Wheatgrass belongs to the Poaceae grass family, which includes other varieties similar to wheat. Your body cannot digest raw wheatgrass because it lacks the enzymes needed to metabolize its considerably fibrous nature. As such, wheatgrass must be “juiced” to extract as much of the digestible nutrients from it as possible. Wheatgrass juice is high in chlorophyll, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. As such, many people drink wheatgrass juice as a nutritional supplement and to boost energy levels and immunity. Wheatgrass can be purchased at juice bars and smoothie shops, but making your own at home can save you significant money.
Growing Wheatgrass
Most available wheatgrass products are prepared from the sprouting cotyledons of the Triticum aestivum plant, according to the “PDR for Herbal Supplements.” Wheatgrass can be purchased fully grown or as seeds. To grow some at home from scratch, you’ll have to buy wheat seeds, which are also called wheat berries. Wheat berries can be grown in soil or hydroponically. Even if you plan on planting the wheat berries in soil, it is best to soak them in water for at least 12 hours or until you see small roots starting to grow. Wheatgrass grows fairly quick, comparable to fast-growing grasses used for lawns.
Harvesting Wheatgrass
Once your wheatgrass grows to between four and six inches it is ready to be harvested. At these heights, wheatgrass is considered to be in its jointing stage, which is when the plant reaches its peak nutritional value. Harvesting it involves cutting the wheatgrass cotyledons, also called stalks, leaves or blades, with a sharp pair of scissors just above the soil or above the roots of hydroponically grown wheatgrass. For maximum freshness, you should harvest your wheatgrass just before you intend on juicing it and drinking it.
Juicing Wheatgrass
In commercial operations, special wheatgrass extractors that look like small meat grinders are used to grind the grass up and extract its liquid. These devices can be purchased for home use for around $100 USD. However, wheatgrass can also be put in a regular blender with water and blended on the maximum setting for at least a minute, or until the wheatgrass is completely pulverized. After pulverizing it, you can strain out the fibrous pulp by pouring the contents of the blender through a coffee filter or cheesecloth. The remaining liquid can be consumed by itself, which isn’t particularly delicious, or added to other juices such as carrot or beet juice.
Available Nutrients
Wheatgrass is often called a “super-food” due to its nutritional content. It contains virtually the entire spectrum of vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Wheatgrass is especially rich in antioxidants and per gram it contains more vitamin C than oranges and twice the vitamin A of carrots, according to “Superfoods: The Healthiest Foods on the Planet” by Tonia Reinhard. Almost 70 percent of wheatgrass is chlorophyll, the green pigment that plants use to transform sunshine into energy. Consuming chlorophyll stimulates hemoglobin and red blood cell production, which increases oxygenation throughout your body. Drinking wheatgrass juice also has a strong alkalizing affect on your body, which tends to promote health.
References
- “PDR for Herbal Supplements: 2nd Edition”; PDR Medical Staff; 2008
- “Superfoods: The Healthiest Foods on the Planet”; Tonia Reinhard; 2010
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