Wheatgrass: A Nutritional and Medicinal Superfood

They don't know what they're missing, because once you get past the taste, wheatgrass juice packs quite a concentrated nutritional and medicinal punch.

Wheatgrass is one of the many green plants that are grown through the process of sprouting.  Sprouts are "total foods" because they contain a full range of essential dietary nutrients in combination with the enzymes that are necessary to ingest and absorb them.  Humans are unable to snack on wheatgrass in it's plant form, as the cellulose makeup makes it too fibrous for our digestive system.

In juice or powder form, however, wheatgrass breaks down through digestion very rapidly and will almost immediately hit the bloodstream.  The full menu of nutrients provided by wheatgrass juice is assimilated by the human body in twenty minutes or less, making it also an extremely effective source of quick energy. 

Wheatgrass provides a multitude of benefits including:

Energy

Complete Food Source

Wheatgrass is a nutritious source of calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorous, sodium, cobalt, and zinc.  It is a complete meal with high levels of protein made up of thirty specialized enzymes and is composed of approximately 70% raw chlorophyll, an important component in muscle growth and the development of new blood cells.

Body Detoxification and Cleansing

Wheatgrass contains many detergent capabilities and will work to drain the lymph system, carrying away many of the toxins found in cells and tissue.  Muscles, tendons, and joints, sore from exertion or degenerative issues, will develop a buildup of mucous in the lymph area of the pain or injury.  Wheatgrass will breakdown the mucous and allow it to drain.  Wheatgrass is also a powerful detoxification agent and will immediately react with toxins and mucous in the stomach before being absorbed into the blood, where it will wash away toxins stored throughout cells and fatty tissues.

Weight Control

Wheatgrass has only approximately 10-15 calories per teaspoon and contains no fat, cholesterol, or refined sugars.  It supplies close to a gram of protein per teaspoon and includes all eight of the essential amino acids, as well as thirteen of the remaining 16 types.  Due to it's dense nutritional makeup and inherent quick energy producing capabilities, wheatgrass acts both as an appetite suppressant and a boost to the body's systems.  It is especially popular with athletes as the juice is absorbed into the bloodstream within twenty minutes of ingestion.

Cancer Fighter

Wheatgrass contains high levels of beta-carotene, which can contribute to lowering risks of certain types of cancer. For example, experiments have shown that high levels of beta-carotene can negate the accumulated effects of smoking, leading to a 40% reduction in the chances of developing lung cancer. 

Okay, so wheatgrass juice isn't the tastiest beverage around.  It more than makes up for this by providing a two ounce shot of super charged nutritional and medicinal benefits.  If an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, then look into supplementing your diet with the superfood wheatgrass.