Wheatgrass is a common wheat plant (it belongs to the wheat family), which looks like a lot like lawn grass. In the west, consumption of wheatgrass started in the 1930s as a result of experiments conducted by Charles F Schnabel, an agricultural chemist. In his first experiment, he used fresh cut grass to nurse dying hens back to health. Feeding on wheatgrass, the hens not only recovered but began to produce eggs at a higher rate than a healthy hen.
Wheatgrass packs in the goodness of chlorophyll, amino acids, minerals, vitamins, and enzymes. The health benefits of wheatgrass range from it being a good nutritional supplement to it having anti-carcinogenic properties. Widely known for these benefits, it is available in juice or powdered concentrate; in addition to capsule and tablet form, today.
Health benefits of wheatgrass:
Detoxification and immunity: Being a rich source of chlorophyll, wheatgrass helps eliminate toxic mucous, acids and metabolic waste from cells and tissues, thereby cleansing the liver, blood vessels and the gastrointestinal track. Studies say that wheatgrass is a better detoxifier in comparison to carrots and other veggies.
Helps in rebuilding blood stream: Chlorophyll is often referred to as ‘green blood’ and ‘oxygenated sunshine’. These nicknames refer to chlorophyll’s similarity in make-up to human blood and its high oxygen level — which is why chlorophyll is often used to treat anaemia. The high chlorophyll content found in wheatgrass thereby helps increase blood count and improves blood flow.
Normalises blood sugar levels: The detoxification quality of chlorophyll helps remove toxins from the blood and improves blood flow in the body. This in return aids efficient functioning of the liver and pancreas, the organs responsible for regulating blood glucose in the body. Consumption of wheatgrass not only helps normalise blood sugar levels, but also keeps heart ailments away.
Also read: Diabetes, recognition and prevention
Cell regeneration: Wheatgrass is a rich source of 19 amino acids like arginine, serine, lysine, glycine, alanine, methionine and phenylalanine. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein –necessary to repair and rebuild muscles, internal organs, hair, nails, skin, and to boost the immune system. While the human body produces half the required amount of amino acids, the remaining need must be met through daily food. So, including wheatgrass in your diet supplies these vital amino acids.
Anti-bacterial properties: Wheatgrass contains anti-bacterial/anti-septic properties that hamper the growth of bacteria, both inside and outside the body. This property makes wheatgrass beneficial in treating skin disorders. Clinically, wheatgrass is used to clean infectious wounds and remove scars.
Helps keep cancer under check: Proponents of wheatgrass claim that this magic grass helps keep the growth of cancer cells under check. The nutrients in wheatgrass inhibit the growth of cancer cells, thereby reducing the need for blood and bone marrow medications, required to treat colon and breast cancer up to a certain stage. There are also claims that wheatgrass has anti-carcinogenic properties, but this yet to be supported by research.
BDST: 1849 HRS, MAY-20, 2014
