Wheatgrass
Even if you don’t frequent health food stores, you’ve likely seen wheatgrass juice at the mall. It has become very popular in North America, where it’s often added to vegetable juices as a “boost.” Some people even shoot back an ounce of the juice on its own. That can be hard to do: Freshly cut grass, and that’s essentially what it is, doesn’t taste amazing unless you’re a cow. Wheatgrass is simply the young green shoots of certain varieties of common wheat. Since it’s not easily digested, it’s pulverized to extract the juice, which is about 70% chlorophyll.
Health Benefits
Wheatgrass is like a package of sunshine. It is one of the best sources of dietary chlorophyll, and it can increase hemoglobin production in the blood, which in turn circulates more oxygen.
Wheatgrass can also improve blood sugar balance, and may reduce inflammation of the digestive tract. It has also been used to treat skin problems, including eczema or psoriasis. It may relieve constipation, since it contains a significant amount of magnesium. It has even been touted as a cancer remedy, although there is no evidence of its effectiveness for that.
A powerhouse of micronutrients, wheatgrass contains vitamins A, C, and E, calcium, iron, and selenium, as well antioxidants. Since it is harvested before the gluten develops, it’s likely safe to consume if you are celiac or following a gluten-free diet.
DIFFICULTY
Medium
HARDINESS
Annual
TIME TO PLANT
Can be grown indoors year-round
TIME TO HARVEST
14 to 20 days from seeding
LOCATION
Needs a window or full-spectrum light
SOIL TYPE
Rich, moist, well-drained
Growing
Unless you happen to be a farmer, growing a crop of wheat is a bit of an ordeal. But if you enjoy the health benefits of wheatgrass, you can grow your own indoors year-round. Wheatgrass takes a little work and experience, and you need a lot of grass to extract a small amount of juice. Once you get the hang of it, however, you can produce a whole lawn’s worth of this healthy herb!
Common Varieties: Look for varieties of Triticum aestivum suitable for using as wheatgrass, such as hard red winter wheat. Source the seeds (called “wheatberries”) at health food stores or online, and ensure they have not been treated with chemicals or pesticides.
PLANT
To grow wheatgrass indoors, use 25 × 25 cm (10 × 10 inch) growing trays, potting soil or seed-starting soil, and 8 ounces of wheatgrass seed per tray.
Soak the seeds in lukewarm water overnight. Fill the trays with soil and cover with seeds. Don’t bury them; just cover lightly with soil. Gently water, and cover with clear plastic or plastic hoods (these can be purchased at garden centres).
Wheatgrass grown indoors requires indirect sunlight from a window or full-spectrum light bulbs (readily available at home improvement stores).
Once green blades are visible, remove the plastic cover and continue to keep moist. During the first few days of growth, gently water every day, but don’t soak!
GROW
Given enough water, and planted at the right depth, wheatgrass doesn’t need a rocket scientist to grow. Common problems include overwatering, underwatering, and mould. If mould becomes a problem, reduce watering and increase air circulation by placing a fan in the room.
HARVEST
It’s crucial to harvest wheatgrass at the right time! Wait for it to “split”: This is when the shoots start to produce a second blade of grass. This typically occurs 7 to 12 days from the seed cracking, and when the blade measures 15 cm (6 inches). Use scissors to cut the wheatgrass just above the root. For fresh grass you’ll need to plant new seed, so it might be helpful to keep a few trays growing.
STORE
Wheatgrass is best consumed immediately. Repeat the planting process every 10 to 15 days to ensure continual harvests through the year!
Put It to Work
Low iron? Down a green ice cube!
A craving for ice is often a symptom of iron deficiency. (Obviously, the best way to learn about your iron status is by having your doctor check your blood.) If you have low hemoglobin—and many women in their fertile years have slightly lower levels due to menstruation—supplementing the diet with wheatgrass is a good idea. And if you have a genetic iron deficiency known as thalassemia, iron supplementation won’t help—but wheatgrass might!
Juicing wheatgrass requires a high-powered blender or juicer. Harvest as much wheatgrass as you can hold in one fist. Rinse well under cold running water. Chop into 2.5 cm (1 inch) pieces. Add to blender along with 1 cup of cold water and ½ cup of ice. Blend on high speed until smooth and there is a fibrous froth. Line a fine-mesh sieve with cheesecloth and slowly strain the mixture into a bowl. Pour the juice evenly into a BPA-free ice-cube tray and freeze.
Blend 1 cube of frozen wheatgrass with ½ cup of your favourite citrus juice (this will limit the grassy flavour, and the vitamin C helps iron absorption), ½ cup of water, 1 tablespoon of isolated whey protein, and 1 can of sardines—OK, I’m kidding about the sardines, but now maybe the idea of just wheatgrass and juice doesn’t sound so bad! Drink once a day to boost your iron levels.
Hung over? Bottoms up!
A hangover occurs when you have more toxins in your blood than your body can eliminate. Add that to the negative effects of dehydration and you’re filled with regret about the night before! It’s worth noting that different types of alcohol and the fermentation by-products (congeners) they contain can result in different hangover symptoms. The highest amounts of congeners are found in red wine and dark liquors such as bourbon, brandy, whisky, and tequila.
Consuming too much alcohol is never a good idea, but if you’ve awoken to a nasty hangover, this elixir should help. It tastes horrible, so plug your nose and kick it back!
4 cups water
Freshly squeezed juice of 1 lemon
1 99-mg potassium tablet, crushed
¼ tsp sea salt
1 tbsp blackstrap molasses
1 oz wheatgrass juice (fresh or frozen)
Combine all of the ingredients together in a bottle, mix vigorously, and force it all down!
Fast Forward
Fast forward to the health food store to purchase NOW wheatgrass juice powder or equivalent. Follow the instructions on the label.
Cautions
Because it is grown in soil or water that is potentially contaminated with bacteria, moulds, or other substances, avoid wheatgrass during pregnancy.
Avoid wheatgrass if you have any sensitivity or allergy to the plant. In a very few cases, there have been reports of nausea, headaches, hives, or swelling in the throat within minutes of drinking wheatgrass juice.