Wheat Grass

[Shaptown]

Had some of this at Jamba Juice today. The stuff really didn't taste quite as bad as most people make it out to be. Additionally it appears as though the 2 fluid ounces of the stuff I consumed contains absolutely incredible micronutrients and macronutrients. Here is a table copied and pasted off of Wikipedia (I realize Wikipedia is often not a legitimately citable source, however in this case, it is), which is for a mere 1 fluid ounce of the stuff:

Table 1. Nutrient comparison of 1 oz (28.35 g) of wheatgrass juice, broccoli and spinach.
Nutrient Wheatgrass Juice Broccoli Spinach
Protein 860 mg 800 mg 810 mg
Beta-carotene 120 IU 177 IU 2658 IU
Vitamin E 880 mcg 220 mcg 580 mcg
Vitamin C 1 mg 25.3 mg 8 mg
Vitamin B12 0.30 mcg 0 mcg 0 mcg
Phosphorus 21 mg 19 mg 14 mg
Magnesium 8 mg 6 mg 22 mg
Calcium 7.2 mg 13 mg 28 mg
Iron 0.66 mg 0.21 mg 0.77 mg
Potassium 42 mg 90 mg 158 mg


So who consumes the stuff? I would feel like this would be a FANTASTIC food to consume on a daily basis for its nutrients and health-promoting properties. However, I would believe it to be even MORESO a necessity when we are in a depleted state due to things such as ketone-body inducing diets, sodium depletion, carb loading/unloading, and any other stressful protocol that we take for granted every day for that matter.

Looking forward to hearing which of you guys are advocates or proponents of the stuff. Being that I don't have a juicer (which I would really love to invest in at some point as I thoroughly enjoy homemade fresh juices) , I would likely just buy the stuff pre-made at the market, or if I don't intend on daily consumption, perhaps just stop in at jamba juice on the way into work.

 

[NAIR]

I've always wanted to try this stuff but its so damn expensive to consume on a daily basis. I'd be really intersted in seeing some research on the stuff. If it's what the juice companies claim I think you're right on with it being a damn good foof to take in everyday. Little rich for my blood thoguh

 

[NAIR]

Hey I just pulled this off of wikipedia - thought it was interesting:


Health Claims
Proponents of wheatgrass make many claims for its health properties, ranging from promotion of general well-being to cancer prevention and heavy-metal detoxification. These claims have not been satisfactorily substantiated in the scientific literature,[1] although there is some evidence in support of the beneficial effects of chlorophyll in the human diet.[6][7] Some research exists that relates diets high in chlorophyll, present in higher concentrations in green leafy vegetables, to lower rates of colon cancer.[6]

There are a number of other small studies and pilots on the possible benefits of wheatgrass juice. According to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center [8], there may be a need for further study of wheatgrass therapy for ulcerative collitis; they cite a small pilot study which showed regular wheatgrass juice therapy significantly reduced rectal bleeding and overall disease activity.[9]

It has been argued that wheatgrass helps blood flow, digestion and general detoxification of the body. These claims have not been reliably substantiated. However, in one pilot study of children with thalassemia (a hereditary form of anemia which often requires blood transfusions), of the patients who were given 100ml of wheatgrass juice daily, half showed reduced need for transfusions. No adverse effects were observed.[10] Another small study of transfusion-dependent patients suffering from myelodysplastic syndrome responded similarly to wheatgrass therapy; that is, the intervals between needed transfusions was increased. In addition, the chelation effect (removal of heavy metals from the blood) was studied for the same patients; the wheatgrass therapy showed a significant iron chelation effect.[11]

In another pilot, breast cancer patients who drank wheatgrass juice daily showed a decreased need for blood- and bone marrow-building medications during chemotherapy, without diminishing the effects of the therapy.[12]