Wheat grass is grown from the seed of the common wheat plant. The grass is harvested when it is at the peak of its nutritional value, at about the height of seven inches. At this point it contains the greatest concentration of minerals, vitamins, amino acids, living enzymes, antioxidants, chlorophyll and phytonutrients that are not available in the fully developed wheat plant.
Wheat grass is thought to be by many a complete food due to its diverse nutritional profile. A large handful of the grass yields roughly one ounce of juice which may be consumed on its own or combined with other fruits or vegetables. While the grass can last a few days in the refrigerator, the juice is best used immediately.
Wheat Grass Tonic
Ingredients:
- ½ cup of finely chopped wheat grass
- 2 apples
- 1 cucumber
- Juice ½ a lemon
Directions:
After washing the vegetables chop them into pieces small enough to fit the juicer and juice. Please note that a centrifugal juicer will not juice wheat grass at all, you will need a masticating juicer or do it manually.
Add-ons
- Mint leaves
- Carrots
Nutritional Information
Wheat grass is considered to be a complete food by many for a good reason. In addition to being loaded with some vital enzymes, phytonutrients and antioxidants it contains 17 amino acids, the stuff needed to build muscle tissue, and repair damaged cells. It also houses 92 out of the 102 naturally occurring minerals, the most important among which include calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, zinc, copper, selenium and phosphorus. Ounce for ounce wheat grass contains more vitamin C than oranges and roughly twice the amount of vitamin A as carrots! It is also an exceptional source of vitamins E, K in addition to Riboflavin, Thiamin, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid and vitamin B6.
Health Benefits of Wheat Grass
The variety of enzymes in wheat grass offers a lot of benefits. The enzyme protease aids digestion, cytochrome oxidase is a known anti-oxidant, amylase facilitates digestion, trans-hydrogenase strengthens the heart muscles while superoxide dismutase, a component of all cells in the body is known to slow cellular aging, hence keeping you young longer.
Wheat grass juice provides protection against toxins, cigarette smoke and heavy metal poisoning. In fact wheat grass may even aid in dissolving scars that can form on lungs. Being a nutrient dense food it suppresses appetite thus helping weight loss in addition to stimulating metabolism.