Wheatgrass is a type of young grass grown from wheat seeds contains an abundant amount of nutrients, including iron, calcium, magnesium, amino acids, chlorophyll, and vitamins A, C and E. Proponents claim this nutrient-rich content enhances immunity, eliminates harmful bacteria in the digestive system, and clears the body of waste. Ann Wigmore developed a dietary program called the wheatgrass diet based on raw wheatgrass as its primary nutritional ingredient. Wigmore claimed the diet could cure and prevent diseases. However, there is limited scientific evidence supporting Wigmore's claims.
Ann Wigmore
Ann Wigmore was born March 4, 1909, in Cropos, Lithuania. In 1925, Wigmore moved to America and started using weeds and wheatgrass juice to heal herself. For next 35 years, Wigmore devoted herself to the promotion of natural healing via the wheatgrass diet, stating it could cure and prevent diseases. Wigmore died in 1993, but her Creative Health Institute remains active, wheatgrass remains readily available and her diet is still in use.
The Diet
The wheatgrass diet involves avoiding all meats, dairy products and cooked foods. The wheatgrass diet emphasizes "live foods," such as uncooked sprouts, raw vegetables and fruits, nuts, and seeds. Wheatgrass dieters also use wheatgrass to make juice drinks. According to Wigmore, wheatgrass needs to be cut from growing plants, juiced and consumed fresh within three hours in order to obtain its live enzymes. Wigmore suggested that the live enzymes from wheatgrass can detoxify the body and cleanse the liver.
Theory
Ann Wigmore theorized that decomposing food within the intestine forms toxins that circulate throughout the bloodstream and cause cancer. She proposed that the wheatgrass diet could cause tumor shrinkage in cancer patients or eliminate cancer all together.
Ann Wigmore also theorized raw wheatgrass contained beneficial enzymes that could detoxify the body, especially because it contains chlorophyll. Wigmore called chlorophyll "the life blood of the planet," according to the NCAHF. Wigmore hypothesized cooked food destroyed the chlorophyll and deactivated the beneficial enzymes found in raw grasses and vegetables.
Evidence
The American Cancer Society states although there are some documented individual reports from cancer patients who describe tumor reduction and extended longevity from the wheatgrass diet, no clinical research studies in scientific literature support this claim. In fact, available scientific evidence does not support the notion that the wheatgrass diet can cure or prevent any disease. MayoClinic.com agrees, stating that until there is a substantial number of research studies regarding wheatgrass, people should take caution when consuming the wheatgrass diet, as it is not a miracle cure and should not replace standard medical care.
References
- The Ann Wigmore Foundation; About Ann Wigmore; 2008
- NCAHF; Wheatgrass Therapy; William T. Jarvis, Ph.D.; January 2001
- MayoClinic.com; What is Wheatgrass, and Should I Be Adding It to My Smoothies for Better Health?; Brent A. Bauer, M.D.; October 2010
- American Cancer Society; Wheatgrass; November 2008
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