as a source of chlorophyll and as part of a raw food diet designed to cleanse toxins from the body.

Wheatgrass juice, capsules, and dried powders are widely available in whole foods stores and nutrition centers today, and organic wheatgrass extracts are an ingredient in many nutritional drinks.

What Does Wheatgrass Do?

Wheatgrass is high in dietary fiber and is a good source of vitamins A, B6, C, E, and K. It provides niacin, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, and thiamin, and is a good source of the minerals copper, iron, manganese, potassium, selenium, and zinc.

According to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, vegetables and fruits are an important part of a balanced, nutritional diet, and everyone would benefit from increased vegetable and fruit consumption. Hectic schedules and a lack of time for cooking, however, often result in a reduction of vegetables and fruit rather than an increase. The addition of wheatgrass, which is widely available and easily incorporated into any diet, would be a tremendous benefit to a diet lacking in vegetables.

How Does Wheatgrass Work?

The rich nutritional content of wheatgrass boosts immunity and helps rid the body of waste. It has been suggested that wheatgrass is a powerful ally in the treatment of illnesses such as anemia, diabetes, infections, joint pain and even cancer.[5] Although definitive scientific studies have not yet verified these claims, the vitamins and minerals found in wheatgrass are known to have therapeutic effects on all of these ailments, and it is easy to see how wheatgrass could positively impact their prognosis.

Health Benefits of Wheatgrass

Why It’s a Nutritional Powerhouse: Wheatgrass offers a wide range of health benefits. From its high levels of essential vitamins and minerals to its antioxidant properties, the health benefits of wheatgrass make it an essential addition to any diet.

Wheatgrass Juice Benefits

Drinking wheatgrass juice provides a concentrated source of nutrients and it is a convenient way to add vitamins and minerals to your diet. Wheatgrass is packed with fiber and other nutrients that may help promote healthy digestion and fat metabolism.

Wheatgrass and Immune Boost

One of the key benefits of wheatgrass is its role in supporting the immune system. With its rich antioxidant content, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), wheatgrass helps combat oxidative stress, reduce inflammation, and protect your body from illness.

Wheatgrass for Detoxification

Wheatgrass is known for its powerful detoxifying effects. Its high concentration of chlorophyll is central to wheatgrass and detoxification, promoting a cleaner, healthier system.

Wheatgrass Antioxidant Properties

SOD, along with other antioxidants in wheatgrass, plays a vital role in protecting the body from harm caused by free radicals.

Wheatgrass for Digestion

Wheatgrass is a natural way to support gut health. Its saponins break down mucus and decaying matter in the digestive tract, helping to promote better digestion, reduce bloating, and improve nutrient absorption.

Is Wheatgrass Gluten-Free?

Many wonder if wheatgrass contains gluten due to its name. Wheatgrass is completely gluten-free. Despite its name, wheatgrass is harvested from the young shoots of the wheat plant before the grain (which contains gluten) begins to form. Because of this, wheatgrass does not contain any gluten.

What Do Nutritionists Think About Wheatgrass?

“It does contain beneficial nutrients such as vitamins C, E and K, niacin, biotin, choline, lutein, copper, folic acid and calcium. My clients who have used wheat grass mostly say that they feel a rush after consuming this. Due to the niacin, it can act as a vasodilator, and so athletes have used it for this effect as well.” -- Nicole Fasules, board-certified sports dietitian and certified personal trainer at wayoflifenutrition.com

“The leaves of the cereal grasses provide the nearest thing this planet offers to the perfect food.” -- Dr Yoshihide Hagiwara, M.D., pharmacological researcher and founder of Green Foods Corporation

If you’re pregnant or breast feeding, consult with your doctor as wheatgrass is not recommended. There’s also a demand for more research around wheat grass. Personally, I believe in its power. Good healthy diets support it. The South Beach Diet, the Mediterranean Diet, Nu Skins TR90 diet, and many others also support the use of wheatgrass.

You can find wheatgrass in Sunwarrior ormus Supergreens!

Nutritional Profile of Wheatgrass

Wheatgrass has more than 90 minerals with a high concentration of potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Wheatgrass is packed with vitamins. It has more vitamin C than oranges and more vitamin A than carrots, along with plenty of vitamin B and E too. Wheatgrass is a complete food, rich in essential and nonessential amino acids.

Blood Cleansing and Oxygenation

Wheatgrass helps the body cleanse and build the blood. The chlorophyll in wheatgrass is very similar to hemoglobin in the blood. Wheatgrass has been shown to increase the number of red blood cells and help carry more oxygen throughout the body to energize cells and metabolism. Chlorophyll also balances blood pressure, removes carbon dioxide, and deodorizes the mouth and body.

Saponins and Their Health Effects

Wheatgrass has a high concentration of saponins, compounds that plants use to protect themselves against bacterial or fungal attacks. These saponins have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, immune-boosting, and detoxifying effects. They are being studied for their beneficial effects on cholesterol, blood sugar, and cancer as well. Saponins have a detergent-like effect in the digestive system, breaking down mucus, crystallized acids, and decaying matter to be removed.

Distinction from Wheat Grain

Wheatgrass is also completely different from the golden grain this plant produces later in life. The green grass does not contain gluten and doesn’t acidify the body like wheat.

How to Consume Wheatgrass

Wheatgrass can be found in powdered supplements. These supplements may include other beneficial greens for even more health-intensifying ingredients. Spinach, alfalfa, barley grass, oat grass, parsley, and yucca are excellent sources of phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals, and saponins. You can also juice wheatgrass and other greens fresh if you are willing to take some time to grow them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I consume wheatgrass?

Wheatgrass can be consumed in several ways, including as a juice, powder, or capsule. Fresh wheatgrass juice is a popular option, but powdered wheatgrass supplements are also convenient and widely available.

How does wheatgrass compare to other greens?

Wheatgrass is unique in its high concentration of chlorophyll, antioxidants, and saponins, setting it apart from other greens. While spinach and kale are also nutrient-rich, the power of wheatgrass lies in its ability to detoxify the body and improve blood oxygenation.

How often should I consume wheatgrass for health benefits?

For optimal results, wheatgrass can be consumed daily, whether in juice or powdered form. Many people drink wheatgrass juice each morning or add a powdered supplement to their smoothies or water. Regular consumption helps ensure you reap the full health benefits of wheatgrass.