In the business of daily life, it's common to promise yourself that you'll eat more vegetables, more fruit, and make more smoothies. You know that eating healthy food is good for you, but with work responsibilities and/or parenting, sometimes all you can manage to do is to buckle down and get through the daily grind. Instead of focusing on consuming individual vegetables, fruits, and smoothies, we recommend that you consider nourishing your body with a shot of freshly juiced wheatgrass.

Why You Should Take Wheatgrass

Wheatgrass is the richest source of chlorophyll out there. Chlorophyll provides oxygen to your white blood cells and as a result, boosts your immune system. Wheatgrass also contains all minerals known, and is one of the richest natural sources of vitamin A, C, D, K, and B-Complex. Last but not least, it is extremely rich in protein, and contains 17 amino acids (which are the building blocks of protein). All these benefits increase the function of your heart, lungs, vascular system, and digestive tract. The Hippocrates Health Institute claims that wheatgrass helps prevent cancer and helps cancer patients fight tumors because it’s full of oxygen, and cancer cells cannot coexist with oxygen.

Some Additional Benefits of Wheatgrass

• When externally applied to skin, it reduces itching
• Improves digestion and decreases constipation due to enzymes
• Removes toxic heavy metals from your body
• Increases red blood-cell count and reduces blood pressure
• Detoxifies your body and purifies the liver
• Wheatgrass pulp can be used as a poultice for cuts, rashes, and insect bites
• 30 mls of freshly squeezed juice equals 1kg of green vegetables
• It can cure acne and even remove scars after it has been consumed for 7-8 months
• Wheatgrass juice can prevent hair from greying
• It can also improve arthritis. Soak a cotton sock with 6 ounces of wheatgrass and place on the affected area.

How to Consume/Purchase Wheatgrass

• There are a few ways to purchase wheatgrass.
• You can buy it in powder form, but it will have fewer nutrients than freshly juiced wheatgrass.
• You could also buy a juicer and start juicing your own wheatgrass.
• Or you could visit your local Juice Bar and get it as an additive to your fruit or veggie juice.

How to Grow Your Own Wheatgrass

There are various different ways to grow and juice your own wheatgrass, but to get started here’s a simple way from MindBodyGreen

1. Soak one cup of whole organic wheat in a jar overnight. Wash and drain thoroughly, and leave to sprout for a day.
2. Spread the sprouted wheat on top of damp soil in plastic trays (or shallow containers).
3. Cover with a thin layer of soil, patting down by hand and water it.
4. Leave at room temperature and water regularly so the grass is damp, but not too wet.
5. In approximately two weeks, harvest by cutting just above the soil with scissors.

How to juice your own wheatgrass

Make sure you use a juicer that is designed for juicing wheatgrass – they work more slowly than the regular high speed juicer and in this way protect the valuable enzymes and also cope with the high fibre content of the grass without jamming.