Wheatgrass 1639531 225635586 2008-07-14T17:43:43Z Scientizzle 774663 restore 1 [[WP:EL|EL]] {{otheruses}} [[Image:Wheatgrass.jpg|thumb|275px|Indoor grown wheatgrass grows from 8-14 days before it is harvested.]] '''Wheatgrass''' refers to the young grass of the common wheat plant, ''[[Triticum aestivum]]'', that is freshly juiced or dried into powder for animal and human consumption. Both provide [[chlorophyll]], [[amino acid]]s, [[mineral]]s, [[vitamin]]s, and [[enzyme]]s. Claims about wheatgrass' health benefits range from providing supplemental nutrition to having unique curative properties. Some consumers grow and juice wheatgrass in their homes. It is often available in juice bars, alone or in mixed fruit and/or vegetable drinks. It is also available in many health food stores as fresh produce, tablets, frozen juice and powder. ==History== {{Disputed|date=March 2008}} The consumption of wheatgrass in the [[Western world]] began in the 1930s as a result of experiments by [[Charles F. Schnabel]] and his attempts to popularize the plant.<ref name="Landline" /> Schnabel, an agricultural chemist, conducted his first experiments with young grasses in 1930, when he used fresh cut grass in an attempt to nurse dying hens back to health. The hens not only recovered, but they produced eggs at a higher rate than healthy hens. Encouraged by his results, he began drying and powdering grass for his family and neighbors to supplement their diets. The following year, Schnabel reproduced his experiment and achieved the same results. Hens consuming rations supplemented with grass doubled their egg production. Schnabel started promoting his discovery to feed mills, chemist and the food industry. Two large corporations, Quaker Oats and American Diaries Inc., invested millions of dollars in further research, development and production of products for animals and humans. By 1940, cans of Schnabel's powdered grass were on sale in major drug stores throughout the United States and Canada.<ref name="WNBM"/> [[Image:WheatGrassJuicing.jpg|thumb|Extracting wheatgrass juice with a manual juicing machine.]] [[Ann Wigmore]] continued to contribute to the popularization of wheatgrass in the 1940s. When Wigmore was a child, she watched her grandmother help WWI soldiers heal their wounds using herbs and weeds. == Cultivation == [[Image:grassinsnow.jpg|thumb|Outdoor grown wheat grass grows slowly through the winter in a climate like that of Kansas in the United States.]] Schnabel's research was conducted with wheatgrass grown outdoors in Kansas. His wheatgrass required 200 days of slow growth, through the winter and early spring, when it was harvested at the [[jointing stage|jointing]] or reproductive stage. It was at this stage that the plant reached its peak nutritional potential; after jointing, concentrations of chlorophyll, protein, and vitamin decline sharply. [http://www.ahr-kc.com/reports/american_butter_company] Harvested grass was dehydrated and made into powders and tablets for human and animal consumption. Wheatgrass grown indoors in trays for ten days contains similar nutritional content. Wheatgrass grown outdoors is harvested, dehydrated at a low temperature and sold in tablet and powdered forms. Wheat grass juice powder (fresh squeezed with the water removed) is also available either spray-dried or freeze-dried. == Usage == The average dosage taken by consumers of wheatgrass is 3.5 grams (powder or tablets). Some also have a fresh-squeezed 30 ml shot once daily or for more therapeutic benefits a higher dose up to 2–4 oz taken 1-3 times per day on an empty stomach and before meals. For detoxification, some users may increase their intake to 3–4 times per day. It should be noted that consumers with a poor diet may experience nausea on high dosages of wheatgrass. Outdoor wheatgrass is harvested for a few days each year from plants grown in the "bread basket" regions of the US and Canada. Winter wheat requires more than 200 days of slow growth in cold temperatures to reach the peak nutritional content. Even after that length of time, the plant is only 7 to 10 inches high. == Health claims == {|class="infobox bordered" border="0" width="300" cellpadding="2" |- !colspan=4 align="left"|<small>Table 1. Nutrient comparison of 1 oz (28.35 g){{Dubious|date=March 2008}} of wheatgrass juice, broccoli and spinach.</small> |- !<small>''Nutrient</small> ! align="right" |<small>''Wheatgrass Juice</small> ! align="right" |<small>''Broccoli </small> ! align="right" |<small>''Spinach </small> |- ! width="33%" |<small>Protein</small> | width="22%" align="right" |<small>860 mg</small> | width="22%" align="right" |<small>800 mg</small> | width="22%" align="right" |<small>810 mg</small> |- !<small> Beta carotene</small> | align="right" |<small>120 IU</small> | align="right" |<small>177 IU</small> | align="right" |<small> 2658 IU</small> |- !<small> Vitamin E</small> | align="right" |<small>880 mcg</small> | align="right" |<small>220 mcg</small> | align="right" |<small>580 mcg</small> |- !<small> Vitamin C</small> | align="right" |<small>1 mg</small> | align="right" |<small> 25.3 mg</small> | align="right" |<small> 8 mg</small> |- !<small> Vitamin B<sub>12</sub></small> | align="right" |<small>0.30 mcg</small> | align="right" |<small>0 mcg</small> | align="right" |<small>0 mcg</small> |- !<small> Phosphorus</small> | align="right" |<small>21 mg</small> | align="right" |<small>19 mg</small> | align="right" |<small>14 mg</small> |- !<small> Magnesium</small> | align="right" |<small>8 mg</small> | align="right" |<small>6 mg</small> | align="right" |<small>22 mg</small> |- !<small> Calcium</small> | align="right" |<small>7.2 mg</small> | align="right" |<small>13 mg</small> | align="right" |<small>28 mg</small> |- !<small> Iron</small> | align="right" |<small>0.66 mg</small> | align="right" |<small>0.21 mg</small> | align="right" |<small>0.77 mg</small> |- !<small> Potassium</small> | align="right" |<small>42 mg</small> | align="right" |<small>90 mg</small> | align="right" |<small>158 mg</small> |- |colspan=4| <small>'''Data on broccoli and spinach from USDA database.<ref name="USDA">{{cite web |url=http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/ |title=USDA Nutrient Database |accessdate=2007-11-06 |format= |work= }}</ref> Data on Wheatgrass juice from indoor grown wheatgrass.'''<ref name="WNBM">{{cite book |last=Meyerowitz |first=Steve |authorlink= |coauthors= |editor= |others= |title=Wheatgrass Nature's Finest Medicine: The Complete Guide to Using Grass Foods & Juices to Revitalize Your Health |edition=6th Edition |series= |date= |year=1999 |month=April |publisher=Book Publishing Company |isbn=1878736973 |oclc= |doi= |id= |pages=53 |chapter=Nutrition in Grass |chapterurl= |quote= }}</ref></small> |} {|class="infobox" border="0" width="300" cellpadding="" |} {|class="infobox bordered" border="0" width="300" cellpadding="2" |- ! align="left" colspan=4 |<small>Table 2. Nutrient comparison of 15 lbs. of wheatgrass juice, dried wheatgrass and 350 lbs. of broccoli.</small> |- !<small>''Nutrient</small> ! align="center" colspan=2|<small> ''Wheatgrass<br>15 lb''</small> ! align="center" |<small>''Broccoli<BR>350 lb''</small> |- !<small>''-</small> ! align="right" |<small>Juice</small> ! align="right" |<small>Powder</small> ! align="right" |<small>Raw </small> |- ! width="33%" |<small>Protein</small> | width="22%" align="right" |<small>192 mg</small> | width="22%" align="right" |<small>3,840 g</small> | width="22%" align="right" |<small>4,501 g</small> |- !<small> Beta carotene</small> | align="right" |<small>28,800 IU</small> | align="right" |<small>576,000 IU</small> | align="right" |<small>994,308 IU</small> |- !<small> Vitamin E</small> | align="right" |<small>211 mg</small> | align="right" |<small>4,224 g</small> | align="right" |<small>1,400 g</small> |- !<small> Vitamin C</small> | align="right" |<small>240 mg</small> | align="right" |<small>4,800 g</small> | align="right" |<small>142,450 g</small> |- !<small> Vitamin B<sub>12</sub></small> | align="right" |<small>192 µg</small> | align="right" |<small>3,840 µg</small> | align="right" |<small>0 µg</small> |- !<small> Phosphorus</small> | align="right" |<small>5040 g</small> | align="right" |<small>100,800 g</small> | align="right" |<small>105,350 g</small> |- !<small> Magnesium</small> | align="right" |<small>1,920 g</small> | align="right" |<small>38,400 g</small> | align="right" |<small>33,600 g</small> |- !<small> Calcium</small> | align="right" |<small>1,728 g</small> | align="right" |<small>34,560 g</small> | align="right" |<small>74,900 g</small> |- !<small> Iron</small> | align="right" |<small>158 g</small> | align="right" |<small>3,168 g</small> | align="right" |<small>1,050 g</small> |- !<small> Potassium</small> | align="right" |<small>10,080 mg</small> | align="right" |<small>201,600 mg</small> | align="right" |<small>504,350 mg</small> |- |colspan=4| <small>'''Data on broccoli from USDA database.<ref name="USDA"/> Dry wheatgrass data calculated from indoor grown fresh juice.'''<ref name="WNBM">{{cite book |last=Meyerowitz |first=Steve |authorlink= |coauthors= |editor= |others= |title=Wheatgrass Nature's Finest Medicine: The Complete Guide to Using Grass Foods & Juices to Revitalize Your Health |edition=6th Edition |series= |date= |year=1999 |month=April |publisher=Book Publishing Company |isbn=1878736973 |oclc= |doi= |id= |pages=53 |chapter=Nutrition in Grass |chapterurl= |quote= }}</ref></small> |} Proponents of wheatgrass claim regular ingestion of the plant can :*improve the digestive system :*prevent cancer, diabetes and heart disease :*cure constipation :*detoxify heavy metals from the bloodstream :*help make [[menopause]] more manageable :*promote general well-being. While none of these claims have been substantiated in the scientific literature,<ref name="Landline">{{cite news|last = Murphy | first = Sean | url= http://www.abc.net.au/landline/stories/s689970.htm |title= Wheatgrass, healthy for the body and the bank account |work=[[Landline (TV series)|ABC Landline]]|date=[[2002-10-13]]|accessdate=2006-10-06}}</ref> there is limited evidence in support of some of these claims. <ref name="Digestive1">{{Citation | last =Ben-Arye | first =E |last2 =Goldin| first2 =E| title =Wheat grass juice in the treatment of active distal ulcerative colitis: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial | journal =Scand J Gastroenterol | volume =Volume 37 | issue =Issue 4 | pages =Pages 444–9 | date =2002 Apr| year =2002 | location =Norway | url =http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=11989836&ordinalpos=2&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum | doi = }}</ref><ref name="CHLOROPHYLL"/><ref name="Chlorophyll2">{{Citation | last =Ferruzzia | first =Mario G. | author-link = | last2 =Blakesleeb | first2 =Joshua | title =Digestion, absorption, and cancer preventative activity of dietary chlorophyll derivatives | journal =Nutrition Research | volume =Volume 27 | issue =Issue 1 | pages =Pages 1–12 | date =January 2007| year =2007| url =http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6TB1-4MY8BNY-1&_user=10&_coverDate=01%2F31%2F2007&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=484af3aa699168edc7456f5ec4aed6b6 | doi =10.1016/j.nutres.2006.12.003 }}</ref> ===Wheatgrass Juice vs. Common Vegetables=== One of the most popular claims about wheatgrass, and one that is frequently made by both supporters and retailers, is that 1 ounce of wheatgrass juice is as nutritionally valuable as 1 kg (2.2 lb) of green [[vegetables]], a ratio of 1:35. The available vitamin and mineral data of wheatgrass juice, broccoli and spinach does not support this claim (see table 1). In fact, the vitamin and mineral content of 1 ounce of wheatgrass juice is roughly equivalent to the vitamin and mineral content of 1 ounce of fresh vegetables. This conclusion does not include [[Phytochemical|phyto-nutrient]] comparisons of these foods.{{Or|date=March 2008}} Another commonly repeated claim, originally made by [[Charles F. Schnabel|Schnabel]] in the 1940's, is that "fifteen pounds of wheatgrass is equal in overall nutritional value to 350 pounds of ordinary garden vegetables",<ref name="WNBM"/> a ratio of 1:23. Schnabel statement doesn't specify the form of wheatgrass, however, Schnabel used dried wheatgrass for his own consumption, in his research and later in his nutritional supplements;[http://www.ahr-kc.com/reports/american_butter_company] a comparison of currently available vitamin and mineral data on dried wheatgrass and fresh vegetables support Schnabel's claim. (see table 2) The vitamin and mineral content of dried grass is equivalent to roughly 20 times that of fresh vegetables.{{Fact|date=March 2008}} One area in which wheatgrass is clearly superior to other vegetables is in its content of [[Cyanocobalamin| Vitamin B<sub>12</sub>]], a vital nutrient absent in vegetables. (see table 2) <small><ref name="WNBM"/><ref name="USDA"/></small> ===Detoxification=== Another common claim for wheatgrass is that it promotes detoxification. The limited data in support of that claim applies to most green vegetables. <ref name="DETOXIFICATION">{{cite journal | last =Fahey | first =Jed W. | authorlink = | coauthors =Katherine K. Stephenson, Albena T. Dinkova-Kostova, Patricia A. Egner, Thomas W. Kensler and Paul Talalay | title =Chlorophyll, chlorophyllin and related tetrapyrroles are significant inducers of mammalian phase 2 cytoprotective genes | journal =Carcinogenesis | volume =26 | issue =7 | pages =1247–1255 | publisher =Oxford University Press | location = | date =2005 | url =http://carcin.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/26/7/1247 | doi=10.1093/carcin/bgi068 | pmid =15774490}}</ref> ===Chlorophyll=== As the [[chlorophyll]] molecule is structurally similar to [[hemoglobin]], it has been argued that wheatgrass helps blood flow, digestion and general [[detoxification]] of the body. These claims have not been substantiated. Some research however exists that relates diets high in chlorophyll, present in green leafy vegetables, with lower rates of colon cancer. <ref name="CHLOROPHYLL">{{cite journal | last =de Vogel | first =Johan | authorlink = | coauthors =Denise S. M. L. Jonker-Termont, Martijn B. Katan,and Roelof van der Meer | title =Natural Chlorophyll but Not Chlorophyllin Prevents Heme-Induced Cytotoxic and Hyperproliferative Effects in Rat Colon | journal =J. Nutr. | volume =135 | issue = | pages =1995–2000 | publisher =The American Society for Nutritional Sciences | location = | date =August 2005 | url =http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/full/135/8/1995 | pmid =16046728}}</ref> ==References== {{reflist}} == External links == * [http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4006 A Skeptical Analysis of Wheatgrass Juice.] Brian Dunning. November 09, 2006 [[Category:Grasses]] [[Category:Dietary supplements]] [[zh:小麥草]]