Wheatgrass juice extract is a nutritious health food that is used as a general tonic for rejuvenation and body detoxification, and can be a part of your daily diet if you have a raw living foods lifestyle. You can sprout wheatgrass at home and, with a special wheat grass juicer, extract and drink the juice. Sprouting wheatgrass and drinking its juice can also help you if you have some medical conditions.
Reduces Activity of Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis is a gastrointestinal disease that is characterized by inflammation and ulcers in the lining of the large intestine and rectum that cause bleeding, pus, frequent bowel movements and diarrhea, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Ulcerative colitis can affect you at any age, but it usually begins between ages of 15 and 30, and is hereditary, especially if you are of Jewish descent. Research by E. Ben-Arye of the Department of Family Medicine at Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, published in the "Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology" in 2002, discovered that wheatgrass juice is effective and safe for treatment of active distal ulcerative colitis. Moreover, the research demonstrated that wheatgrass juice reduces overall disease activity and severity of rectal bleeding without serious side effects. The research suggests these results are due in part to the antioxidant properties of fresh extract of wheatgrass.
Reduces Toxicity from Breast Cancer Chemotherapy
Breast cancer is a debilitating disease that affects the body and emotional health of patients. Chemotherapy is a common treatment to reduce the size of tumors and prevent the spread of the disease in the body. However, chemotherapy causes side effects, including toxicity of bone marrow, called myleotoxicity. Wheat grass juice may help to reduce the toxic effects of chemotherapy. Research by G. Bar-Sela of the Division of Oncology at Rambam Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine at Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, published in "Nutrition and Cancer" in 2007, discovered that breast cancer patients on chemotherapy who drink wheatgrass juice may reduce doses and toxicity from chemotherapy without diminishing its efficacy. Wheatgrass juice, however, causes nausea in some patients.
Reduces Frequency of Blood Transfusions in Patients with Thalassemia
Thalassemia, also called Mediterranean anemia, is an inherited blood disease with less red blood cells and hemoglobin, a substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen, in your body than normal, causing fatigue and requiring you to have regular blood transfusions, according to MayoClinic.com. Wheatgrass juice may help you if you suffer from thalassemia. Research by R.K. Marawaha in the Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Advanced Pediatric Center at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh India, published in "Indian Pediatrics" in 2004, discovered that patients with thalassemia who drink 100 mL of wheat grass juice daily reduce the required number of blood transfusions between 25 to 40 percent without perceptible adverse effects.
References
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Ulcerative Colitis
- "Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology"; Wheat Grass Juice in the Treatment of Active Distal Ulcerative Colitis; Ben-Arye; Apr 2002
- "Nutrition and Cancer"; Wheat Grass Juice May Improve Hematological Toxicity Related to Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer Patients; Bar-Sela, G.; 2007
- MayoClinic.com: Thalassemia
- "Indian Pediatrics"; Wheat Grass Juice Reduces Transfusion Requirement in Patients with Thalassemia; Marawaha, R.K.; Jul 2004
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