Wheatgrass Juice - Benefits & Recipes

The health benefits of wheatgrass juice are many, as frequent drinkers will attest. You may have seen enthusiasts "taking shots" of the stuff at your local juice bar or smoothie joint, or maybe your friend has a nice little crop growing beside the juicer in his or her kitchen. However the introduction was made, be glad it was. Take a gander at these facts:

• Two ounces of wheatgrass juice contains the vitamins and minerals equivalent to 3 pounds of organic vegetables, and is especially high in magnesium, potassium, and calcium.
• Wheatgrass juice is approximately 70% living chlorophyll, making it one of the best ingestible sources of chlorophyll available. Chlorophyll oxygenates the blood and organ tissue, impedes the growth of harmful bacteria in the digestive tract, neutralizes toxins and helps purify the liver.
• Wheatgrass improves digestion and relieves constipation.
• Wheatgrass rebuilds red blood cell count, naturally regulates blood pressure, and helps regulate blood sugar.
• Wheatgrass juice acts as a safe agent for internal cleansing, possessing powers of detoxification more than ten times superior even to long-time detox favorites like carrot juice.
• Wheatgrass helps heal infection, scarring, ulcers, and sores, on the skin, in the mouth, and internally.

Of course, there's still the problem of taste. For some people, it's an acquired one. For others, they never quite learn to like it. Still others can barely choke it down. If one of these last two is you, never fear. Wheatgrass juice can be blended into other juices in such a way as to leave even the most skeptical of drinkers licking his or her lips. Of course, experimentation is key, as you'll have to discover for yourself what tickles your personal palate, but here are a few ideas to get you started.

For each of the juices, all you need is the fresh, whole fruit or vegetable indicated, your wheatgrass crop (measured in inch rounds), and your juicer. For smoothies, you will also need a blender or food processor. Wheatgrass can also be added to any of your favorite smoothie recipes.

Green Juice

• 3 stalks celery
• 2 medium cucumbers
• 5 fresh spinach leaves
• ½ cup fresh parsley
• 3-inch round wheatgrass
• water as needed

Cut up celery and cucumber into chunks small enough to fit through your juicer. Juice and dilute with water as necessary for texture and/or taste.

Veggie Delight

• 3 stalks celery
• 2 large carrots
• 1/2 red beet
• 5 fresh spinach leaves
• 1/2 cup alfalfa sprouts
• 1/2 cup parsley
• 3-inch round wheatgrass
• water as needed

Cut up vegetables into chunks small enough to fit through your juicer. Juice and dilute with water as necessary for texture and/or taste.

Applegrass

• 3 medium apples
• 3-inch round wheatgrass
• water as needed

Chop apples to fit through juicer. Juice and dilute as needed.

Orange-grass

• 2 oranges
• 2 large carrots
• 3-inch round wheatgrass

Chop carrots to fit through juicer. Juice and serve.

Wheatgrass Whirl

• 2 oranges
• 1 banana
• ½ cup fresh berries
• 2-inch round wheatgrass
• 1-2 cups ice cubes

Juice orange and wheatgrass, then add with all other ingredients to blender and process until smoothie texture.