Wheatgrass

There’s a sign on the side of the road coming out of Derry to Bridgend that says you can have a month’s supply of frozen grass for €30. This seems like a lot for something you can get off the back garden on a frosty day, but it actually refers to Wheatgrass. 

There’s a huge market for this ‘superfood’ and you could pay as much as €1.50 for an eggcup sized glass of extracted juice in some places.

Wheatgrass

I’ve been intrigued about the plant for some time so this week I have planted a few trays myself to

see what all the fuss is about.

I was surprised when I opened the 5kg bag that the seeds are actually wheat. I’m not really sure in hindsight what I was expecting, but with all of the hype I thought they would look different somehow. But no, it’s just wheat (Triticum aestivum), the ‘grass’ part refers to the look of the plant as is cut in its early stage of growth. As the grass is bitter and stringy it’s generally run through a juicer to extract the vitamins and minerals.

Origins of juicing

I’m sure juicing is as old as food itself but the idea for wheatgrass juicing is attributed to a dietary health specialist called Dr Bircher-Benner (1867-1939)  who dubbed the juice as 'concentrated sunlight'. He was convinced that health care should be much more than just medical treatments.

In 1897, he founded a sanatorium in Zürich where he practised therapies which included a daily walk, bathing and sunbathing. He even set up exercise equipment, a kind of a forerunner of the fitness centres of today.

He famously invented muesli, and strongly advocated the consumption of more fruit and vegetables, which were traditionally regarded as foods for the poor. Contrary to orthodox medical doctrines of his time, Dr. Bircher continued to believe in what he called "the food of sunlight", meals based on natural raw ingredients so green juices are said to be a forerunner to the raw food movement.

Is wheatgrass powerful?

Wheatgrass is referred to by ‘health food experts’ as a green superfood as it has exceptional nutritional properties. I would say here that the amount of nutrition in wheatgrass is comparable to juicing most raw plants such as broccoli, kale and spinach. Like these wheatgrass has essential nutrients and proteins in the form of amino acids, a collection of vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, and phytonutrients. The juice is a source of B vitamins, including vitamin B12, folic acid, and also vitamins A, C, E and contains calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc and selenium. The benefits of drinking any green vegetable juice can increase vitality, well-being and energy levels and it’s a good introduction to eating more fresh vegetables

Can Wheatgrass Treat What Ails You?

Wheatgrass believers use it to try and combat a number of everyday health conditions, including colds, coughs, fevers, digestive problems, and skin conditions. Wheatgrass also has been used to potentially prevent and treat more serious conditions, from cancer to AIDS. Those who swear by it say that the potent ingredient in wheatgrass is chlorophyll, the pigment that gives plants their green colour. They say chlorophyll acts like hemoglobin (the protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen) and increases oxygen levels in the body. Any green plant food you have eaten over the years, such as spinach, parsley, arugula, has also been contributing chlorophyll so again no big surprise there.

Does Wheatgrass Live Up to the Claims?

Despite all the health claims, there is very little, if any, evidence that wheatgrass actually works to detoxify or prevent or cure disease. Most of what little research has been conducted focuses on the effects of wheatgrass on the digestive system. There is an ever growing list of superfoods from avocados, broccoli, mushrooms, blueberry and gogi berries to sweet potatoes. There’s one thing you can rely on though is the price will go up with demand and marketing.

Any risks?

Although wheatgrass is considered safe, some people have reported side effects after using it,

especially in high doses. They have ranged from mild (headaches and nausea) to more serious allergic reactions (hives and swelling of the throat). Because most people eat wheatgrass raw, there is also the rare chance that it can be contaminated with bacteria or other organisms from the soil.

Should I Use Wheatgrass?

There isn't really any harm in trying a small amount of wheatgrass . You can buy the drinks readymade or buy full trays of the grass. Maybe you could do what I have and grow a tray yourself to experiment.  All you need is a handful of seeds, a tray with some soil in it (even the soil is optional) and then follow a few youtube videos until you find a method to suit. I’ve opted for the tray covered with newspapers after soaking the seeds for a few days. You’ll probably find the leftover pulp makes a great skin toner too.

Update: I've just found out that we need to buy a masticating juicer. Centrifugal juicers only produce about a teaspoon of juice per tray!

Children, pregnant or nursing women, and anyone who has compromised immunity should avoid it because of the potential for bacteria.

Updated images: Various stages of growth. A fungus appeared telling me I had these a bit too wet. It' probably why it's recommended to cut about 1" above the seeds.