Is Wheat Grass Good For You?

Wheatgrass is a type of young grass that belongs to the Poaceae family and is commonly found in temperate regions of Europe and the United States. Wheatgrass is sold as a dietary supplement in a variety of forms and is rich in nutrients, including iron, calcium, magnesium, amino acids, chlorophyll, and vitamins A, C and E. The wheatgrass diet was popularized by Ann Wigmore, a Boston area resident who immigrated to the United States from Lithuania, reports the National Council against Health Fraud.

Claims

Proponents and fans of wheatgrass claim that its rich nutrient content can boost your immunity, neutralize harmful bacteria in your digestive system, and eliminate the waste that has built up in your body. Some go as far as to prescribe wheatgrass as a means to combat cancer, anemia, diabetes, constipation, infections, skin conditions, joint pain and other health concerns, reports MayoClinic.com. Ann Wigmore herself theorized that the enzymes in raw wheatgrass were alive and could detoxify the body when eaten or used in enemas, according to the National Council Against Health Fraud.

Studies

While wheatgrass is generally considered to be safe, and may be considered a good way to add variety to your diet, there are no significant research studies that support the claims made by proponents of wheatgrass and wheatgrass diets as to its numerous health benefits, according to Cancer.org. However, a small study published in the "Scandanavian Journal of Gastroenterology" reports that wheatgrass juice appeared to be effective and safe as a treatment for ulcerative colitis.

Complications

There have been reports of individuals who experienced nausea, headaches, hives, or swelling in the throat within minutes of drinking wheatgrass juice, according to MayoClinic.com and Cancer.org. Check with your doctor before using wheatgrass if you have an allergy to wheat or grass, celiac disease or gluten intolerance, reports MayoClinic.com. Since wheat grass is usually cultivated in soil or water and juiced or consumed raw, there is a chance that it may be contaminated with bacteria or mold. Lastly, wheatgrass can have a strong grassy flavor, making it unpalatable to some.

Availability

Wheatgrass is usually grown in trays of soil, though you can also get wheatgrass in the form of tablets, capsules, extracts, tinctures, juices and powders. The most common way of taking wheatgrass is either to make it into a juice, steep into a tea or mix it into a smoothie. Some people use the juice and mix it with water as an enema to "cleanse the liver," according to Cancer.org. Kits for growing your own wheatgrass at home, either indoors or outdoors, are also available.

Diet

A small number of wheat grass enthusiasts embrace what is called the "wheatgrass diet," which emphasizes "live foods" such as uncooked sprouts, raw vegetables and fruits, nuts and seeds and discourages all meat, dairy products and cooked foods. Cooking food, according to Wigmore's theory, deactivates the enzymes that are supposed to detoxify the body. She said the enzymes in raw wheatgrass were alive and could detoxify the body when eaten or used in enemas, according to the National Council against Health Fraud. Several "Living Foods" groups around the world subscribe to Wigmore's teachings.