I've found that lots of people are talking about wheatgrass, but most of it isn't very objective. I've heard all kinds of outrageous claims about what wheatgrass can and cannot do. I thought I'd try to set the record straight.
I've noticed that the vast majority of wheatgrass information on the internet is biased; usually from a sales perspective. I've seen websites claiming that wheatgrass contains every vitamin you'll ever need. It looks to me like people might just be overselling it a bit.
With so many competing opinions, let's get to the facts.
I've managed to locate a few quantified items about wheatgrass. Here are a few websites that have lab results posted:
After reading through all the different reports; I've drawn a few conclusions:
- Although wheatgrass does contain a number of beneficial compounds, it's by no means a multi-vitamin. It contains a good quantity of Vitamin A and Vitamin K. If you're drinking 1-2 ounces of it; you'll get a good daily load (~2000 IU A, ~55mcg K).
- The content of Vitamin C has been highly overrated. Although wheatgrass juice does contain some Vitamin C, the quantities are pretty small. They're not going to add enough to your diet to get you to a good level. (I don't think the normal recommendations for Vitamin C are enough anyway, I like 2500+ mg per day).
- Wheatgrass does not contain the secrets of world peace.
- The statement "15 pounds of
wheat grass is equivalent to 350 pounds of the choicest vegetables." is crap. Although a number of "true beleivers" seem to like spreading these ideas, it's just not true. Although wheatgrass contains some neat stuff, it's not a rainbow of vitamins. It's useful quantities are actually limited to a select few.
- Chlorophyll is really the strongest ingredient in the juice. Although
it's not a supplement in the traditional sense (as the human body
doesn't uptake Chlorophyll very well), it does offer powerful effects
as an anti-mutagen. It's good stuff to have rolling around in the digestive system.
So, what's the deal with wheatgrass then? It's not a magic bullet; but that shouldn't be a big surprise. It's a good thing to make part of diet, and we could all use some anti-mutagenics. I'm still undecided on the anti-oxidant properties; I haven't found enough solid research to make a final determination. I plan to continue growing and juicing it, but remember, it's part of the solution, not the entire solution unto itself.