Wheatgrass: The micro-nutritional superfood

Wheatgrass shots, anyone? Vibrantly green wheatgrass is touted for being rich in micro-nutritional benefits.

The young shoot of the common wheat plant (Triticum aestivum), wheatgrass is a nutrient-dense supplement packed with concentrated mineral, vitamins and antioxidants.

Key Nutritional Benefits

• High in Chlorophyll: Approximately 70% of wheatgrass is chlorophyll, a plant pigment with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The chlorophyll is what gives wheatgrass its bright green colour.
• Core Vitamins and Minerals: Wheatgrass is rich in vitamins A, C, E, and complex B vitamins, such as thiamine and riboflavin. Aiding blood and bone health, this superfood contains the minerals iron, zinc, magnesium, calcium, potassium and amino acids.
• Antioxidant Power: Containing 17 amino acids, including all eight essential ones, compounds in wheatgrass help fight free radicals. This potentially lowering the risk of inflammation, cellular damage and chronic conditions.
• Digestive and Energy Support: Preliminary studies suggest it supports immune function, aids digestion and boosts daily energy levels.

Potential Health Benefits

Wheatgrass may potentially:

Lower Cholesterol: it may help reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol.

Digestion Support: wheatgrass contains enzymes that aid the body in breaking down food and absorbing nutrients.

Reduce Inflammation: helps to calm chronic inflammation linked to long-term health issues.

Immune Boost: packed with phytochemicals and antioxidants that strengthen the body’s defences by counteracting the damage to cells. This can result from natural cell processes as well as damage that occurs from lifestyle habits, such as poor diets or smoking.

From plant to consumer

As the plant starts to grow, the leaves look like the grass in your garden. The wheatgrass is cut and turned into a juice or dried and made into a powder, which can be found in health food stores and online.

Some people grow and juice it themselves. Care should be taken that it does not get contaminated with bacteria or mould from the soil that you grow it in.

Wheatgrass contains flavonoids, alkaloids and tannins which are natural plant compounds that protect it from pests, UV light as well as diseases.

Phytochemicals are the compounds made by plants that are responsible for the tastes, wide range of colours and smells in our fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and grains.

Encouraging research when it comes to cancer

According to the Cleveland Clinic, studies using wheatgrass juice on mouth cancer cells and colon cancer cells, it slowed the growth of cancer cells and increased the death of cancer cells. Another study also shows that wheatgrass could help fight leukemia.

When used alongside chemotherapy, wheatgrass may reduce the side effects, specifically nausea.

Further research needs to be done to ascertain if:

Wheatgrass improves blood sugar levels.

Wheatgrass may help those with Type 2 diabetes, (according to a non-human study).

Consuming Advice

This superfood has an earthy taste which you may find overpowering. While wheatgrass shots are popular you can also add it to your smoothies, or mix it with fruit juice or coconut water. Consider adding to some of your recipes like salad dressings.

Serving size: limit your daily intake to a standard 30 to 60 ml shot of juice or 1 teaspoon of powder to avoid mild nausea or headaches.

Gluten Safety: as pure wheat grass is cut before seeds form it is generally considered gluten-free. There is a chance, however, of cross-contamination occurring. Consult a doctor if you have severe allergies or celiac disease.

You may want to add a shot of wheatgrass to your diet. Cheers!