The wheat grass that is so beneficial to our health comes from the young grass of the common wheat plant. It packs a powerful nutrient punch as it is rich in chlorophyll, amino acids, minerals, vitamins and enzymes.
It is not difficult to grow wheat grass at home, but for convenience many purchase it frozen or juiced from a juice bar. Some health food stores sell trays of grown wheat grass that you can purchase in order to make your own wheat grass juice at home. Some prefer to take a dried supplement or wheat grass powder that can be added to smoothies or other juices.
The use of wheat grass as supplemental to the human diet started back in the 1930s. An agricultural chemist, Charles F. Schnabel, attempted to nurse dying hens back to health by feeding them freshly cut wheat grass. To his delight, the hens recovered and went on to produce more eggs than the healthier hens.
He began to dry and produce wheat grass powder then providing it to his family and neighbors for their use as supplementation to their diets. Schnabel found that the grass must be grown and used when it is still in its young state. Once it reaches its reproductive stage, nutrients such as protein, vitamins and chlorophyll sharply decline.
When growing wheat grass in trays at home, 10 days is a good growth point at which to cut and juice the grass in order to consume it in its most nutrient rich state. In order to reap therapeutic benefits from wheat grass juice, it is recommended that it be consumed 1-3 times per day on an empty stomach. The dose should be up to 2-4 oz each time. When using it for detoxification purposes, it can be increased to 3-4 times each day. If your diet is poor, note that nausea may occur when higher doses of wheat grass are consumed.
In terms of nutrients, wheat grass has more protein, vitamin E, and phosphorus than broccoli or spinach and is thought to be superior in vitamin B12 content. However, the plant itself does not contain B12 it is actually a by-product of the microorganisms that live on the plant. If the plant is washed prior to consumption, the B12 content is erased.
The health effects touted for wheat grass are vast. Proponents claim that it promotes general well being and it is used for everything from heavy-metal detoxification to preventing cancer.
Schnabel claimed back in the 1940s that 15 pounds of wheat grass equals 350 pounds of other vegetables in overall nutritional value.
Nutrient rich and easy to digest, wheat grass contains vital vitamins and minerals that are important to good health. It can be taken in pill, powder or juice form.
