Overview
Its
proponents claim that it’s a virtual fountain of youth – a
wonder food that offers health by providing protection against
disease, regulating the blood sugar, cleansing the cells and
improving digestion. Wheat grass – often spelled wheatgrass –
boasts some of the most fervent believers of any current
nutritional or health supplement. It’s not surprising, given the
story of wheat grass juice, according to its most avid
supporter, Ann Wigmore.
Originally, the benefits of wheat grass were discovered in the
1930s, in relation to chickens. Charles Schnabel, a food
scientist, experimented with various mixtures of grain and feed
and found that chickens fed on mixtures that contained a high
proportion of wheat grass had grew better, were more healthy and
had 150% better egg production than other hens. Further
experimentation on other animals yielded the same results.
Animals fed on wheatgrass were undoubtedly healthier than those
fed on other grains.
Fast-forward to the 1960s, when Ann Wigmore re-discovered the
benefits of wheat grass – a discovery she credits to God. As
improbable as that may seem to many, Wigmore’s Hippocrates
Health Institute and her book extolling the benefits of wheat
grass and wheat grass juice claim remarkable health benefits and
many cures that can be attributed to wheat grass.
While
scientific studies into the benefits of drinking wheat grass
juice are few, analysis of the chemical components of wheat
grass shows that it provides a wide range of vitamins, enzymes
and other nutrients that have been linked to disease prevention
and specific health benefits. Couple that with recent and
ongoing research into the role of diet and nutrition in our
health, particularly studies that strongly suggest the
effectiveness of phytonutrients and vitamins in combating and
reversing disease, and there is good reason to believe that the
claims made for wheat grass and wheat grass juice have basis in
truth.
What
Wheat Grass Does:
Wheat grass has
nearly a gram of protein per teaspoon, but contains no
cholesterol or fat. It provides eight of the essential amino
acids, and thirteen of the non-essential amino acids. It
contains Vitamins A, B1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, and 12; C, E and K, as
well as 15mg of Calcium, 8mcg Iodine, 3.5mcg Selenium, 870mcg
Iron, 62mcg Zinc, and many other minerals.
Each of
those vitamins, amino acids and other essential elements play a
role in the body, and many have been associated with specific
health benefits. In addition, wheat grass contains a potent
anti-oxidant, and two other substances that are being researched
for their anti-cancer biological actions.
The main
claims that are made for wheat grass juice, though, focus on
chlorophyll, the green pigment that gives grass its color.
Chlorophyll is the chemical that transforms the sun’s light into
life. Among the claims made for chlorophyll is that it is
antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and provides nourishment for
growing blood cells. Because the chemical composition of
chlorophyll is nearly identical to that of hemoglobin, some
researchers believe that it provides an excellent source of
nutrients and oxygen to blood cells. The improved oxygenation of
blood offers the further benefit of detoxifying and purifying
bodily systems.
Health
Benefits of Wheat Grass:
Scientists postulate that the combination of vitamins and
antibacterial properties in wheat grass helps the body clear
harmful intestinal bacteria and promotes better digestion.
The
B vitamin family, vitamin K and several of the active
minerals and amino acids in wheat grass are known to promote
faster healing, and stimulate the growth of new cells.
A
number of studies have shown the ability of chlorophyll to
retard the growth of bacteria in wounds, as well as
confirming its anti-inflammatory properties.
Because many of the natural chemicals present in wheat grass
are known antioxidants, wheat grass can help slow the damage
done to cells by free radicals, thereby slowing the aging
process.
Possible
Side Effects of Wheat Grass
Wheat
grass may cause headaches and stomach discomfort in those unused
to taking it. Those that have an allergy or known sensitivity to
wheat should avoid it.
Summary
While
many of the claims for wheat grass are not yet confirmed by
solid scientific evidence, research has shown that it contains
nearly all the nutrients necessary for life. Wheat grass offers
the benefits of a complete multivitamin, along with additional
supplements of nearly all of the amino acids and the
disease-fighting power of several known anti-oxidants. With all
that going for it, we recommend it as a powerful nutritional and
health supplement.
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