High in vitamins, minerals, protein and chlorophyll, wheat grass has been revered for its health-boosting properties as far back as 5,000 years in ancient Egypt. In modern times, wheat grass is commonly consumed as a juice or dehydrated and sold as a powder. Despite impressive anecdotal claims about wheat grass, little evidence exists to show this food cleanses your body or has other unusual health benefits.
Claims
Proponents of wheat grass claim this food has cleansing and detoxifying properties, helping to eliminate bacteria, building red blood cells, removing drug deposits from the body, increasing enzyme activity within cells, purifying the blood, cleansing the organs and removing toxins. Many of these claims originated with author and holistic health practitioner Ann Wigmore, who taught that wheat grass cleans your system due to its high chlorophyll and enzyme content.
Myths
Although wheat grass powder contains a spectrum of beneficial nutrients -- including vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, calcium, magnesium and iron -- claims about its cleansing and detoxifying abilities are not based in science. According to William T. Jarvis, writer for the National Council Against Health Fraud, chlorophyll cannot detoxify your body because it's indigestible to humans. Likewise, the enzymes present in wheat grass don't confer any cleansing properties: They exist only for promoting chemical reactions within the wheat grass plant, and are deactivated by human stomach acid. Claims about wheat grass purifying the blood, removing toxins and reversing disease are purely anecdotal and haven't been proved in a clinical setting.
Research
Very little research exists studying the health effects of wheat grass powder or other wheat grass products. Although there isn't any evidence that wheat grass can clean your system, a study published in the "Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology" in April of 2002 found that, after drinking wheat grass juice daily, ulcerative colitis patients saw significant improvement in their symptoms. According to this study, wheat grass contains several compounds with antioxidant activity, potentially contributing to this food's positive effect on health.
Warning
If you suffer from gluten intolerance or wheat allergy, consult your physician before consuming wheat grass powder. Due to the damp, humid conditions required for growing wheat grass, wheat grass powder and similar products may harbor mold and bacteria responsible for foodborne illness, especially products that haven't been pasteurized. Avoid consuming raw wheat grass powder or wheat grass juice if you're pregnant or nursing.
References
- Health Services at Columbia; Go Ask Alice!; Is Wheatgrass as Groovy as They Say?; January 24, 2003
- MayoClinic.com; What is Wheatgrass -- and Why Is It In My Drink?; Brent A. Bauer, M.D.; October 15, 2010
- National Council Against Health Fraud; Wheatgrass Therapy; William T. Jarvis; 1998
- Amazing Grass: What is the History of Wheat Grass?
- Living and Raw Foods: Information on Wheatgrass
- "Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology"; Wheat Grass Juice in the Treatment of Active Ulcerative Colitis; April 2002
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