THE GREEN BLOOD - WHEATGRASS (CHLOROPHYLL) BENEFITS
THE GREEN BLOOD
I began to drink fresh wheatgrass juice 3-4 times a week after reading about all the wonderful benefits of this plant. Wheatgrass is believed to increase our general well-being, boost our immune system, get rid of toxins out of the body, heal scars, improve digestion, lower cholesterol, balance sugar level, treat various other conditions and the list goes on and on. Wheatgrass can be a good source of fiber, potassium, magnesium, vitamin A, B, C, E, I and K, as well as enzymes that will aid digestion; and it is one of the best sources of chlorophyll.
We know that chlorophyll is what gives plants their green color and plants use chlorophyll and light to make food through a process called photosynthesis. Plants cannot survive without chlorophyll. Thus, it is often referred to as the "green blood of plants" because it resembles a lot like our red blood cells, known as hemoglobin…the pigment that gives our blood its red color and transports oxygen in our body. Chlorophyll helps to detoxify our body, treats bad breath, and has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help fight infections. It is also believed to promote red blood cells formation and cleanse our blood.
Any green vegetables that we eat essentially contain some chlorophyll but the darker the green color, the more chlorophyll it contains. Wheatgrass juice is probably one of the best sources of chlorophyll as it contains up to 70% chlorophyll, which is an important blood builder. The chlorophyll molecules closely resembles that of the hemin molecule, the pigment which combines with protein to form hemoglobin.
Hemoglobin is the iron-containing substance that provides red blood cells their red pigment and transports oxygen to the body tissues. In fact, we may not realize that our blood is composed of 75% of hemoglobin. If the central atom of blood is iron, how chlorophyll helps in the formation of red blood cells? As we digested green food, the magnesium helps in rebuilding and replenishing the red blood cells which is responsible for boosting our energy.
Making wheatgrass juice is easy. The wheatgrass that is sold in the health food stores and farmers markets should be clean and ready to use. I rinse it, then cut and use only the green part of the wheatgrass to make the juice. I don't mind the raw taste of wheatgrass and I drink it at room temperature. It has a mild sweetness to it. But if you don't like it, suck on a lemon or lime before and after drinking it; you can try adding ice cubes and pure honey or other natural (not artificial) sweeteners.
I have a wheatgrass juicer to juice my wheatgrass. If you don’t have a wheatgrass juicer or if you aren't sure if you're ready to invest in a juicer, a blender is an acceptable alternative, and will give you an opportunity to benefit from this healthy food. However, a blender won't retain as many nutrients as a juicer, but it’s better than eating processed foods that doesn’t have any nutrients at all.
Add 1 to 2 tbsp. of water, then puree the wheatgrass. If the mixture is too thick for your blender, add water until the wheatgrass can be easily blended.
Pour the blended wheatgrass through a fine mesh strainer. Drink the wheatgrass juice or place the juice in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator.
Now that I am drinking wheatgrass 3-4 times a week, I decided to grow my own wheatgrass. It is relatively easy. Go to www.youtube.com and type “how to grow wheatgrass.” If you can boil water, you can grow wheatgrass. I live in Florida and I purchased my wheatgrass seeds and trays from a local distributor, Got Sprouts. If you are interested in growing your own wheatgrass and do not have a local distributor in your area to purchase your wheatgrass seeds from, go to www.gotsprouts.com to order your wheatgrass seeds. Wheat grass grows quickly, so you will have a crop ready to juice in six to nine days.
Anyone choosing to use wheatgrass for whatever purpose will find in a very short period that their overall health will have a marked improvement. There is no greater proof than that you can feel yourself.
For more information on wheat grass, check out this article!
