Wheatgrass Juicing and All its Amazing Wonders

In 1958, Dr. Ann Wigmore was almost single-handedly responsible for popularizing wheatgrass juice for its healing properties. She tested hundreds of weeds and grasses from all over the world at the Hippocrates Health Institute in Boston.  Dr. Wigmore chose wheatgrass as her favorite due to its incredibly high nutrient content and all of its fantastic health benefits. Dr. Wigmore witnessed many healings by seriously ill patients who ingested wheatgrass juice. Was all of this hype? I don't believe so and I'll tell you why.

And so our love affair with wheatgrass juice began.

Today, wheatgrass juice is vastly becoming one of the most widely used health food supplements. It has been called one of nature's finest medicines because it is perhaps the most nutritious and cleansing juice available to us.  When wheatgrass is in its natural state, we humans cannot digest it - but when it is freshly squeezed we not only can digest it, we can reap the amazing benefits of it.

Almost everyone has heard of wheatgrass and some of its benefits, but what are they specifically? Well, one of the best things about wheatgrass juice is that it is immediately absorbed into the bloodstream and gives us instant energy! Another amazing benefit is that wheatgrass juice contains all the vitamins that science has isolated! Let me repeat that - wheatgrass juice contains all of the vitamins that science has isolated.  I could stop right here and that one little fact alone should be enough to make you jump on the wheatgrass band wagon, but please allow me to wow you, so read on. 
 
Wheatgrass juice is a whole meal and a complete protein.  It is composed of approximately 70% crude chlorophyll which contains the same structure as hemoglobin. Chlorophyll increases the body's production of hemoglobin, which means that there is more oxygen.  This additional oxygen is instrumental to restoring one's health and can actually assist in fighting cancer.   The treatment of cancer with wheatgrass has been documented in many scientific journals over the past 70 years or so. If you have a family history of cancer, or are in the process of treating the disease, you may want to do some research on wheatgrass.

Wheatgrass juice has approximately 30 enzymes, the most notable of which are superoxide dismutase (known for its ability to SLOW cellular aging), cytochrome oxidase (an antioxidant used for cell respiration), and proteases and amylases (families of enzymes that facilitate digestion of protein and starches).

Wheatgrass is also an excellent source of calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, sulphur, cobalt, and zinc (nature's most health promoting nutrient!) and 20 amino acids. It has as many as 92 out of 102 possible minerals recognized as available to plants from soil. The minerals in wheatgrass juice are predominantly alkaline; this is enormously helpful in keeping our blood's pH in balance. 

(Whew - this might be a good place to have a shot of wheatgrass after expending all that mental energy reading the last few paragraphs!)

 Wheatgrass juice is perfect for those who are trying to release extra weight as it is a safe, effective, and an extremely potent aid to weight loss. It works by suppressing the appetite and by stimulating metabolism and circulation. It also acts as an energizer - one ounce of fresh wheatgrass juice equals more than two pounds (!) of organic vegetables in terms of vitamins and minerals, enough to keep you refreshed all day. One teaspoon of wheatgrass juice has only about 10-15 calories, nearly a gram of protein, and has no fat or cholesterol.  Let's face it - athletes, people on the move, moms on overload and our elderly (or anyone who needs to maintain a healthy immune system) should drink wheatgrass juice.  Really, ANYONE who wants to feel ABSOLUTELY AMAZING should be drinking wheatgrass juice!
 
Now that you've seen all of the benefits of wheatgrass juice, there should be nothing stopping you from drinking it!  All you need is an ounce or two daily. Try some, you'll be amazed at how much better you'll feel and look!
 
To Making Your Life Healthy and Delicious!,

Chef Tina Jo