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What is Wheatgrass?

Brendan McGuigan
Brendan McGuigan

Wheatgrass is a term used for the young Agropyron plants, which are closely related to wheat, but look like a fairly typical lawn grass when in its early stages. The plant is most well known for its health benefits, and is often crushed into a juice for regular consumption.

The health benefits of wheatgrass are somewhat contested, and it seems likely that in some cases, they are exaggerated. The plant first became widely known in the West in the 1930s, when a man named Charles Schnabel began touting its benefits. He made a number of unsubstantiated claims about the plant, including the claim that "15 pounds of wheatgrass is equivalent to 350 pounds of the choicest vegetables." This statement persists to this day, although it does not appear to be particularly true.

Cut wheatgrass and a glass of wheatgrass juice.
Cut wheatgrass and a glass of wheatgrass juice.

Although wheatgrass is high in a number of amino acids, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, chlorophyll, and fiber, other vegetables contain these things in high amounts as well. It does offer benefits, most notably its incredibly fast growth, ability to grow in a range of conditions and in small indoor patches, and ease of juicing. Whether or not people accept all of the claims about wheatgrass, it does appear to be quite healthy and easy to consume.

Wheatgrass shots.
Wheatgrass shots.

Proponents of wheatgrass claim it has many incredible health benefits, including helping to prevent heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. It is also thought to help aid digestion substantially, alleviate constipation, and act as a strong liver cleanser. Still others believe the plant can help with menopause, cure hair loss, and filter heavy metals from the blood. Some or all of these claims may be true, and there is a great deal of anecdotal evidence supporting many of them, but there have been very few reliable, scientific studies on the effects.

Growing wheatgrass at home requires plenty of sunshine.
Growing wheatgrass at home requires plenty of sunshine.

Wheatgrass can be grown quite easily at home, which is part of its huge appeal. Small flats of the grass can often be purchased at grocery or health-food stores, and can be taken home and harvested regularly with minimal upkeep. The flats should be kept in sunlight, and regularly watered. The grass should be harvested at about 8 inches (20.32 cm). Reaching sufficient height takes around a week, and one plot of grass that is well looked after can last for some time.

Wheatgrass is frequently sold as a powdered supplement in health food stores.
Wheatgrass is frequently sold as a powdered supplement in health food stores.

The daily dose of wheatgrass depends on what results a person is looking for. Most people drink around 2 ounces (59 ml) of juice once or twice per day for regular maintenance. People looking to do a deep cleanse or detoxification may take a slightly larger dose four times a day. For best results, the juice should be taken on an empty stomach, and immediately followed with a medium-sized meal.

Discussion Comments

SarahGen

I've started drinking wheatgrass powder for fertility. It's too soon to know if it's working, but there is a slight improvement in my hormone imbalance. I also feel very energetic since I started on wheatgrass.

fify

@literally45-- Wheatgrass is not difficult to grow at home, but you have to plant several trays at once if you want to drink wheatgrass shots every day. I think it takes about a tray of it to get one shot glass of wheatgrass juice.

Some health food stores actually sell trays of wheatgrass that's ready to be cut and juiced. But you have to invest in a wheatgrass juicer which can cost anywhere from fifteen to one hundred dollars or more. Some fruit and vegetable juicers can be used for wheatgrass as well.

The other option is buying wheatgrass supplements in tablet or capsule form. They are not as beneficial as fresh wheatgrass, but they cost less and are easy to take.

literally45

I just started drinking fresh wheatgrass juice for allergies, I hope it works.

I buy wheatgrass juice from a juice bar, several times a week. I want to grow wheatgrass at home and juice it myself to save money. I can also have it daily that way. But is it difficult to grow enough wheatgrass for a daily shot glass? And how much does a wheatgrass juicer cost?

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    • Cut wheatgrass and a glass of wheatgrass juice.
      Cut wheatgrass and a glass of wheatgrass juice.
    • Wheatgrass shots.
      By: MSPhotographic
      Wheatgrass shots.
    • Growing wheatgrass at home requires plenty of sunshine.
      By: miiko
      Growing wheatgrass at home requires plenty of sunshine.
    • Wheatgrass is frequently sold as a powdered supplement in health food stores.
      By: Marek
      Wheatgrass is frequently sold as a powdered supplement in health food stores.