Facts and Benefits of Wheatgrass

Details: Category: Region 9; Published: 15 September 2022

The Triticum aestivum plant is used to make the meal known as wheatgrass. It is recognized as a super nutritious food with incredible advantages. It is typically drunk as a fresh juice, but it also comes in powdered form, according to Emily Cronkleton of Healthline. It is a dense, dry grass with a bright green appearance that resembles hay or straw. Farmers mostly grow wheatgrass for animals to consume, but in recent years, it has gained popularity as a supplement and a superfood, according to Zawn Villines of Medical News Today. Fresh wheatgrass juice is regarded as a "living food," and with good reason; health nuts have long gushed about the many advantages of this plant. It may also aid in the treatment of particular ailments and be used as a daily health tonic. Accordingly, it contributes to natural and holistic therapy and might offer certain particular health advantages. Although scientists concur that wheatgrass has promise, more research is necessary to fully assess its effectiveness.

One 8-gram (g) tablespoon of organic wheatgrass powder has 25 calories, 1 gram of protein, 6 g of carbohydrates, or 2% of an adult's daily value (DV), and 4 g of fiber, or 14% of DV, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 24 mg of calcium, 1 mg of iron, or 6% of the daily value, and 86 micrograms of vitamin K or 70% of the daily value. Wheatgrass is incredibly beneficial to your health because it contains a potent combination of nutrients. It is referred to as complete nourishment and offers numerous therapeutic advantages. As a result of its rich assortment of vitamins and minerals, wheatgrass may be a superb solution to improve your health. According to Zawn Villines, wheatgrass has components that function as antioxidants, just like many plant-based products. Similar to many other plant-based diets, these antioxidants might have health advantages. The body generates harmful byproducts when it performs natural activities. Oxidative stress may happen if the poisons stay in the body. Cancer is only one of the health issues that can result from high levels of oxidative stress. The body may get rid of harmful toxins with the aid of antioxidants.

Gil Bar-Sela and colleagues' 2015 study found that the nutrients in wheatgrass help your body get rid of toxins and pollutants. For instance, according to a 2011 research analysis by Satyavati Rana and colleagues, chlorophyll supports healthy liver function and assists in the elimination of harmful chemicals. Based on this research, wheatgrass also revealed that it has high amounts of digestive enzymes that support your body's ability to digest meals and absorb nutrients. Your intestines are cleaned by wheatgrass's detoxifying properties. This makes your stomach discomfort, gas, and bloating less severe. According to Emily Cronkleton, the aforementioned 2015 study also shows that consuming wheatgrass can increase metabolism and help with weight loss. It has few calories and no fat, making it a wise choice if you're controlling your weight. Due to its high nutritious content, wheatgrass helps many people feel full more quickly and for longer. This may lessen your craving for foods that are fatty or heavy in sugar.

The majority of research shows that taking wheatgrass has no notable negative effects, but this may vary depending on the product's type and the user. Some people may be sensitive or allergic, which causes an unfavorable reaction. Wheatgrass can still be consumed by those with celiac disease and others who are gluten intolerant because only the wheat kernel contains gluten. Wheatgrass, however, cannot be used to treat any diseases, according to recent research. Zawn Villines emphasizes that no one should use wheatgrass as a replacement for medical care.

Emily Cronkleto suggested that an individual may try consuming a serving of wheatgrass every day or every other day to get the most out of these advantages. Any alterations in your body that you detect should be noted. If you want to track side effects or other effects, like an increase in energy, you might want to make notes at the end of each day. Finding the dosage and time of day that work for you is crucial. You can determine whether it's better for you to consume on an empty stomach or after food by trial and error. Look into alternative lifestyle adjustments that can help you live a healthier life if you're taking wheatgrass for a particular health issue. Your physician might also be able to recommend specific changes in diet or routine.

ZDN DMO II Marie-Claire Gaas, RND

References: