08/15/2022
Wheatgrass, the newly sprouted leaves of the common wheat plant (Triticum aestivum), has gained a lot of popularity in recent years. You can find it in juice bars and health food stores all across the United States. Most people consume it as a juice, taking a 1 to 2-ounce shot on its own or adding a shot to their favorite smoothie or juice recipe. You can also find it in powdered and supplement form for sale at most health food and grocery stores.
While many farmers grow wheatgrass for animal feed, people are starting to purchase it or grow it themselves to incorporate into their diets. It gets harvested early in its development, typically 7 to 10 days after harvesting. It may look like the grass in your front yard, but the young shoots of the wheat plant are packed with nutrients that may provide important health benefits.
Health Benefits
Health food enthusiasts have talked about the health benefits of wheatgrass for years. While more research is needed to prove the claims, studies are finding that the young wheat may potentially provide several important benefits.
Wheatgrass is low in calories but high in nutrients, including antioxidants such as glutathione, vitamin C, and vitamin E. Antioxidants fight free radicals in the body, reducing oxidative stress and protecting against health conditions like arthritis, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases.
WebMD Medical ReferenceReviewed by Dan Brennan, MD on November 07, 2020
