Wheat grass

It’s that time of the year when celebrations have no boundaries!! Diwali, dussehra on the roll and food platter in place just make the festivities super loaded with calories! Sweets, gujiya, rasgulla, rasmalai, ghevar but amidst this all, is also a hidden elixir of life…what we call “Jau” in common parlance and wheat grass as is in the books. Wheat grass is actually two to three week old sprouts of the wheat kernel which contain an enormous concentration of chlorophyll.

People grow wheat grass as a symbol of knowledge to pray the dieties during this time of the year. But little do they know about its hidden storehouse of nutrients , so here is a quick peak into it’s health claims (as in wikipedia)

·        improve the digestive system – Fresh Wheat Grass has many “live enzymes” to aid in the digestion and metabolization of foods  

·        prevent cancer, diabetes and heart disease

·        cure constipation-  Wheatgrass also has the effect of being a laxative, which is beneficial in a case of constipation. Wheatgrass contains three essential elements to help deal with elimination (regular and healthy bowel movements): fiber, which is crucial for proper waste and toxin elimination; chlorophyll, which is an excellent purifier; and  vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

·        detoxify – As a green drink rich in chlorophyll, Wheatgrass has an alkalizing effect, neutralizing acid wastes in the body.  

·        help make menopause more manageable

·        promote general well-being-  Since Chlorophyll and Hemoglobin are so much alike in atom structure it allows it to be absorbed quickly and begin to build the blood stream.

While none of these claims have been substantiated in the scientific literature, there is limited evidence in support of some of these claims.

In the form of fresh juice, wheatgrass has high concentrations of chlorophyll, active enzymes, vitamins and other nutrients. In fact, one ounce of wheatgrass juice is equivalent in food value to two and a half pounds of green leafy vegetables.Its a good idea to have mixed wheat grass juice for the convenience of taste…beetroot+carrot+wheatgrass would be a killer combination to boost your immune system!! Make sure you avoid citrus fruits in combination, as the ascorbic acid in them destroy the enzyme in wheatgrass juice. So next time you think healthy…think wheatgrass juice! One can also have powdered wheatgrass which is available in the market in the form of capsules and sachets also, but given it’s high cellulose content, it mostly remains insoluble and hence the nutrient efficiency reduces to a large extent. A lot of research is still in the process to validate the above concern.

One area in which wheatgrass is thought to be superior to other vegetables is in its content of Vitamin B₁₂, a vital nutrient. B₁₂, it turns out, is not a vitamin contained within wheatgrass or any plant but rather a byproduct of the microorganisms living on the plant. Therefore, there are no reliable plant sources of Vitamin B₁₂.

For further updates on wheatgrass usage and how to grow wheatgrass at home, please follow the link below..

http://www.wheatgrassman.com/site/1538595/page/621659

So, this diwali be ready with your fact files on wheatgrass, to impress those around, by adding some nutritional knowledge to the traditional aspects of it …

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