“The humble green grass is more than food for both man and the beast.
It veils its glory underneath a beautiful aspect.”
Health-conscious people are very familiar with the newest entrant on the Superfood list, “Wheatgrass.” This Superfood is regarded as one of the most potently healthy food products on earth.
It is one of the so-called “green foods”, which is highly valued by people as an excellent source of nutrients.
Purported health benefits of this Superfood include averting damaging effects of radiation, cleansing your blood, gastrointestinal tract and organs, stimulating thyroid and metabolism function, increasing energy levels, increasing red-blood cell volume and more.
Moreover, cosmetologists and estheticians go ‘gaga’ over the supplement for its ability to enhance the beauty of skin and slow down the aging process via internal detoxification and cleansing. Traditional practitioners of folk-medicine utilize it for everything from treating constipation to eliminating the pain of rheumatism.
Like most health-freaks, I, too, am extremely fascinated with the uprising of health drinks available in the market today.
I see the sky-soaring demand for bitter gourd drinks, Aloe-Vera drinks and the latest recommendation wheatgrass (or green blood).
I came across this wonder-grass when I was pursuing some research about the late Ann Wigmore, an evangelist in the living foods movement, and I found green grass (botanical name – Triticum aestivumin) was the prime focus of her program.
Wigmore cured herself of numerous weakening ailments, even clearing her acne and returning her gray hair to its normal color of brown, by drinking a glass of green blood grass juice everyday along with following a raw food diet.
After reading the complete long list of this grass’ health benefits, I was sold (Okay, the acne-free clear skin was really what got me).
We hear people every now and then raving about shots of this nutrient-packed supplement, but does anyone have a clear idea about it?
Like they rightly say, it is always good to start with the basics, so here we go.
Wheatgrass is a member of the family Paoceae (cereal grasses), which is comprised of a myriad of wheat-like grasses.
Tip: Found out 5 Best Manual & Electric Wheatgrass Juicer Reviews and 3 best masticating juicers reviews.
It is also known as “green gold” or “green blood” because of its high nutritional value. It is grown outdoors as a perennial plant; however, it can be cultivated indoors for therapeutic purposes.
The popularity of this natural supplement is hitting an all-time high, and is an eminent part of the green health movement.
It is not a magical tonic or replacement for a nutritionally balanced diet, nor an overnight cure; it is a live food, which, when included in the regime of other life-giving foods and exercise, can greatly help the body to revitalize and overcome disease and illness.
It is made from young wheat shoots and is grown in the U.S. and several countries around the globe.
Once this green gold grass reaches an approximate height of 7 inches, it is cut down and squeezed to produce a nutritious liquid that can be taken in small quantities and in several forms.
It can be dried into a powdered form or freshly juiced for consumption. The juice is rich in amino acids, enzymes and minerals.
History, Origin and Legend
Grasses have, perhaps, always been highly nutritious. They can be found in cultures worldwide and in various forms. All cereal crops produce a grain, which when planted, produces grass.
For decades, grasses have been one of the main sources of human food as well as food for wild and domesticated animals. Societies and various communities throughout history have valued the worth of grass and touted it’s health benefits.
Contemporary wheat originated in Southwest Asia and emerged from two forms of wild wheat – einkorn and emmer, which were utilized in Mesopotamian civilizations.
Additionally, ancient Egyptians are associated with wheat and they regard the young wheat plant as a sacred thing, revering the positive effects it had on their vitality and well-being.
There are claims that the mental health of King Nebuchadnezzar in The Old Testament’s book of Daniel was rehabilitated after his seven-year grass diet. For centuries, farmers acknowledged the improvement of livestock when they consume the young grasses of early spring.
Based on such observations, scientists of the 20th century started to study grasses in order to reveal their nutritional mysteries.
Edmond Bordeaux Szekely, a Hungarian philosopher, discovered and translated an archaic biblical manuscript, which he found near the Dead Sea in the 1900’s.
This manuscript is believed to have disclosed a healthy and unique method of eating as taught by Jesus of Nazareth. In 1928, Szekely published and distributed his translation titled “The Essene Gospel of Peace” in an attempt to share this supposedly “new” diet with people around him.
“All grasses are great for the health of man and wheatgrass is an ideal food for man,” is a key theme of the Essene Book quoted by numerous sources.
The below mentioned people were instrumental in the popularization of the green-blood grass
Dr. Charles Schnabel
Dr. Schnabel experimented with several feed mixtures in an effort to improve chicken health and increase egg production during winters.
At first, he found no improvement in egg production or chicken health; nonetheless, he did notice that chickens sought for and ate young cereal grasses when they were let out to feed.
He then included oat grass and wheatgrass in the chickens’ feed and noted that ailing hens recovered rapidly, had increased fertility and grew faster.
He was so charmed with the discovery of the unbeatable benefits of this magical grass that he asked his family members to consume dehydrated grass.
He and his family included the green gold grass in their diet for around 11-years. He reported that his kids remained healthy and they did not even complain about tooth decay.
He then began endorsing his invention to the food industry, feed mills and chemists by mentioning
15- pounds of green-gold grass is equal, in overall nutrition value, to over 350-pounds of vegetables.
Quaker Oats and American Dairies accepted these statements and invested millions of dollars to research, augment and produce nutritional products for both humans and animals.
By 1940, Dr. Schnabel’s powdered grass cans were selling in chemist’s shops throughout Canada and the U.S. Green-gold/Wheatgrass and other cereal-grass tablets became the nation’s #1 mineral supplement of the decade.
Ann Wigmore
Although Dr. Schnabel is recognized with the early consumption of green gold grass in a dehydrated version, the credit for popularizing the benefits of freshly squeezed green gold grass juice goes to Ann Wigmore.
As a child in Lithuania, she learned about the power of natural healing from her grandma, who helped heal the injured World War I soldiers with plants, herbs and grasses.
Furthermore, she was able to apply this priceless knowledge to her own life when she immigrated to the U.S. and contracted gangrene in 1940, after a dreadful automobile accident.
She successfully treated her gangrenous legs via grass treatments, saving them from amputation.
She began an in-depth study of natural healing, and with the help of her friend Dr. George H. Earp-Thomas, discovered there were 4,700 varieties of grass, all highly beneficial to humans.
Through a series of experiments conducted on her pets, she concluded that Green-gold was a premium grass.
In the 1950’s, when Ann contracted colon cancer, she claimed that she was able to cure herself by consuming a diet of raw greens, seeds, wheatgrass and grains.
She found that the grass could be consumed easier through juicing, and started to share her green-grass juice with many ailing neighbors and friends. Living by the principle “let food be your medicine,” Ann taught the masses across the globe about the health benefits of green–grass and living food healing program.
Evolution
Dr. Charles Schnabel and Ann Wigmore were trailblazers in the green-gold grass benefits movement. Key milestones in green-gold development and evolution include:
- Japanese pharmacist Dr. Yoshihide Hagiwara confirmed this grass to be of superlative therapeutic significance via assessing edible greens and comparing their medical rudiments.
- In the 1940, Charles Kettering, former Chairman of the Board of General Motors and researcher, learned the healing attributes of plant chlorophyll and donated huge sums of money to support the escalating research conducted by medical practitioners.
- Dr. Earp Thomas of Bloomfield Laboratories, New-Jersey, found that adding this wonder grass to fluoridated water could change the chemical element ‘fluorine’ into a safe calcium-phosphate –fluoride compound. He also discovered that chemically contaminated vegetables and fruits were thoroughly cleansed when washed with green-gold grass water.
- Dr. F. Howard Westcott, a New York internist, claimed that abhorrent odors like bad breath and perspiration were neutralized effectively when chlorophyll was ingested in adequate amounts.
- A 1950 United States report mentioned guinea pigs exposed to lethal doses of radiation demonstrated a higher survival rate if they were fed a chlorophyll-rich diet. Green-gold, which boasts a high chlorophyll content was then utilized as an absorber of radiation from devices like televisions and X-rays.
Active Constituents of Wheatgrass
It is regarded as “The Panacea of Earth” by many renowned dietitians and naturopaths worldwide because of the natural concentration of innumerable nutrients present in it.
Here are some Cool Nutrition Facts of this Wonder-Grass:
- It contains over 90-minerals! It has a high-content of alkaline minerals including calcium, sodium, magnesium and potassium.
a) It is one of the richest and natural sources of chlorophyll. The ‘blood’ of the plant is hailed to be useful as a purification, renewal and anti-inflammatory
b) The purification feature halts the growth of bacteria in wounds, wards-off bad breath, body odor and eliminates chemicals from the body via detoxification
c) The renewal of blood cells is because of chlorophyll’s similarity to hemoglobin
- The anti-inflammatory attribute of chlorophyll – superoxide dismutase plays a key role in alleviating inflammation throughout the body
- 1- teaspoon of this wonder-grass (3.5 grams approx) is nutritionally equal to 50-grams of spinach – Yes it packs a punch!!
- This grass builds red blood cells, which carry oxygen to every cell in our body. By increasing oxygen levels in your body, you can offset smog and carbon dioxide, which will in turn help boost your endurance
- Just one shot of this grass has the same nutritional value as 1-kg of leafy green vegetables
- It has twice the vitamin A and vitamin C as carrots and oranges respectively
- It contains 20% protein – eggs only have 12% and meat has 17%. Protein is vital for building and restoring muscle, skin, blood, cartilage and bone
- It contains both glucose and amino acids, thus it is rapidly assimilated in the body.
- It contains enzymes that eliminate toxins in your body. The toxins accumulated in your body are from foods, which are not able to be digested or excreted.
a) P4d1 and Superoxide disumates are an integral part of the digestive enzyme that plays a major role in slowing the cell degradation process.
b) Moreover, P4d1S serves as an anti-inflammatory. When you consume green-grass you will experience a cleansing process – hey, do not fear, this means it is working its wonders
It is Nature’s Gift to Mankind – Health Benefits
Wonder-grass is higher in nutritional content when compared to most vegetables on average. For instance, dried grass contains vitamin B12 – a vitamin not found in any other vegetables or fruits. This indeed means that this grass must be a staple in any vegan’s diet…right!
Helps in Detoxification & Cleanses the Body
Studies have suggested that vegetables that are rich in chlorophyll (chemical compound that provides a plants’ green hue) helps in the body’s natural detoxification process.
The natural supplement is a splendidly beneficial food in terms of detoxifying and cleansing the body. It is a rich source of carotene and vitamins B, C, E, which are very effective in destroying free radicals and cleansing the body. It is known for its ability to cleanse the organs, gastrointestinal tract and blood.
Since it is high in saponin, green-blood grass provides great support to the lymphatic system, helping to eliminate a huge number of toxins from the body’s cells.
It detoxifies the body by speeding up the elimination of decaying fecal matter, hardened mucous and crystallized acids. It is the surest and swiftest method to eliminate internal waste and render an optimum nutritional environment.
It cleanses the colon, detoxifies the liver and wipes out toxins from the body.
Relief from Inflammation and Pain
By reducing and eliminating general inflammation, this incredible supplement causes substantial relief from common body aches and pains – preserving the body’s natural ability to thrive and stay healthy.
PH Balance
As an alkaline food supplement, it helps to balance the body’s pH and restore favorable alkalinity.
Stimulation of Thyroid Gland & Metabolism
It stimulates thyroid glands and hence speeds up the metabolism. This helps overcome indigestion, obesity and other ailments related to slow metabolisms.
Slow Down Aging
- The plant is loaded with the vitamins and iron necessary for blood building
- It revitalizes the cells, increases vitality and vigor, provides energy, helps with weight loss, hence slowing the aging process
Lowers Blood Pressure
It dilates the blood vessels and helps lower blood pressure
Great for Hair
- Repairs Damage & Reduces Gray Hair
- Helps repair damaged hair and it can turn gray hair back to its normal color
- You can utilize it on your scalp to get rid of dandruff and provide relief from itchy scalp
Treats Skin Problems
- It offers remedies to numerous skin issues and provides the youthful glow to your skin
- Applying a paste of green-blood grass powder with milk can treat freckles and acnes
- It is marvelous for treating and soothing sunburns, boils, rashes, scrapes, burns, insect bites, athlete’s foot and minor cuts.
Taste the Nature’s Goodness to Mankind!
When dieting with green-grass juice, it is advisable that you sip only one glass a day. It is a healthy alternative to carb-packed beverages and sugary sodas.
A glass of wheatgrass juice a day, keeps diseases and doctors far away!!
- 1 banana, 1 lime, 2 oranges, 1-avocado and 3-4 inches round of green-grass – juice all
- 2 cups of strawberries, 3-kiwi fruits, 1 cup of pineapple chunks, 3 apricots and 3-4 inches round of green-grass – juice all
- 4 stalks of celery, 2 apples, 4 carrots, 4 spinach leaves and 3-4 inches round of green-grass – juice all
Wheatgrass has been an essential cornerstone of millions of people’s approach to natural cancer care.
Summing it up…
When we were kids, we rolled all over the grass, scored our very first goal over it and many of us even ate it. Today the idea of consuming juice or powder made from grass may seem repugnant, however, try it and you may be pleasantly amazed by its sweet taste.
When you drink a shot or eat a teaspoon of wheatgrass, you know you are doing something genuinely nourishing for your body.
Add this wonder grass to your daily diet. You will witness the difference. By providing your body the essential antioxidants and nutrients it needs, you will have a stronger immune system, clearer skin, and more energy to relish life!
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