Wheatgrass: Benefits, nutritional value and side effects

Wheatgrass is a wonderful host to numerous vitamins and minerals. It is especially rich in Vitamin A, C, and E, which are rich sources of antioxidants. Antioxidants are substances that shield the body against cellular damage and oxidative stress. Research proves that wheatgrass minimized oxidative stress and reduced organ damage, which will be explored ahead.

Wheatgrass is a rich source of fibre, the consumption of which is associated with a better satiety index. This implies that the inclusion of wheatgrass in the diet will help you feel full for a longer duration allowing you to eat less. This mechanism may aid in the process of weight loss.

Further, wheatgrass has a strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential, which helps in improving the overall body functioning and metabolism allowing you to lose weight. Further, it has been evidenced that wheatgrass helps in regulating blood sugar levels, so, it will help to avoid obesity caused due to insulin resistance.

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Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in all the body cells. It is essential for the synthesis of hormones but too much cholesterol can lead to the blockage of arteries increasing the risk of cardiovascular disorders.

Animal studies showed that wheatgrass can help in the normalisation of cholesterol levels. But the evidence is not limited to that. Scientists have suggested that regular consumption of wheatgrass juice helps in lowering blood cholesterol. It is said to have a cholesterol sweeping effect from the body.

A 2010 study conducted on animal models found that wheatgrass helps in lowering of low-density lipoprotein or bad cholesterol and the subsequent raising of high-density lipoprotein or good cholesterol. This helped in improving the overall lipid profile.

 (Read more: High cholesterol symptoms)

Diabetes is a chronic condition characterised by high blood sugar levels due to the impairment of glucose metabolism by the body. Since diabetics often find it difficult to manage normal blood sugar levels, they are commonly looking for alternatives.

Wheatgrass is one such option. When consumed as a health drink, wheatgrass has a glucose lowering effect.

Animal studies prove that wheatgrass juice can normalise blood sugar levels and raise the levels of the hormone insulin, which may be reduced in diabetics. This was achievable due to an increase in the activity of glucose oxidative enzyme leading to better utilisation of glucose by the body.

However, sufficient human researches are not available for its anti-hyperglycemic effect.

Wheatgrass aids in the better digestion of food. This is because it is rich in several enzymes like protease, amylase and lipase, which are essential for the digestion of proteins, amino acids and fats. These enzymes help in improving bowel movements.

Moreover, wheatgrass has a high fibre content which aids the process of digestion.

So, wheatgrass may be helpful in providing relief from bloating, constipation and other digestive problems. However, an excessive intake may be counterintuitive.

Inflammation refers to a localised area of swelling, redness, pain and increased temperature. It can occur internally or externally and is often discomforting to the bearer. Chronic inflammation is a risk factor for several disorders. 

Scientists have found that wheatgrass possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which may help in relieving inflammation.

One specific use of wheatgrass is its effectiveness against ulcerative colitis, which refers to long-standing inflammation and ulcers in the digestive tract. Indubitably, it is a painful condition to the sufferer. To get relief from this condition, you may have a glass of fresh wheatgrass juice. Rich in several vitamins, antioxidants and chlorophyll, wheatgrass helps in significantly reducing the symptoms of ulcerative colitis. Researchers say that this is possible due to the presence of the compound apigenin. When compared with the control group who was not given wheatgrass juice, the treatment group exhibited significant improvement in symptoms, which was evident in 78% of the participants. One of the major improvements was that it led to a reduction in the symptom of rectal bleeding.

Consumption of 100 ml of wheatgrass juice for a month decreased the intensity and severity of the rectal bleeding in patients with ulcerative colitis. Chlorophyll, a compound in wheatgrass helps fight against the inflammation.

However, more research has to be done to measure its full potential as an anti-inflammatory effect on the general population.

Due to its incredible antioxidant property, several studies have found that wheatgrass can help to destroy some types of cancer cells. It possesses strong components like chlorophyll and is also rich in several flavonoids, polyphenols and other agents which may be responsible for this action. Wheatgrass juice helps when combined with the traditional cancer treatment helps to the adverse effects. Several studies have supported these claims.

The methanol extract of wheatgrass has been demonstrated to have anti-leukemic effects. Methanol extract derived from the commercially available wheatgrass powder was found to be safe and effective against leukaemia (a type of blood cancer). However, these involved animal studies and the dosage and safety is yet to be studied for humans.

Laboratory tests have also confirmed the anticancer potential of wheatgrass extract by the possible mechanism of apoptosis (programmed cell death). This study reported the use of wheatgrass for cancer prevention and as an adjunct to medicinal treatment due to its potential to reduce oxidative stress.

Further, the use of wheatgrass juice and powder catered to improve the immune response, which is generally compromised in cancer patients. The addition of wheatgrass also helped to reduce the side effects of the treatment process.

Such high anticancer potential may be attributable to the presence of chlorophyll and plant hormones in wheat grass, which have immense anticancer properties independently.

Thalassaemia refers to the blood disorders, in which the body is unable to synthesise sufficient levels of normal haemoglobin in the body. This may occur due to a defect in either alpha or beta chains of haemoglobin. Wheatgrass is considered to be an adjuvant to the treatment of thalassaemia in infants.

A clinical study on thalassemia patients randomised them into two groups, wherein one was given wheatgrass tablets and the other was not. Improvement in serum ferritin levels and haemoglobin levels was observed in the group receiving wheatgrass supplements. Further, it aided to improve the quality of life of those affected and was considered to be an absolutely safe supplement. However, there was no reduction in the frequency and requirements of blood transfusion.

Wheatgrass is a powerful antioxidant. This means that it helps in protecting you and your body cells against oxidative damage caused by free radicals. One of the most potentially affected organs by this damage is the brain. Free radicals can cause neuronal damage leading to the onset of neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease.

Researches on animal models have found that wheatgrass possesses good antioxidant properties and may be utilised as a key in the treatment of Alzheimer’s. Due to lack of human studies, these results cannot be satisfactorily claimed.