Vitamins in Wheatgrass

Wheatgrass, one of the earliest introduced and most popular green "superfoods," contains a large amount of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. It is often consumed by people who are attempting to build muscle and get in shape; some people even use it to detoxify their bodies and heal bodily damage.

Vitamin C

• Vitamin C is usually associated with citrus fruits, such as lemons, limes and oranges. However, ounce for ounce, wheatgrass contains more vitamin C than an orange. A powerful antioxidant, vitamin C is helpful for recovering from sickness (including the common cold) and preventing disease (such as scurvy, common to sailors during the 1500s and 1600s due to deficiency in this vitamin). Some people feel vitamin C can also help resolve hangovers faster, which may be due to its antioxidant effect. The problem with wheatgrass is that humans cannot digest it as a solid. To reap its benefits, you must liquefy the wheatgrass and then drink it.

Vitamin A

• Vitamin A is traditionally found in deep orange or green vegetables like carrots, broccoli leaves, sweet potatoes and spinach, and it's the vitamin studies have shown can help maintain a person's eyesight. However, according to Living-Foods.com, wheatgrass has double the amount of vitamin A you could get by eating the same amount of carrots, which aside from wheatgrass are the richest non-animal source of the vitamin.

Other Nutrients

• Wheatgrass contains a number of other important vitamins. It's rich in vitamin E, vitamin K and B-complex vitamins. Wheatgrass is also a source of vitamin B-17, also known as amygdalin, which some studies suggest can help ward off cancer. In addition to these vitamins, wheatgrass contains 17 amino acids and 92 different minerals the human body uses and needs. The nutrients in wheatgrass are also said to assist in fighting cancer and repairing cellular damage of the lungs.