Get in Touch with Your Inner Cow

Don't judge it until you've tried it! You know that most things in life that are incredibly good for you, don't always taste the best....in the beginning anyway. If I told you that you might actually get to like this substance, would you believe me? Alright, like might be too strong a word, but how about tolerate? Better? Wheatgrass was one of these little substances that took me a while to get used to. I found it bitter and just way to grassy for my liking. Even today when I take wheatgrass, and I do regularly, I think it's the closest I will ever feel to understanding what a cow's life must be like....without needing the 4 stomachs to digest it.

What is Wheatgrass?
A little information about this berry. It is grown from the wheat berry, which is the whole kernel of the wheat grain, so while it might have a similar appearance to lawn grass (see daisy above), in truth it is far from it. Wheatgrass is the young shoots from the berry that has been watered and nurtured for approximately a 10 day period. In order to extract the nutrients, the wheatgrass will need to be run through a juicer called a masticating or auger juicer to get all the available nutrients out and to make these nutrients available for the human body. Wheatgrass, can be tolerated by those with wheat allergies because the gluten, which is the protein in wheat that causes the allergic reaction, changes during the sprouting process and the protein that was in the original seed is no longer in the grass blade and therefore can be tolerated by people with wheat/gluten sensitivities. Some people people who have been diagnosed as coeliacs are not prepared to try it just in case, but research points to the fact that it is safe to drink because it does not contain gluten.

Wheatgrass has been around for a long time, but it was through Dr. Ann Wigmore in the 1940's a health pioneer,  who uncovered it's benefits when using it to help people with serious health challenges. Dr. Wigmore passed away in 1994 but if you would like to find out more about Dr. Wigmore and her legacy you can visit http://www.annwigmore.org or http://www.annwigmore.com . Suffice to say that almost anyone who is interested in the benefits of wheatgrass or sprouting, has come across the name Dr. Ann Wigmore. Her legacy is wide and far reaching.

The Benefits of Wheatgrass
Looking at the following list if might seem obvious that everyone should be consuming wheatgrass daily to their get their dose of vitamins and mineral, but they are not. I hope that the following will go some way to helping you understand a little about why it would be incredibly beneficial for you to start taking this green drink.

Wheatgrass is reported to have the following benefits:

• Be one of the richest sources of Vitamins A and C
• Contains a full spectrum of B vitamins including B17, which has been accredited to destroying cancer cells but without affecting normal cells
• Provides organic iron to the blood which helps improve circulation
• Contains 92 of 102 trace minerals
• Very rich in chlorophyll, a powerful detoxifying agent
• Helps to purify the liver
• Improves blood sugar problems
• Is considered a complete food by many authorities
• Helps wound and sores heal more quickly
• Is very similar to the molecular structure of your red blood cells, enhances the blood's capacity to carry oxygen to every cell of your body

And I know that this list is not complete! But I wanted to give you some understanding of what those little green shots that you have heard are good for you are actually doing.

Another point that I would like to mention about wheatgrass is that it can be very strong. It also contains alkaloids, which are like nature's chemicals that can strengthen the immune system, but if taken in too large quantities are not supportive to the body. At times, I can down 3oz shots (approx 90mls), but then I wouldn't give you tuppence for even a 1oz shot. Like always, my advice is to see how you go. Try a 1oz first and then work up to more if you can tolerate it. Sometime, I add a shot to my green smoothie because I don't want to take it on it's own. This way I can still get the benefits, but without having to take it on it's own.

One final note, wheatgrass is best taken on an empty stomach even though I personally add it to my smoothies at times. I mostly have it on it's own to get maximum bang for my buck.

Well, that's it from this meadow.

As always, I wish you good health and empowerment!

Green, grassy wishes.

Ruth.