Wheat grass is the shoots which germinate from sprouted wheat grains, harvested and either dried and ground to a powder or liquidised and processed as a juice. Wheat grass is an excellent source of betacarotene, which is a powerful antioxidant. It is also rich in iron, folic acid and vitamins B, C and E, as well as containing more than 20 per cent protein and also valuable minerals such as magnesium.
Wheat grass contains twice as much dietary fibre as bran and is also very high in chlorophyll, used by the plant to convert sunlight into energy. The high iron and vitamin content makes it useful for treating anaemia. With the high concentration of vitamins and minerals, it can also be used to help support the immune system. Many people take the juice to improve skin tone and help with skin disorders such as acne, eczema and psoriasis. Its high levels of chlorophyll and betacarotene may also be helpful against some forms of cancer and may also offer an anti-ageing function. Wheat grass can also be used in detox diets to remove toxins from the body.
Wheat grass can be found in many local health food stores in either powder or tablet form. Alternatively, Wheat grains can be grown for up to two weeks until the sprouts are 15 to 20 cm high, (see the page on sprouting seeds) then turned into juice by blending with a small amount of cooled, boiled water and drunk immediately. Wheat grass sprouts are sometimes also available fresh in the local health food store.