Wheatgrass Supplements - what you should know!

Wheatgrass supplements contain extremely high levels of chlorophyll, which is important for blood health.Chlorophyll acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory which can help detoxify the body and cleanse the liver.

Wheatgrass is high in alkaline. It is an excellent source of protein and amino acids, and can provide a wide range of health benefits. Potential wheatgrass benefits include improved digestion, lower cholesterol and a stronger immune system, to name just a few.

What is Wheatgrass?

Wheatgrass is the grass of the wheat plant Triticum aestivum. The plant itself is quite difficult to digest. Therefore it is crushed and pressed. The wheatgrass juice is dried into a powder, which is used to form tablets or be filled into capsules. Wheatgrass powder can also be mixed with water or added to smoothies for an additional boost of nutrients.

The history of wheatgrass as a nutritional supplement can be dated back thousands of years to the ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilizations. In the modern era, wheatgrass became popular in Western society in the 1930s and 1940s in the United States and in Canada.

More recently, wheatgrass has become popular as part of the healthy living and raw food diet movements. Wheatgrass powder, wheatgrass tablets or wheatgrass capsules are widely available at juice bars, health food stores and supermarkets.

The taste of wheatgrass is less 'grass-like' than many may expect and it can be enjoyed on its own in the form of a wheatgrass shot. Some people find the taste quite strong and prefer adding wheatgrass to another fruit juice or smoothie.

Wheatgrass is also available in tablet or capsule form which still contains all the vitamins and minerals. Wheatgrass tablets or wheatgrass capsules will however contain less dietary fibre than fresh wheatgrass juice.

Wheatgrass health benefits

Wheatgrass has many and wide ranging health benefits. It has shown to

• support digestion
• lower cholesterol
• lower blood pressure
• strengthen the immune system
• increase the building of haemoglobin
• maintain a healthy blood sugar level
• prevent tooth decay
• reduce symptoms of colitis ulcerosa

Which nutrients can be found in Wheatgrass?

Wheatgrass provides of a wide range of nutrients. Compared to other food it contains high levels of vitamin A, vitamin C, B vitamins (thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6), vitamin E (alpha tocopherol), vitamin K, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, selenium, phosphorous, magnesium, sodium and potassium.

Wheatgrass is also an excellent source of dietary fibre. Wheatgrass is also a source of protein and contains all the essential amino acids. In addition, wheatgrass is very high in chlorophyll, an important phytonutrient.

Overall, wheatgrass benefits from a nutritionally complete profile, and contains all the vitamins and minerals necessary for human health.

Wheatgrass is rich in Chlorophyll

While chlorophyll can be found in all green vegetables, wheatgrass is one of the richest sources, containing up to 70% chlorophyll. In plants, chlorophyll is responsible for the converting of light to energy and is sometimes called the 'lifeblood' of plants.

The molecular structure of chlorophyll is very similar to the haemoglobin found in human blood. Chlorophyll is a powerful antioxidant and can also help to improve and maintain a healthy blood sugar level. Wheatgrass is therefore beneficial for people suffering from diabetes or insulin resistance.

Wheatgrass and detoxification

Due to its high levels of chlorophyll and other vitamins and minerals, wheatgrass supplements can help the detoxification process and cleanse your body from the inside.

The extra chlorophyll intake increases the levels of oxygen in the blood, and can help flush out toxins and pollutants which may have become stored in the body, particularly in the liver.

Wheatgrass and the acid-alkaline balance of the body

When the acid-alkaline balance of the body is disturbed, symptoms include tiredness, weight gain, digestive problems and general aches and pains.

Across the developed world, an increasing number of people are suffering from this problem because the modern diet consists of highly acidic foods. Eating processed food, sugar, grains, dairy and meat can contribute to making your body acidic; this may entail the aforementioned problems.

If left untreated for a long period of time, it can cause damage to cells and organs, resulting in serious disease. Wheatgrass is one of the highest quality alkaline foods and can help put your body back into balance quickly, as well as promote long term health and wellbeing.

Wheatgrass - who should take it?

• People with digestive problems
• People who want to detoxify their body
• People suffering from acidity
• People with suppressed immune systems
• People who want to improve their general health and wellbeing
• Diabetics and people with insulin resistance

Does Wheatgrass have any side effects?

When taken in standard doses wheatgrass has in general no side effects.

Wheatgrass dosage and recommendations

The wheatgrass dosage someone should take per day depends on factors such as the age, size, sex and health condition.

While there has not been enough scientific research performed to suggest specific wheatgrass dosages, users report feeling the benefits from only one shot of wheatgrass juice per day.

For general health and wellbeing, it is suggested to take 1 to 4 heaped teaspoons per day (3 to 12 grams). As with any change in diet, it is recommended that wheatgrass be increased gradually to the required amount.

Take a Wheatgrass supplement to

• detox and cleanse your body from the inside
• improve blood sugar
• increase the levels of oxygen in your blood
• strengthen your immune system
• increase intake of vitamins and minerals
• improve digestion
• improve symptoms of ulcerative colitis
• prevent tooth decay
• improve skin condition and reduce appearance of acne
• lower cholesterol and blood pressure