Wheat grass has long been used as herbal medicine due to its therapeutic and nutritional properties. The benefits of wheat grass are derived from its powerful nutritional content.
While wheat grass offers many of the same nutrients as other green leafy vegetables, the nutrients in wheat grass are more concentrated, meaning that small servings of wheat grass pack a whole lot of nutrition.
Wheat grass contains the following nutrients:
- PHYTONUTRIENTS: Chlorophyll is the green pigment found on plants. Dark green color tones are indicative of plants with high amounts of chlorophyll. Plants use chlorophyll and sunlight to make their own food in a process called photosynthesis. A unique characteristic of chlorophyll is that the molecular structure is similar to that of hemoglobin in human blood. The difference is that the central atom of chlorophyll is magnesium while in hemoglobin it is iron. However, chlorophyll performs the same function in the body as hemoglobin. Chlorophyll carries high levels of oxygen which helps deliver more oxygen to the blood. It aids in cellular growth and repair.Chlorophyll is known to be very good for the vascular system. It can slow down the oxidation of LDL (the ‘bad’ cholesterol) which is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease. Chlorophyll has antioxidants that help eliminate harmful toxins from the body. It helps neutralize free radicals and limit oxidative damage. Chlorophyll cleanses, purifies, and heals most areas of the body. It detoxifies the liver and blood. Chlorophyll supports the immune system. It contains a derivative called chlorophyllin which has been shown to increase the number and activity of immune cells. Chlorophyll also helps support the healthy flora in the bowels which also help improve our immunity function.
Wheat grass is 70% chlorophyll, which is considered as “the richest nutritional liquid known to man” due to the wide array of benefits.
- VITAMINS & MINERALS: Wheat grass contains a full spectrum of vitamins and over 90 minerals essential for healthy function of our body’s systems. Vitamins and minerals act together to perform hundreds of roles in the body, such as produce energy, protect cells from damage, and regulate cell and tissue growth. The vitamins in wheat grass contain powerful antioxidants which eliminate free radicals which cause cellular damage. Antioxidants help strengthen the body’s immune system, reducing the risks of disease, and improve overall health and well-being.
- ENZYMES: Wheat grass contains about 30 beneficial enzymes that act as catalysts to speed up the rate at which metabolic processes and reactions occur in the body. Enzymes such as Superoxide Dismutase help neutralize toxins and detoxify the body. They help cleanse the body of heavy metals, environmental pollutants and other toxins that may be stored in the body’s tissues and organs. The enzymes in wheat grass also aid in digestion.
- AMINO ACIDS: Wheat grass is a complete source of protein, supplying all of the essential amino acids and more. This protein is in the form of poly peptides, simpler and shorter chains of amino acids that the body uses more efficiently in the blood stream and tissues. Amino acids comprise a large proportion of our cells, muscles and tissues, and have an influence on the function of organs, glands, tendons and arteries.
- ALKALINITY: Wheat grass is naturally alkaline so may help neutralize excess acidity in the body. The human body is considered healthy and alkaline when at a pH level of 7.0 or above. Alkaline foods are needed to remove acidic waste and to restore the pH balance for proper health. A well-balanced diet should be 20% acidic and 80% alkaline, allowing you to keep your body’s pH at a slightly alkaline level. Unfortunately, our modern day diets consist mainly of foods that cause high acidity, like unhealthy fats, high sugar, and dairy. We lack alkaline foods like whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, which often results in an over-acidic body. Even slight fluctuations in pH balance that make the body acidic can hamper ideal body functions and bring about health issues.