The perfect ingredient for your diet smoothie

Many people are now familiar with the superfood barley grass, but what about wheat grass? Does food have so many positive effects on health? We explain and present wheatgrass with all its effects.

Wheatgrass: what is it?

In recent years, wheatgrass has become an increasingly popular superfood consumed by health-conscious people. This is a young wheat plant, which is harvested four to ten days after germination, long before ears form. Hence wheat grass Gluten-free – only eras contain gluten, not the herb. The stems are usually dried and then pressed or ground. This is why wheatgrass is mainly available in powder form and consumed as a dietary supplement. You can also buy the superfood in juice form.

The nutritional values ​​of wheatgrass: this is what it contains

Wheatgrass is known to be impressive nutritional profile. Contains a wide range of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, fiber and antioxidants. The Max Rubner Institute (MRI) in Karlsruhe has created a nutritional table based on various publications. According to this table, wheatgrass is rich in vitamin C, iron and zinc. However, the values ​​indicated in different publications vary considerably. For example, for the Iron content Values ​​found between 14.2 and 133.2 milligrams per 100 grams of fresh wheatgrass, while values ​​for vitamin C they were between 35 and 75 milligrams per 100 grams. By comparison, oranges contain about 50 milligrams of vitamin C and parsley only 3.6 milligrams of iron per 100 grams. You can find more inspiration about iron-containing foods here.

Wheatgrass also has a high proportion of vitamins A, E and B, as well as calcium, magnesium, selenium and potassium. Grass also provides everyone Essential amino acids such as lysine, tryptophan and arginine. These are building blocks of proteins that are involved in various metabolic processes in the body and that our body cannot produce on its own, but must absorb through food.

It should be noted that there is no official chart of the nutritional values ​​of wheatgrass and there are several factors such as soil, harvest time and location. Nutrient content influence. Powdered products also contain fewer vital substances than fresh wheatgrass, as many of them, especially heat sensitive vitamins, lost during the drying process. However, in a freshly pressed wheatgrass juice, they are largely retained.

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Wheatgrass effect: many positive effects

Wheatgrass is often used as Superfood designated. Due to its nutrient density, it offers many health benefits:

1. The vitamins contained in wheatgrass help… to strengthen the immune system and reduce the risk of disease.
2. The minerals and trace elements found in grass are important for Bone healthmuscles and cardiovascular system.
3. There is evidence that wheatgrass chronic inflammatory bowel disease How Ulcerative Colitis Could Relieve. This was demonstrated by studies by the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2013 and the Technion (Israel Technical University) in 2002. Additional studies are, however, necessary. Fiber-rich wheatgrass also aids digestion.
4. Another Technion study published in 2007 involving breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy found that the active ingredients in wheatgrass juice may have an inhibitory effect. Myelotoxicity to have. This is the life-threatening decrease in cells responsible for blood clotting, oxygen supply and immunity. Additional studies however, they are needed to confirm this.
5. Animal studies have shown that wheatgrass lowers cholesterol levels. However, scientists at the Max Rubner Institute in collaboration with the University of Karlsruhe and the Palatinate Walter Mill were unable to determine any influence of wheatgrass on cholesterol levels as part of a nutritional study. Instead, the study found that wheatgrass was a good source of the yellow Vegetable pigment lutein It is. Like chlorophyll, it protects cells from free radicals. Because lutein is found in large quantities in the retina of the eye, scientists assume that it also causes healthy eye function contributes.

Application: wheatgrass powder and wheatgrass juice

You benefit best from the effects of wheatgrass when you use it in Empty stomach take it for you. Drink freshly squeezed wheatgrass juice (works best with a slow juicer) before breakfast or mix wheatgrass powder into a glass of water, a smoothie, yogurt, cereal or vegetable juice. There are also several wheatgrass smoothie recipes. Start with a small dose of three grams per day, which is about a teaspoon. Slowly drink the water or juice in which you dissolved the powder in small sips. Later you can increase the amount to ten grams (three to four teaspoons). As correct dosage Wheatgrass can contribute to a balanced diet. But notice that no miracle cureI is and don’t consider it yours Main source for vitamins and minerals. As part of a balanced diet, there is nothing wrong with including additional wheatgrass.

Careful: Ökotest found not only pesticides in wheatgrass powder, but also mineral oil and heavy metals, lead and cadmium. Germs such as E. coli bacteria have also been discovered in them. Therefore, when purchasing, be sure to choose a safe product.

Tip: The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment advises pregnant and immunocompromised people to consume only wheat or barley grass products after consulting a doctor.

In comparison: wheat grass or barley grass?

In addition to wheatgrass, barley grass is often recommended as a superfood. It is also a young herb that comes from the barley plant. Like all real grains, they both belong to the sweet grass family and hardly differ. They contain a high concentration of nutrients. Both grasses are gluten-free, rich in chlorophyll and the minerals calcium, potassium, iron, as well as vitamins A, B, C and E. There is a small difference in flavor. Wheatgrass has a bitter taste, barley grass has a slightly milder flavor. Barley grass also has a greater Protein content like wheat grass.

Buy wheatgrass

You can buy wheatgrass in pharmacies, health food stores, drugstores and many online stores. Keep one thing in mind when purchasing wheatgrass products good quality. It’s best to use organic produce to avoid exposure to pesticides and other pollutants.

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