Wheatgrass is one of the most potently healthy substances on earth. Yet for some reason it is still not mainstream. Since I’ve been using wheatgrass I’ve noticed my energy levels go sky high, my skin clear up and colds, coughs and illnesses disappear forever. Others have seen their gray hairs vanish, Rosacea clear up, bad breath subside, allergies clear up and a whole lot more.
You cannot detract from the simple fact that wheatgrass:
- 30mls of freshly squeezed wheatgrass juice is equivalent in nutritional value to 1kg of leafy green vegetables
- Wheatgrass contains over 90 minerals, including high concentrations of the most alkaline minerals: potassium, calcium, magnesium and sodium
- It contains the essential enzymes: Protease (assists in protein digestion), Cytochrome Oxidase (a powerful anti oxidant), Amylase (facilitates digestion), Lipase (a fat splitting enzyme), Transhydrogenase (strengthens the heart muscle) & Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) (found in all body cells and is known for its ability to lessen the effect of radiation and slow cellular aging)
- Just one teaspoon of Wheat Grass powder, weighing a mere 3.5 grams, is nutritionally equal to an entire spinach salad weighing a full 50 grams - it packs a punch!
- Wheatgrass has more vitamin C than oranges and twice the vitamin A as carrots!
- Wheat grass juice helps your body to build red blood cells which carry oxygen to every cell. By increasing the oxygenation the body you can help offset smog and carbon monoxide and increase your endurance during physical exercise
- It also contains 19 amino acids, the building blocks of protein
Wheatgrass Health Benefits
Before I get onto where and how to get wheatgrass, I’m going to list out the four main reasons why I love wheatgrass so much:
- Health Benefit of Wheatgrass #1: Wheatgrass Builds Blood: Many health experts including Dr Young (pH Miracle) and Steve Meyerowitz (Nature’s Finest Medicine) have highlighted that the chlorophyll molecule in wheatgrass is almost identical to the haemoglobin molecule in human blood. The only difference is that the central element in chlorophyll is magnesium and in haemoglobin it is iron.
Due to this inherent similarity the human body can easily transform chlorophyll into haemoglobin increasing the red blood cell count as well as the blood’s capacity to deliver oxygen and other nutrients to the body’s cells (Hagiwara, 1985) .
Chlorophyll has been shown to build red blood cells quickly, normalise blood pressure by dilating the blood pathways though out the body, destroy poisonous carbon dioxide, release free oxygen and promote higher metabolism and stimulated enzyme systems. On top of all of these benefits, consuming chlorophyll from wheatgrass is a highly effective way to alkalise the blood and energise the body!
Click here for more info on chlorophyll and its health benefits
- Health Benefit of Wheatgrass #2: Wheatgrass Cleanses the Body: Wheatgrass is an extremely beneficial food in terms of both its cleansing capabilities. The contents of wheatgrass juice and powder (green drink) are reported to be within the region of approximately 100 separate elements with scientists dubbing it a ‘complete food’. According to ‘The Wheatgrass Book’ (Wigmore, 1985), just 140g of fresh wheatgrass offers the same nutritional value as over 3kg’s of fresh green vegetables!
Wheatgrass is a great source of vitamins B, C, E and carotene which are hugely effective in destroying and eliminating free radicals and cleansing the body. Wheatgrass is also highly regarded for its ability to cleanse the blood, organs and gastrointestinal tract.
Because it is also high in saponin, wheatgrass offers excellent support to the lymphatic system, helping to carry away hundreds and thousands of toxins from the cells of the body. Kulvinskas (Survival into the 21st Century, 1975) wheatgrass helps to ‘detoxify the body by increasing the elimination of hardened mucous, crystallised acids and solidified, decaying faecal matter…It is the fastest, surest way to eliminate internal waste and provide an optimum nutritional environment’.
These are just some of the cleansing benefits of wheatgrass, and I have barely scratched the surface with regards to listing its nutritional content. Put most simply, whether you are looking to undertake a formal cleanse, or simply try to add more nutrition to your diet - these reasons alone are enough to consider adding wheatgrass to your daily lifestyle.
- Health Benefit of Wheatgrass #3: Wheatgrass Has High Amino Acid Content:: You may have heard the expression before that - amino acids are the building blocks of protein. They are absolutely essential to our growth and cell regeneration. It is the astonishingly high amino acid content in wheatgrass that is leading to many bodybuilders and gym-goers incorporating fresh or powdered wheatgrass juice into their daily routine.
Wheatgrass juice is a complete protein and contains, amongst others, the following amino acids: arginine, serine, absenisic, lysine, aspartic acid, glycine, alanine, methionine, leucine, tryptophane, phenylalanine, and valine.
- Health Benefit of Wheatgrass #4: Wheatgrass Fights and Protects Against Illness: Organic wheatgrass powders and juices are an extremely effective way of boosting the body’s immune system to fight against and recover from illnesses and ailments. Wheatgrass is a great source of beta carotene, contains most of the B vitamins and vitamins C, E, H and K, and also contains over 90 different minerals and 19 amino acids. It also contains several active enzymes which play a major role in breaking down fats, undertaking biological functions and assist hugely in weight loss. Of the 90 minerals found, many of these are very alkalising and include calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium and iron.
Many of the health benefits of wheatgrass stem from the fact that it is a living food. Being highly anti-bacterial, consuming wheatgrass will help to alkalise and detoxify the lymph and blood cells, helping the body to rebuild and transport toxins out of the body quickly and effectively.
Again, coming back to the chlorophyll content of wheatgrass - this can protect the body from carcinogens more effectively than any other food. Studies conducted on animals have shown that wheatgrass consumption has reduced the absorption of a number of very serious carcinogens whilst strengthening cells, detoxifying the liver and neutralising polluting elements within the blood.
But I thought wheat was acidifying?
Good question. The simple answer is: wheat is acidifying. The fully grown, harvested, stored, milled and prepared wheat plant is highly acidifying. But as with almost every grain, when sprouted it is very alkaline, and this is certainly the case with wheatgrass.
Do not worry about wheatgrass being acidifying, it really, really isn’t!
Where to Get Wheatgrass
There are three main ways to incorporate wheatgrass into your life. There are pro’s and con’s (sort of) of each, and getting a bit of each is probably best!
Wheatgrass Supplements
Wheatgrass (and other grass) supplements are powdered greens, condensed down, that you simply mix with water and drink! There are many, many, grass supplements out there so make sure you pick one that works for you. Here are my main tips to make sure you’re getting a good one, and after that it is really down to taste!
- Make sure it is organic
- Make sure it is powdered juice, not just powdered plant
- Make sure it isn’t heat-dried
- Make sure there are no fruits or sweeteners added
- Make sure it doesn’t contain spirulina or any other algae, which are acidifying
It is also good to aim for a mix of grasses, alongside wheatgrass to get an even wider range of health benefits.
Here are my top three wheatgrass supplements:
Sweet Wheat: This is the original and probably the best organic freeze dried wheat grass juice powder on the market.
Contains ONLY the juice and provides an extraordinary balance of all the vital nutrients and minerals the body can use. One teaspoon of Sweet Wheat is roughly equivalent to one to two ounces of fresh wheatgrass juice. One ounce of wheatgrass juice equals the nutritional equivalent of 1.5 pounds of organic vegetables.
Dr Young’s Power Plants: Dr Young is the world authority on the alkaline diet, so when he makes supplements, you tend to sit up and notice. This is a 4th generation green drink (he created the 1st too – SuperGreens) containing high quantities of wheatgrass, alongside barley grass, shave grass, dog grass and the powdered juice of vegetables such as broccoli, celery, spinach and more.
This stuff works, it gives you a real buzz and it tastes light, fresh and summery!
MegaGreens: a highly concentrated blend of 34 superfoods, 17 amino acids, vegetables, minerals, vitamins, omega oils, enzymes and more that will completely revolutionise your training. The dense hit of nutrients from each serve delivers instant and sustained energy and provides your body with the tools it needs for weight loss, muscle growth, rehydration, repair and replenishment.
By infusing your body with easily absorbed nutrients, omega oils & amino acids (and with only 3 calories per serve) Mega Greens gives your body the fuel it needs to burn fat and build muscle.
Fresh Wheatgrass
Buying your wheatgrass fresh from a juice bar is also a great way to get your wheatgrass health fix! Make sure they snip and juice the grass right in front of you though! I’ve seen some sneaky bars in Sydney having it delivered, already juiced! Pretty much all of the benefits are gone if you don’t have it fresh.
Having your wheatgrass freshly juiced is a great way to feel the instant energy hit, it is so noticeable!
Growing Your Own Wheatgrass
And finally, you can grow and juice your own! This is great fun, not all that time consuming, and not all that expensive either! All you need are:
- Some space
- Wheatgrass seeds
- Sprouting trays or an automatic sprouter (such as an EasyGreen)
- Patience
- A pair of scissors
- A masticating or manual juicer
In that order.
Note, you can’t grow wheatgrass in a standard sprouter (such as this) and you can’t juice wheatgrass in a standard juicer (such as this). But having said that, the masticating juicers (such as this) are far better quality in my opinion anyway, you you’re better off buying one of these anyway.
So there you have it! Can you think of any reason not to start having your daily wheatgrass juice? The health benefits and ease of use make it a pretty simple decision!
Get yer wheatgrass ‘ere!
Wheatgrass powder
Wheatgrass sprouter
Wheatgrass juicer
Other green grass supplements
Note: This blog is only my opinion. It is not medical advice or diagnosis. Only opinions based upon our own personal experiences or information detailed in medical/academic journals or other publications is cited. WE DO NOT OFFER MEDICAL ADVICE or prescribe any treatments. Please consult with a medical professional before making any diet or nutrition changes. Refer to our full disclaimer for more information.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Fantastic post thank you. Great info!
Great blog post here about wheatgrass it is packed full of useful information about wheatgrass. Keep up the great work and spread the word.
Since using wheatgrass for the last two months i have lost 8 lbs. I have increased energy and my organ has grown 1 inch. Power to de wheatgrass…………………………..
One of the main reasons I want to take wheat grass is to alkalize my system. I take wheat grass first thing in the morning, wait approx. 30 mins. and then have some green tea. I was wondering is drinking the green tea with it’s acid content going to negate the alkalizing affect the wheat grass has one me?
Also; I am wanting to harvest a second cutting of wheat grass for things like massaging into my scale, enema, and poultice, I am not able to grow a second batch, the wheat grass is sparse at best, yellowish green and never fully grows. Is there something I can do to get a second batch? I realize it’s not as potent the second time that’s why I want to use it externally. Thank you for your help.
I am very new to Wheat grass. Can I just clip the grass and put it in a smoothy using my vita mix? Do I get the same benefits from juicing?
Tony Robbins Pure Energy green drink has kelp and wheat grass in it. This would not be a good mix since kelp is algae?