Wheat Grass Juice and Its Amazing Benefits

Wheat grass Juice has several Health Benefits and this juice can be made easily at home, without much difficulty. (Please see below). This simple green juice is one of the best medicines provided by Mother Nature. The Chlorophyll filled wheatgrass is considered as a nutritionally complete food since it contains full spectrum of vitamins combined with essential enzymes.

People use wheat grass for several purposes based on tradition, but no adequate and reliable clinical studies have been recorded for its use.

Scientific name - Triticum aestivum

Common name - Agropyron, Couch grass

Proponents claim that wheat grass juice is helpful for several medical conditions.

• Bronchial disorders like common cold, flu, fevers, bronchitis.
• Inflammation of the mouth and throat, prevents tooth decay, and removes bad breath odors
• Chlorophyll in wheatgrass stabilizes blood sugar levels
• Chronic skin disorders
• High Blood pressure
• Anti-inflammatory effects on arthritis, ulcers and insect bites
• Easy bowl movements and kills harmful bacteria in the digestive system
• Increases haemoglobin in the blood, energizes and reduces fatigue
• Improves digestion and suppresses appetite
• Helpful in Kidney stones and healing Liver disorders
• Slows down the aging process, prevents premature graying hair and removes dandruff.
• Prevents certain types of cancers

Though some clinical studies have been done in cancer patients there are no adequate studies to prove the results. Also none of the above studies have been supported by clinical studies.

Other Uses: Wheat grass extracts are used as flavoring agent in foods and beverages.

Wheatgrass juice, when used correctly, provides various health benefits since it contains several nutrients required for the human body.

100 grams of wheatgrass juice which is approximately 2.8 ounces

Basic Nutrients in Wheatgrass

Calories - 21.0 Cal

Water - 95 g

Fat - 0.06 g

Carbohydrates - 2.0 g

Dietary Fiber - < 0

Chlorophyll - 42.2 g

Choline - 92.4 g

Glucose - 0.80 g

Minerals in Wheatgrass

Iron 0.61 mg

Magnesium 24 mg

Potassium 147 mg

Phosphorus 75.2 mg

Zinc 0.33 mg

Calcium 24.2 mg

Sodium 10.3 mg

Selenium <1 ppm

Vitamins in Wheatgrass

Vitamin A - 427 IU

Vitamin B - 10.08 mg

Vitamin B- 20.13 mg

Vitamin B- 30.11 mg

Vitamin B- 56.0 mg

Vitamin B- 60.2 mg

Vitamin B12- < 1 mcg

Vitamin C - 3.64 mg

Vitamin E- 15.2 IU

Folid Acid- 29 mcg

(Source: http://www.mywheatgrass.com/wheatgrass-nutrient-analysis.shtml)

Wheatgrass juice is extracted from the young wheatgrass plants. Wheat grains are washed and soaked to germinate the sprouts.

• Wash two handful of wheat grains in the water and soak it for about 12 hours.
• Remove the soaked seeds from the water and drain them.
• Cover the seeds with newspaper for 24 hours.
• By then the seeds would have sprouted.
• Keep 3-4 small trays ready with good soil spread on them.
• Put the germinated grains over them evenly and put one more layer of soil over them, and water the trays, morning and evening.
• Soon you will notice the shoots coming up.
• When the leaves are about 7 or 8 inches tall, it means they are ready to cut. For cutting use a clean scissor and each day cut only the required quantity of leaves to make the juice, and leave the rest, to be consumed for the next few days.
• Wash the leaves before juicing.
• Before starting the last tray start the procedure of soaking the seeds for the next harvest, so that it will be ready to use as soon as the last tray is over, and your regular supply of wheatgrass will not be affected.

Note: Once the juice is made, it should be consumed immediately to get its maximum benefits.

Wheat grass is used as a concentrated source of nutrients. Those who cannot make Wheat grass juice at home, it is available in the form of capsules, tablets, liquid extracts, powder, juices and tinctures in the market. Wheat grass seeds and sprouted wheat berries are also available in the market to grow wheat grass at home.

Caution: Though wheat grass is generally considered safe, those who are very sensitive and allergic to certain food, should avoid using this. Pregnant and breast-feeding mothers also stay away from using wheatgrass juice.

Experts say that since wheat grass is grown in soil and then consumed raw, possibility of getting it contaminated by molds, bacteria, or other substances cannot be ruled out.

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1073-wheatgrass.aspx?activeingredientid=1073&activeingredientname=wheatgrass

http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/custom/900675/2

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/wheatgrass/faq-20058018

http://hippocratesinst.org/living-food/benefits-of-wheatgrass

http://thechalkboardmag.com/50-reasons-to-drink-wheatgrass-everyday

http://www.organicauthority.com/health/15-uses-for-wheatgrass-juice.html

http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/dietandnutrition/wheatgrass

http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/herb/wheat-grass

http://www.naturaldatabase.com