Wheatgrass
Wheatgrass is a young plant of the genus Caroline, (especially Agropyron cristatum, a relative of wheat). Fresh leaf buds of this plant can be crushed to create a juice or dried to make a powder; the unprocessed plant contains fiber, which promotes colon health. Wheatgrass, whether in juice or dehydrated whole leaf form, provides chlorophyll, amino acids, minerals, vitamins, and enzymes.
Some wheatgrass products are made from Triticum aestivum (common wheat).
History
The consumption of wheatgrass in the Western world began in the 1930s with the attempts of Charles F Schnabel to popularize the plant.[1] Ann Wigmore continued to contribute to the popularization of wheatgrass in the 1940s. Believing that it contributed to the remission of her cancer, Wigmore wrote several books on the subject.[2]
Usage
 | This article's factual accuracy is disputed. |
The average dosage taken by consumers of wheatgrass is 2–4 oz of the juice, 7 tablets (3.5 grams) or a tablespoon of powder taken 1–2 times per day on an empty stomach and before meals. For detoxification, some users may increase their intake to 3–4 times per day. It should be noted that high dosages of artificially grown wheatgrass can cause nausea, but this is not caused by the wheatgrass but rather by the way the wheatgrass is grown. Wheatgrass grown under artificial conditions indoors in trays does not have the proper balance of nutrients found in wheatgrass grown outdoors under natural conditions. True wheatgrass juice is only available for a few days each year from plants grown outdoors in regions renown for winter or spring wheat, the "bread basket regions of the US and Canada. Winter wheat requires more than 200 days of slow growth in cold temperatures to reach the peak nutritional content. Even after that long of time, the plant is only 7 to 10 inches high because it was allowed to grow during the cold winter months in climates like midwestern United States, which is natural to the plant. Spring wheat can achieve this optimal stage in about 30 to 60 days as long as it is grown outdoors in the early spring in cold climates such as Montana. Growing wheatgrass in a tray in warm greenhouse conditions is not optimal and is certainly not natural. Compared to real wheat grass grown outdoors in the proper climate, the leaves of tray-grown wheatgrass are very thin, pale and contain a much lower in nutritional content. The chemical composition is not balanced; thus, the juice from this "artifically grown" wheatgrass tends to have a bad flavor as well as a high bacteria and mold content, which is the usual cause of the nausea. Much higher nutritional benefit without the nausea comes from wheatgrass grown under natural conditions and harvested at the one time per year when the nutritional value reaches its peak. Most people who seek such high nutritional content wheatgrass use dehydrated powders and tablets from reputable companies that grow the wheatgrass organically under natural conditions in an ideal climate such as the midwest of the United States and Canada. It is also important that the wheatgrass be harvested before the "jointing stage" which usually occurs for only a few days for winter wheat grown in breadbasket areas in the United States.
Health claims
Proponents of wheatgrass use claims that regular ingestion of the plant can improve the digestive system, prevent cancer, diabetes and heart disease, cure constipation, detoxify heavy metals from the bloodstream, cleanse the liver, prevent hair loss and help to make menopause more manageable.[1] There is, however, no medical nor scientific evidence to support these claims, although there is a great deal of anecdotal evidence to that effect.[3]
One of the most popular claims about wheatgrass, and one that is frequently made by both supporters and retailers, is that a 30 ml shot of wheatgrass is as nutritionally valuable as a kilogram of green vegetables.[3] This claim most likely originates from a statement commonly attributed to the "father of wheatgrass", Charles F. Schnabel, who is alleged to have said that "Fifteen pounds of wheatgrass is equivalent to 350 pounds of the choicest vegetables".[3] However, 30 grams of cooked spinach and broccoli contains more of certain vitamins and minerals (including vitamin C, calcium and folic acid) than the equivalent amount of wheatgrass.[3] Spinach and broccoli also contain fibre.
Schnabel's research was with wheatgrass grown outdoors in Kansas. Schnabel's wheatgrass grew slowly through the cold of winter and was harvested at a very specific time in the early spring, which farmers refer to as the "jointing stage." It was then dehydrated and made into powders and tablets for human consumption. Schnabel's wheatgrass required 200 days of slow growth through the winter and early spring in Kansas to build those high nutritional levels. When wheatgrass is allowed to develop normally in its natural climate, a dense root structure combines with more than 200 days of sunlight to produce a plant with extremely high nutritional values. To use Schnabel's research to promote wheatgrass grown for ten days in a hot house is an obvious invalid comparison. Wheatgrass grown quickly and unnaturally in trays for ten days under artificial conditions contains considerably less nutrional content that wheatgrass grown outdoors in a climate like the midwestern United States and Canada, harvested at once-per-year jointing stage.
Comparison: Artificial vs. Natural
The nutritionally dense wheatgrass of the kind grown by Schnable is still available in tablet and powder form through natural food stores and online in the United States and about most other countries. Seven tablets (3.5 grams) or a teaspoon of wheatgrass powder grown organically through the winter and harvested before the jointing state is equal in nutrition to a USDA serving of spinach or other dark green vegetables. Not all dehydrated wheatgrass is grown in accordance with Schnabel's research. The consumer needs to insist on reputable companies that still follow the growing, harvesting, dehydrating and processing techniques established by Schnable.
The chlorophyll molecule is similar in structure to hemoglobin, leading some to believe that wheatgrass helps blood flow, digestion and general detoxification of the body. Although no research exists that directly connects chlorophyll with blood building, many nutrients associated with dark green leafy vegetables have been shown to be important for healthy blood. This may or may not be ture about wheatgrass being grown outdoors. It has been shown by many comparative analysis that dehydrated wheatgras powder, if grown under natural conditions, has a much higher nutritional value that so-called "fresh juice" grown under unnatural hot-house conditi8os. Comparison: Artificial vs. Natural Because fresh wheatgrass juice is 95% water it is impossible to get the nutrition from fresh wheatgrass juice that you can from dehydrated or spray dried or freezed dried wheat grass. As the nutritional analysis referenced above shows, using only 1/8th the amount by weight of quality dehydrated wheatgrass is far superior nutritionally than a "shot" of wheatgrass juice grown under unnatural conditions. It should also be noted that Ann Wigmore encouraged her students to dehydrate raw foods at low temperatures to preserve their nutrients. Not being a farmer, she simply did not understand that the research by Charles Schnable was with dehydrated wheat grass grown very slowly in Kansas for more than 200 days through the winter. She inappropriately used the scientific findings of Schnable on dehydrated wheatgrass to support growing wheatgrass in a manner that would make Charles Schnable roll over in his grave.
Popular culture
In the FX Networks television series Nip/Tuck, Dr. Christian Troy grows and drinks wheatgrass in numerous episodes.
In The Simpsons episode "When You Dish upon a Star", Homer invents a cocktail made of wheatgrass and vodka called a "lawnmower". Also appears in the episode "Make Room for Lisa" where Lisa is given a shot of wheatgrass juice by the owner of the New Age store who interprets Lisa's disgust at the taste as a sign of working taste buds.
Wheatgrass is referenced in Sex and the City when a character that Samantha is dating has 'funky tasting spunk' Wheatgrass was referenced as a good way to change this. [citation needed]
Notes
- ^ a b Murphy, Sean (2002-10-13). "Wheatgrass, healthy for the body and the bank account". ABC Landline. Retrieved 2006-10-06.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Jarvis, William T. Wheatgrass Therapy. National Council Against Health Fraud (1998). Retrieved on 2007-05-22
- ^ a b c d "Healthy or Hyped?", page 24 of Choice Magazine. May 4, 2006. Partially available online at choice.com, Retrieved on 2007-05-23.