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Not just for cows
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Wheatgrass and barley grass are full of good stuff. SWAPNA DUTTA |
BOOST TO HEATLH: Wheatgrass can also be grown at home.
I FIRST heard about wheatgrass when a friend
suffering from cancer was asked to take it by the doctor. Until then I
always thought that grass, all kinds, was meant for cattle alone! Actually wheatgrass is said to be one of the
most nutritious plants available. It belongs to the same category as
spinach, kale and broccoli. Wheatgrass, alfalfa and barley grass are
described as "cereal grasses". They are a very good source of
chlorophyll. The juice of wheatgrass is often described as "liquid
chlorophyll". Both wheatgrass and barley grass are the
young shoots of sprouted grains. Or one could describe them as grain
plants at the grass stage, taken just after sprouting. They are said to
boost health and vitality. Wheatgrass, or its juice, helps fight many
chronic ailments — from simple anaemia to leukaemia, from skin rash to
cancer, from worms to ulcers. Way back in the 1940s Charles Kettering of
General Motors did intensive research on chlorophyll because doctors
had discovered that chlorophyll is a great healer. It is a remarkable
substance, which can capture the sun's energy and store it in the
plants. Chemically, chlorophyll is similar to haemoglobin, which
transports oxygen from the lungs to the tissues of the body. This
research led to the revelation that wheatgrass, among others, was
especially rich in chlorophyll. Also, during the 1940s Ann Wigmore from
Boston made a special study (along Dr. Thomas) of the healing property
of many kinds of grasses. She later started the Ann Wigmore Institute
in Boston to spread awareness about wheatgrass. Wheatgrass has just
about 10-15 calories per teaspoon and no fat or cholesterol. It
contains Vitamins A, B1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8 and 12; Vitamins C, E and K. A
teaspoon of wheatgrass contains around 15mg of Calcium, 8mcg Iodine,
3.5 mcg Selenium, 870 mcg Iron, 62 mcg Zinc, and many other minerals.
Wheatgrass also contains three important enzymes that have significant
anti-oxidant properties. And it contains 70 per cent chlorophyll. Wheatgrass juice is sweet while the juice of
barley grass is rather bitter. Actually neither taste is appealing. But
both are so nutritious and beneficial that they are fast becoming two
of the most widely used supplemental health foods. Wheatgrass is
considered perfect for dieters, athletes, people on the move and those
who want to keep up a healthy immune system. Wheatgrass is available at most health food
stores. It can be refrigerated for up to three days if stored in a
plastic container or a strong polythene bag. It can be chewed as it is
or made into juice. But it should be drunk within half an hour of
extraction. An electric blender should not be used as the rapid blade
movement destroys most of its nutritional qualities, particularly the
chlorophyll. Special manual juicers are available or it can be crushed
on a stone slab. A little water may be added when grinding it and then
it should be strained through a fine wire mesh or a clean cloth.
Wheatgrass is believed to be a wonderful
cleanser and rejuvenator, helping the body detoxify. While it is not a
substitute for medicines it helps maintain good health and fight
ailments like asthma, inflammation and arthritis. To know more about
cultivating wheatgrass check www.sproutman.com/wheatgrass.html
If you want to try it, go slow at first. And remember it is a supplement to a healthy diet.
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