| Wheat Grass Wonders | |
by Sara Robson, Produce Assistant, from the February 2003 newsletter
Wheat grass is everywhere these days, quickly becoming the "new age espresso,"
offered in smoothies and juices, salads and even in tablets and powders. This
highly praised plant is a member of the Graminae family and is represented
in the varieties of Elymus species. Don't let the Latin name scare you!
Wheat grass is a green leafy vegetable that is commonly used as a supplement.
Ideally, wheat grass is taken about an hour prior to a meal. This allows the body to fully metabolize it without competing with other foods; it may also curb your hunger so you eat less at meal times. It is recommended to drink lots of water (at least a liter) with the juice to reap the optimum nutritional benefits. Taking wheat grass as a supplement in the mid-morning or mid-afternoon is a great time for a "green" energy boost.
As many of you may know, wheat grass packs a nutritional punch, including (per 3.5 grams) 860 mg protein, 18.5 mg chlorophyll, 15 mg calcium, 38 mg lysine, 7.5 mg vitamin C, plus an abundance of micronutrients, such as the B complex vitamins and amino acids. Wheat grass enthusiasts boast its potential to cure anything from cancer to dandruff; however, these miracle-healing properties are not medically proven. The research suggests that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can be "preventative maintenance" for many ailments, and wheat grass is one more way to increase the veggie power of your overall diet.
One word of caution: wheat grass juice is high in vitamin K, which is a blood-clotting agent. People taking blood-thinning medications or people with wheat-related allergies shouldn't drink wheat grass juice without consulting a health care professional. For those who are allergic to wheat, you may be able to eat (or drink) wheat grass. Wheat allergies are generally a response to the gluten (a protein) found in the wheat berry. Wheat grass is a vegetable, harvested prior to the plant forming the flower head.
Wheat grass juice is highly acclaimed and very useful for a healthy diet and body, making it that much simpler to go green! To prepare wheat grass juice that is easy to take on a daily basis, simply puree wheat grass to a pulp in a food processor or with a mortar and pestle, strain through a sieve or cheesecloth. After you have the concentrated juice, add enough water to fill an ice tray and freeze. Take three to four ice cubes per day (add to juice or water). Another higher tech option is to buy a specialized wheat grass juicer.
You can find fresh organic wheat grass in the produce section of the Co-op, and it is a good possibility that in the future the Deli will have it available to add to smoothies and juices. If you would like more details on the subject, some informative Web sites about wheat grass are Wheat Grass People and Web MD Health. Also, for all you animal lovers out there, pets like it too – especially cats!
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