Wheatgrass is part of the embryo in the seed of the common wheat plant, or bread wheat, which was first grown twelve thousand years ago in Western Asia. By the Sixteenth Century, wheat had arrived in North America and by the end of the Nineteenth Century had become a major export.
In the 1930’s an American agricultural chemist, Charles F. Schnabel, experimented with wheatgrass and discovered that he could make sick hens healthy by using fresh cut grass. They not only regained health but produced more eggs, so Mr. Schnabel started drying and powdering the grass as a supplement for humans. Offering his discovery to the food industry, two food giants did further research and shortly the powdered wheatgrass was selling in major stores throughout North America.
Wheatgrass Health Benefits
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The claims of the health benefits of wheatgrass are many. Proponents of wheatgrass claim it to be one of the planet’s most potent healing agents. Although not all of the claims have been definitely substantiated by the scientific community, there is some evidence proving that wheatgrass is beneficial in the human diet. It contains chlorophyll, amino acids, minerals, vitamins and enzymes, but does not contain wheat gluten. Thus, wheatgrass provides supplemental nutrition along with exceptional curative properties. Health food stores offer fresh wheatgrass, or in powdered or tablet form, or in frozen juice. It can also be found at juice bars where it is usually sold by itself or mixed in fruit or vegetable drinks. Wheatgrass kits are available in order to grow it at home.
Chlorophyll on Young Wheatgrass
The young wheatgrass contains higher amounts of chlorophyll, which is also an anti-bacterial. There is some evidence that chlorophyll in the human diet can have the effect of lowering the rates of colon cancer. Studies are now being held to determine the possible benefits of wheatgrass on ulcerative colitis, as initial studies proved that the consumption of wheatgrass juice reduced rectal bleeding. An article in “The American Journal of Surgery”, written by a physician, recommended chlorophyll, specifically that in wheatgrass, for its antiseptic benefits.
Children suffering from a hereditary form of anemia and other transfusion-dependent patients with pre-leukemia symptoms who consumed a daily amount of wheatgrass juice were shown to have less of a need for blood transfusions. This has substantiated claims that the wheatgrass health benefits include helping the flow of blood, digestion and the body’s detoxification.
Wheatgrass health benefits have been said to provide a sense of well being, steady nerves, allow better sleep, strengthen the immune system, improve eyesight and even lessen food cravings. While these claims may not be entirely accurate for everyone. Because each human body is different, they are founded in good intentions of the people who have experienced benefits from wheatgrass juice.
Most people are aware that government studies suggest an increase in vegetable consumption is healthy for everyone. And may reduce the prevalence of cancer and heart disease. Because the majority of people do not eat the recommended servings of vegetables each day. Wheatgrass can provide them with the greens they need.
