Wheat Grass Nutritional Facts

Many health-conscious people have explored wheat grass, as it is a "green" food and full of nutrients.It is the sprouting grass of the young common wheat plant. Wheat grass became popular after Dr. Ann Wigmore, an educator and founder of the Hippocrates Health Institute in Boston, reported as early as the 1950s that wheat grass therapy, along with other "living foods," helped many health disorders along with eliminating cancerous growths.Taken as a supplement, people use wheat grass for many purposes such as cleansing the lymph system, building the blood, restoring balance in the body, removing toxins from the cells, nourishing the liver and kidneys and restoring general vitality.

Nutrients

• Wheat grass has an abundance of nutrients.It is full of vitamins A, E and B.It also contains minerals and trace elements such as calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, magnesium, iron and zinc.Wheat grass is full of amino acids (building blocks of proteins), which are nutrients that the body cannot make and thus must be obtained through diet.Wheat grass contains many amino acids, including the eight essentials ones: phenylalanine, valine, threonine, tryptophan, isoleucine, methionine, leucine and lysine.Wheat grass is very rich in chlorophyll that aids the body in the natural healing process.It helps carry oxygen to every cell in the human body.

Function

• Drinking wheat grass gives you nutritional benefits, however, there are many other uses.
  • Wheat grass eliminates itching when applied to the skin. It can also soothe sunburn.
  • Wheat grass can be used as a disinfectant.
  • Gargle with wheat grass to soothe a sore throat and also as a mouthwash to draw out toxins from the gums and teeth.
  • Wheat grass can be used to help heal cuts, burns, rashes, athlete's foot, insect bites, open sores, boils and ulcers.
  • To alleviate an itchy scalp and overcome dandruff, rub wheat grass into the scalp after shampooing.
  • To help with stuffy nasal passages during a cold, inhale wheat grass in the nose to clean and open the sinuses.

Benefits

• According the Wigmore and proponents of its use, wheat grass has many benefits throughout the body.
  • It can lower blood pressure.
  • The digestive system can be aided by wheat grass as it helps to flush out toxins.
  • Wheat grass protects the body from pollutants by building up the white blood cells.
  • Wheat grass has anti-inflammatory properties and helps arthritis, ulcers and insect bites.
  • Taking wheat grass helps regularity and avoids constipation.
  • It energizes the body and reduces fatigue.
  • It calms and relaxes the body.
  • The presence of chlorophyll in wheat grass helps to stabilize blood sugar levels.

Forms

• The wheat grass itself can be juiced.The product is also manufactured and comes in powder form, capsules, and tablets.Wheat grass can be found in most health food stores.

Claims

• There have been many claims that wheat grass can cure diseases; however, so far, none of these claims have been scientifically proven, nor has the Food and Drug Administration approved this dietary supplement.