It’s another stunning Monday to learn about the health benefits of wheatgrass.
Wheatgrass has become very popular as it became a detox drink. It made wheatgrass juice a household name. I’m not quite sure now though.
Here is my list of the health benefits of wheatgrass that you and I should know more about.
1. Wheatgrass Has Good Amounts Of Vitamins And Minerals
Wheatgrass juice has been consumed as a supplementary drink because of the nutrients you can get from it.
Some even call it a superfood.
You’ll get beta-carotene which turns to vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin C, and vitamin E.
Minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium are also present in wheatgrass.
Aside from these, you can also get some protein.
2. Helps In Alkalizing Your Body
Drinking wheatgrass juice has an alkalizing effect in your body as it increases the absorption of electrolytes.
It is said that if you have low alkalinity or have high levels of acid in your body, you’re more prone to different chronic diseases as you grow older.
These effects of wheatgrass may be attributed to its chlorophyll-content.
Chlorophyll aids in maintaining your body’s pH level.
3. Wheatgrass Has Anti-inflammatory Qualities
Wheatgrass is a good source of chlorophyll.
Chlorophyll is said to have really good anti-inflammatory properties. A test-tube study on this showed that chlorophyll was able to stop the activity of a specific protein that can trigger inflammations.
In a different study on chlorophyll, researchers were able to observe reduced inflammation in cells from arteries.
There are also mentions of this that it can be effective with arthritis conditions too.
4. Helps Improve Blood Circulation
Wheatgrass is a good source of iron which is used for the production of red blood cells in your body.
This also means that more nutrients and oxygen are better distributed to different parts of your body.
5. Wheatgrass Is A Source Of Antioxidants
Different nutrients in wheatgrass can act as antioxidants in your body.
These are vitamin C, vitamin E, and even glutathione.
Antioxidants are important in your body because they are able to deal with free radicals in your body that can cause cell damage and oxidative stress.
In this study, Antioxidant Effect of Triticum Aestivium (Wheat Grass) in High-Fat Diet-Induced Oxidative Stress in Rabbits, they’ve observed that wheatgrass was able to increase the levels of glutathione and vitamin C on the animal test subjects.
6. Helps Reduce Fatigue And Prevent Anemia
Feeling fatigued can be caused by poor circulation of blood which delivers the nutrients and oxygen to parts of your body.
Just the fact that wheatgrass is a source of iron makes it a good energy drink for days that you feel that you get tired easily.
This can also prevent a deficiency of iron in your body which can lead to anemia.
7. Wheatgrass May Help With Losing Weight
There are different studies with thylakoids that have shown it to be a contributor to weight loss.
Wheatgrass has these thylakoids like other green leafy vegetables.
According to this study that was conducted on rats, thylakoids has apparently the ability to slow down the emptying of the stomach while increasing the release of hormones that can make the rats feel less hungry.
There should be more studies conducted on this since thylakoids used in these studies were high concentrations of it.
And of course, studies should still be conducted with humans to really know if this is effective to us.
8. Helps Boost Your Immunity
The combination of nutrients as well as amino acids and enzymes in wheatgrass greatly helps in improving your body’s defensive mechanisms against different infections and pathogens that can do harm to it.
Its detoxifying effect also contributes to keeping your body cleaner which makes it better in fighting and preventing diseases.
9. Wheatgrass May Help Reduce Cholesterol
There are different studies that consuming wheatgrass is able to reduce the levels of cholesterol.
This study conducted on rats showed that wheatgrass has similar effects that of atorvastatin.
Atorvastatin is a prescription drug used to help lower bad cholesterol and fats while increasing good cholesterol in the blood.
In another study this time with rabbits, they noticed that rabbits fed with wheatgrass showed lower cholesterol levels in general but there is an increase in good cholesterol.
Talking more about grass-type plants, you should also check my article on wheat.
Wheat is also a good plant food that’s helpful in reducing your cholesterol levels. Well just in case you didn’t know, wheatgrass is just the first leaves that sprout from the common wheat.
10. Is Good For Oral Care
It is said the when you gargle wheatgrass juice, it is able to remove the toxins in your gums and teeth which can make them healthier.
Furthermore, it seems to have somewhat antibacterial qualities that can fight bacteria in your mouth that can cause bad breath.
11. Wheatgrass Helps Remove Toxins Out Of Your Body
The combination of the different nutrients found in wheatgrass is said to be able to help in cleaning your body or detoxifying it.
Particularly chlorophyll. It helps detoxify your body and also contributes to the healthy functions of your liver.
12. Helps Treat Skin Conditions
Wheatgrass has been used as a remedy for different skin diseases like eczema, psoriasis, and sunburns.
It is even used to promote faster healing of burns, cuts, and wounds.
What they do is that they freeze wheatgrass juice as ice cubes and use them to rub on the affected part of your skin.
If this is too much work for you, you can just use cotton balls and dip them in wheatgrass juice before rubbing it on your skin.
13. Wheatgrass May Help With Blood Sugar Management
More studies conducted on animals have shown that wheatgrass is able to help lower blood sugar levels.
In a study with diabetic rats, they noticed a significant decrease in blood sugar levels after 30 days of consuming wheatgrass extracts.
14. Helps With Hair Health
It is said that consuming wheatgrass can help you slow down or even prevent that graying of your hair.
This is probably because of its catalase content as well as the antioxidants which can slow down signs of aging.
If drinking wheatgrass juice is not enough for you, you can also use it as an additive to your hair conditioner.
15. Wheatgrass Is Good For Your Digestion
Wheatgrass has enzymes that are supposed to help break down food and absorb nutrients. You can read more on this topic here.
The detoxifying effect can also be helpful in reducing the chances of abdominal discomfort, bloating, and gas.
There’s even a study that it can help relieve digestive issues like constipation and irritable bowel syndrome.
16. May Help With Asthma
Magnesium and zinc in wheatgrass are able to lessen the inflammatory response in your body.
These also influence your airways in your lungs by widening them which can ease some symptoms of asthma.
Conclusion
These are quite a lot of health benefits of wheatgrass.
No wonder why people consider it a superfood.
For me, my best health benefit of wheatgrass on the list is its anti-inflammatory qualities. I guess you already knew as soon as you saw it.
How about you? What do you think is the best health benefit of wheatgrass for you?
Although wheatgrass is relatively safe, you should still ask first your doctor or health professional if you can consume it for its health benefits.
Also, don’t forget to share this list with someone you know. Thank you!