Is Wheatgrass Better Than Leafy Greens?
- In the 1940s, agricultural chemist Charles Francis Schnabel---dubbed The Father of Wheatgrass---claimed that "15 pounds of wheat grass is equal in overall nutritional value to 350 pounds of ordinary garden vegetables." Today, wheatgrass is widely recognized as a superfood. It's many health benefits range from the promotion of general well-being to cancer prevention, according to author and doctor Gloria Gilbère N.D., D.A.Hom., Ph.D. These benefits are attributed to its high levels of vitamins, minerals, trace elements and enzymes. Wheatgrass proponents claim its potent chlorophyll concentration has a detoxifying effect on the body.
- The nutritional value of wheatgrass is not disproportionate to that of other foods. In some cases, wheatgrass contains lesser amounts of vitamins and minerals than its green leafy counterparts. For example, seven 3.5-g tablets of wheatgrass provides 15 mg of calcium and 3.9 mg of magnesium, compared with 89 mg of calcium and 47 mg of magnesium provided by 1/2 cup of cooked broccoli. Similarly, a serving of broccoli or spinach contains more vitamin C and iron than a 30-ml shot of wheatgrass juice. Chlorophyll is unlikely to have health-giving effects because it is not absorbed by the body, according to a 1989 report published in the California Pharmacist journal.
- There is no reliable evidence to support the claim that taking dry or freshly juiced wheatgrass is any better for you than eating a diet rich in leafy greens, according to the Berkeley Wellness Guide to Dietary Supplements. Both are good sources of nutrients that promote overall health.
