Wheatgrass is one of the newest superfoods taking your local health food store, supermarket and even smoothie shop by storm. Wheatgrass is, as its name would suggest, a young grass from the wheat family, although, unlike wheat it doesn’t contain any gluten. And even though it may seem as though Wheatgrass just suddenly appeared on shelves and in your favorite celebrity’s morning juices overnight, it’s recorded usage actually goes all the way back to ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilizations. Some 5,000 years ago, Egyptians were touting the health benefits of Wheatgrass and even believed it to be sacred.
Part of the reason for it’s current surge in popularity is that Wheatgrass is an absolutely packed powerhouse of nutritional value. It’s nutrient content includes iron, calcium, magnesium, amino acids, and vitamins A, C and E. But perhaps the real show-stopper is its rich Chlorophyll content - up to 70% to be exact. Chlorophyll is the phytochemical that is responsible for the dark green color of your leafy vegetables, and in humans, it is endorsed for its anti aging benefits, blood cleansing properties and even potential cancer prevention. Let’s talk more about those benefits!
The Benefits of Wheatgrass For Health, Hair and Skin:
There is a seemingly unending list of benefits that are attributed to Wheatgrass consumption. From an immunity booster to a beauty elixir and everything in between. Here are just some of the potential health benefits of supplementing with Wheatgrass:
Many people add Wheatgrass to their morning juices because it is a rich source of Selenium, a nutrient associated with healthy thyroid function. Wheatgrass may also help you reduce food cravings, since it can eliminate common nutrient deficiencies. When you are deficient in a certain nutrient, your body tends to search for, and crave these missing minerals. By giving your body this rich source of nutrients, typically first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, you are able to satisfy your nutritional needs and prevent overeating during the day,
Wheatgrass supports your body’s natural detoxification process as it is highly alkaline and encourages healthy cellular function- especially in the liver. This critical organ is responsible for processing what you consume on a daily basis, and Wheatgrass is able to lend it’s detoxifying properties to aid in your liver’s healthy function. Wheatgrass may even protect the liver against the negative effects of alcohol.
Since Wheatgrass is a good source of fiber as well as B complex vitamins, it can support the healthy function of your digestive system.
Wheatgrass boasts anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties as well as the ability to reduce inflammation in the body. For these reasons Wheatgrass is commonly used to clear sinus congestion, fight off bacterial infections, and boost overall immunity.
Those antibacterial benefits I mentioned mean that Wheatgrass can help you combat or avoid acne breakouts, while it’s high iron content can give strength to weak, brittle nails. For your hair, Wheatgrass is able to balance the pH of your scalp to help cure dandruff and other skin-based hair health issues.
Finally, that stellar Chlorophyll content that we talked about is what gives Wheatgrass the ability to literally flush your body with fresh oxygen. Oxygen, as you probably already know, is vital to so many of our body’s critical processes, especially in the brain, which is dependant upon 25% of the body's total oxygen supply. So I’ll leave you with this: Wheatgrass is literally food for your brain.
How to Use Wheatgrass:
You will commonly find Wheatgrass marketed in supplement form as a tablet, capsule or powder. Wheatgrass powder is my personal preference, as it is obtained by extracting the dehydrated juice of young wheatgrass. I recommend this Organic Wheatgrass Powder by Sweet Wheat as it is easy to prepare in a juice, smoothie or shot, easy to digest, and contains all the nutritional value of the wheatgrass plant. You can find it HERE, on Amazon. Keep in mind when you are starting to supplement with Wheatgrass that it is a potent supplement! Start small and always consume on an empty stomach or with other fruits and veggies. Taking it in conjunction with a meal can leave you feeling nauseous or sick.
Wheatgrass is a great choice when you are looking to supplement with a legitimate nutritional Superfood. It is easy to add to your morning routine to reap all the benefits of this health, skin and beauty elixir!