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According to surveys conducted by the Center for Disease Control, only about 27 percent of Americans get more than three servings of vegetables per day. (1<\/a>)<\/p>\n Most of us know by now that we need to be eating fresh fruits and veggies everyday in abundance for optimal health and\u00a0detoxification. However, for many people this isn\u2019t as easy as it might seem. While it isn\u2019t meant to replace eating fresh vegetables, wheatgrass benefits provide\u00a0numerous antioxidants<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and other nutrients, all in one small easy-to-drink glass.<\/p>\n Wheatgrass is the young grass of the common wheat plant called\u00a0triticum aestivum<\/em>. (2<\/a>) This (gluten-free, of course!) edible grass is either juiced into a \u201cwheatgrass shot,\u201d or milled down into a fine green powder that\u2019s used to create a multipurpose product for both humans and animals.<\/p>\n Types of wheatgrass:<\/p>\n Wheatgrass can be consumed on its own, or used in combination with other juices or supplements. Now considered to be a \u201csuperfood<\/strong><\/a>,\u201d several forms of wheatgrass that are becoming more widely available include:<\/p>\n Which type is best? The best way to consume all foods is as close to their natural state as possible. For wheatgrass, this means that drinking it in juice form (\u201cshots\u201d as they\u2019re called) would be preferred over consuming it in tablet or powder form. You can either visit an establishment that sells freshly made wheatgrass shots or try making them on your own (more on this below).<\/p>\n If you aren\u2019t able to find fresh wheatgrass, wheatgrass powder makes a good second option. And if convenience is what you\u2019re really after, high-quality (pure) wheatgrass tablets are certainly beneficial as well.<\/p>\n Some experts claim that wheatgrass contains over 100 different elements needed by man. One of the most noticeable (and important) nutrients in wheatgrass is\u00a0chlorophyll<\/strong><\/a>. (3<\/a>)<\/p>\n Chlorophyll is the substance that gives wheatgrass its signature, bright green color. Like other nutrient-dense greens, it\u2019s used in the human body for a number of important processes: It\u2019s a\u00a0natural liver cleanser<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and detoxifier, acts like an antioxidant to reduce free radical damage, is a blood strengthener (it has a similar chemical composition to that of hemoglobin,) and can help give you a boost in energy.<\/p>\n But chlorophyll is not all wheatgrass has to offer. Wheatgrass benefits also include being loaded with amino acids (the building blocks of proteins),\u00a0enzymes which are needed for digestion<\/strong><\/a>, and many vitamins and minerals needed for disease-free living.<\/p>\n Wheatgrass is rich in the following nutrients:\u00a0<\/strong>(4<\/a>)<\/p>\n Wheatgrass is a potent source of a number of vital nutrients your body can\u2019t do without. Dozens of studies on wheatgrass \u2014 and also its individual antioxidants and nutrients \u2014 show that its health benefits include:<\/p>\n Here are the four most prominent wheatgrass benefits:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1.\u00a0Alkalizing the Body &\u00a0Boosting Nutrient Absorption<\/strong><\/p>\n Wheatgrass provides vital alkalizing benefits for the body, along with increasing absorption of nutrients like\u00a0electrolytes<\/strong><\/a>, vitamin C and vitamin E. If you want to prevent cancer and other chronic diseases from flourishing in your body as you get older, creating an alkaline environment is essential.<\/p>\n Acidosis (high levels of acid resulting from low alkalinity) is an all-too-common problem today, due to toxicity from the environment along with\u00a0many people\u00a0eating highly\u00a0processed foods<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0Cancers and other diseases flourish in acidic environments, but cease to exist in alkaline ones.<\/em><\/p>\n What gives wheatgrass the ability to prevent acidosis? Chlorophyll is primarily responsible. Chlorophyll has been shown to help naturally balance the body\u2019s pH level and protect cells. This is one of the reasons that chlorophyll consumption is associated with anti-aging effects ranging from younger-looking skin to better weight management.<\/p>\n 2. Lowering Free Radical Damage<\/strong><\/p>\n Wheatgrass benefits including having strong antioxidant capabilities and can also lower\u00a0oxidation\/free radical damage that causes aging and contribute to disease formation. Studies have\u00a0found that wheatgrass can significantly inhibit lipid peroxidation in the liver and protect mitochondria within cells. This is tied to\u00a0reduced inflammation<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0levels and lower risk for diseases like cancer, liver disease and heart disease.<\/p>\n Research regarding the antioxidant levels (ORAC<\/a>\u00a0values) of\u00a0various \u201csuperfoods\u201d has found that wheatgrass has an ORAC score \u201chigher than those reported for many other natural extracts or vegetables\u201d. (5<\/a>) Work done by the\u00a0Department of Pharmacology at Gajara Raja Medical College in India has shown that some of the antioxidants present in wheatgrass include: (6<\/a>)<\/p>\n 3. Raising\u00a0<\/strong>Immunity & Cancer Protection<\/b><\/p>\n Studies have found that wheatgrass\u00a0demonstrates anti-cancer potential, and that it seems to do so through the mechanism of inducing\u00a0apoptosis<\/a>(self-destruction of cancerous cells). According to research done by the Integrated Oncology and Palliative Care Unit in Israel, wheatgrass can be effectively used in\u00a0holistic cancer treatment<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0programs (even those that also use conventional treatments like chemotherapy), and also for cancer prevention. (7<\/a>) Its\u00a0benefits for overall immune function include regulating immunological activity and fighting oxidative stress that\u00a0contributes to cell mutations.<\/p>\n Research shows that wheatgrass can also help attenuate chemotherapy-related side effects such as fatigue, malabsorption and deficiencies. Other than helping to prevent and treat cancer, clinical trials show that wheatgrass may induce synergistic benefits to those with other immune-related conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, hematological diseases, diabetes and obesity.<\/p>\n 4. Lowering High Cholesterol & Triglycerides<\/strong><\/p>\n Studies conducted at Sharma University of Health Sciences in India show that wheatgrass is a medicinal plant for the heart and blood vessels \u2014 it can be effective in treating\u00a0hyperlipidemia<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(it helps lower high cholesterol\u00a0and triglyceride levels along with increases in inflammation and oxidative stress).<\/p>\n One study examined the effects of wheatgrass given to rabbits eating a high-fat diet that\u00a0induced hyperlipidemia. Thirty rabbits were divided into three groups: one receiving a control diet, one receiving a high-fat diet, and a group receiving a high-fat diet together with wheatgrass over a period of 10 weeks.<\/p>\n Fasting serum samples from the animals were analyzed for total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH) and vitamin C, and the results were compared. The high-fat diet resulted in hyperlipidemia and an increase in oxidative stress, along with lowered\u00a0glutathione antioxidant levels<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and lowered vitamin C. However, wheatgrass supplementation taken along with a high-fat diet resulted in improved lipid levels (decreased total cholesterol and increased HDL-C). Wheatgrass also significantly reduced MDA levels and increased glutathione and vitamin C levels. (8<\/a>)<\/p>\n No matter what your current state of health is, you can benefit from adding wheatgrass \u2014 especially fresh wheatgrass juice \u2014 to your daily diet. Growing your own wheatgrass is easy, affordable and the very best way to get fresh wheatgrass regularly. Once you have access to your own wheatgrass, you can add a small amount daily to drinks, smoothies, plain water or other recipes. This is a great way to get all of your chlorophyll and veggies in one shot, literally!<\/p>\n Wheatgrass starter kits can be purchased online for little money.\u00a0You might choose to buy a wheatgrass kit\u00a0that\u00a0includes a bundle of things you\u2019ll need, or simply buy the needed materials such as seeds and a juicer separately. The most nutrient-dense wheatgrass is grown in very healthy soil, so always make sure to purchase organic soil whenever possible. Keep in mind it\u2019s important to clean all equipment thoroughly to prevent bacteria growth, which can sometimes be the case with fresh grasses or sprouts. (9<\/a>)<\/p>\n Once you grow your own wheatgrass, you\u2019ll need to use either a juicer (the preferred method) or a high-speed blender to freshly press the grass into liquid form. A small amount of wheat grass goes a long way, and making your own juice will save you lots of money in the long run (wheatgrass shots tend to be expensive when store-bought).<\/p>\n If you prefer not to grow your own wheatgrass, look for a store-bought green powder mix that\u00a0contains dried wheatgrass. These products tend to combine a dozen or more different grasses and high-antioxidant foods into one, are easy to use, and can save you lots of time.<\/p>\n Although research exists showing the benefits of wheatgrass, there have still not been many studies done long-term showing possible interactions of wheatgrass or revealing much information about whether or not it might trigger allergies in some people.<\/p>\n Most of the wheatgrass benefits we know about come from people who have used it for years and can attest to its positive affects. However, not every claim can be backed up yet with well-controlled scientific studies. Overall, it\u2019s best to use wheatgrass as part of a balanced, healthy diet and not in place of whole vegetables or fruits.<\/p>\n That being said, wheatgrass is generally considered safe and has little risk of causing any side effects for most people. Rarely people have experienced adverse reactions from wheatgrass including allergic reactions (which usually happen right away after consuming it), digestive discomfort, nausea, headaches, hives or swelling of the throat. (11<\/a>)<\/p>\nWhat Is Wheatgrass?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\nWheatgrass Nutrition Facts<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\n21 Wheatgrass Benefits<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\nHow to Use Wheatgrass Products<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nPrecautions When Using Wheatgrass<\/strong><\/h3>\n