The Cleansing Effects of Wheatgrass Juice

Wheat grass, a variety of grass akin to barley and oats and is grown outdoors whereas "wheatgrass" is grown indoors, from wheat berries, in trays for ten days and is then squeezed into fresh juice.

The notion that wheatgrass can help people who are suffering from serious illnesses was developed by Ann Wigmore, from Boston. Inspired by her Lithuanian grandmother's approach to healing, Wigmore believed that as food is digesting in the colon it releases toxins that may lead to cancer.

She explained that the enzymes found in raw wheatgrass were alive and could "detoxify" the body if wheat grass was drunk or taken as an enema. Because the enzymes in wheatgrass juice live for less than three hours, the grass has to be cut from growing plants, juiced and consumed immediately while still fresh. The part of the wheat grass that excited Wigmore so much is the chlorophyll. She believed that cooking food kills off such valuable enzymes.

The Constituents of Wheatgrass

Wheatgrass juice is very rich in chlorophyll and enzymes. It contains more than 60 percent chlorophyll, which is an important body builder.

Antibiotic Properties

Studies have shown that chlorophyll will prevent the growth of pathogens and prevent it from developing. When taken internally, it also prevents the process of putrefaction carried out by bacteria that are often found in the GI tracts of people who eat meat.

Beating Anaemia

Chlorophyll (wheatgrass) aids in the rebuilding of the blood stream. Animal studies have shown that chlorophyll does not cause any toxic reactions.

Animals with a low red blood cell count that were given wheat grass has a healthy blood count level within five days.

Skin Disorders

Wheatgrass ointments have been shown to be beneficial for the treatment of several skin diseases including: haemorrhoids, psoriasis, poison ivy, eczema, and insect bites and burns. It can also alleviate sunburn.

Cancer Prevention

Other studies have shown that chlorophyll is the active chemical in wheatgrass that inhibits the activity of some carcinogens in the metabolism.

The benefits of wheatgrass juice:

• Removing toxins from the body
• Improving blood sugar balance
• Preventing the metabolism of carcinogens
• Reducing tooth decay
• Increasing haemoglobin production
• Keeping hair healthy
• Aiding digestion
• Reducing high blood pressure levels

Wheatgrass juice advocates claim that one ounce of wheatgrass juice is equivalently rich in vitamins, minerals, and amino acids as 1.5 kilos of raw vegetables.

It is possible to grow your own wheat grass juice at home so you have the full health benefits on had daily. It usually takes between six and nine days for the seed to germinate and develop into grass that is ready for juicing. If the seeds are kept at a regular temperature (around 70 degrees) they will last fro up to three years. The fresh grass itself should be cut and juice within a maximum of one week, after that it will lose its benefits and become bitter. You can buy wheat grass seeds online or at some health food stores. You will need a powerful juicer to make the juice as wheat grass is very coarse.