Which is Better Wheatgrass Powder vs Wheatgrass Juice and Why?

Wheatgrass powder vs Wheatgrass Juice.

Before getting to that question, lets get to a brief history of wheatgrass to understand how it became the popular super food for its amazing health benefits.

The history of wheatgrass goes 5000 years back when Egyptians and Mesopotamians used to worship wheatgrass as an elixir. They believed that wheatgrass juice improved their health and energy. Historians have found shreds of evidence about the usage of wheatgrass in countries like Kuwait, Iraq, Turkey and Syria as well.

The agricultural chemist Charles F. Schnabel first introduced the plant to the modern world during the 1930s. He not only fed the extract of wheatgrass to his cattle but he also administered wheatgrass extract on his family members. He had proven that wheatgrass is good for humans as well as animals.

Wheatgrass is packed with nutritious elements. On one hand, the plant has Vitamins A, K, E, C and Vitamin B complex. On the other hand, it contains important minerals such as calcium,selenium, phosphorus, iron, potassium, sodium, magnesiumand zinc.

The Chlorophyll present in wheatgrass acts as a natural detoxifier for our body. It effectively cleanses the liver, reduces the damages caused by free radicals and purifies the blood. Wheatgrass is known to reduce bad cholesterol, provide protection against cancer, lower the chances of heart attack etc.

Once I met a person who was diagnosed with oral cancer. The doctor informed him that his cancer had spread to such an extent that they could only buy him some time through radiation and chemotherapy. He lost hope but his wife didn’t.

Without going into the argument of wheatgrass powder vs juice, she started to administer 30ml of wheatgrass juice daily on her husband. He reported that wheatgrass effectively diminished the pain caused by cancer. Though it didn’t cure his cancer cells, he could feel that his healthy cells were fighting to survive.

When I met the person, he told me that he had been taking wheatgrass juice for the last 10 years. Even though he still has cancer, wheatgrass juice added 10 years to his life and he is counting more.

Benefits of wheatgrass for a healthy living:

It’s not necessary for you to consume wheatgrass juice only if you are ill. Wheatgrass is a natural supplement that has no side effects and it keeps us overall healthy and active. Therefore, wheatgrass can be consumed by anyone who wants to prevent diseases like cancer, diabetes, high cholesterol or heart problems.

Let’s check out some of the benefits of wheatgrass to understand the importance of this plant:

• It’s termed as a superfood:

Wheatgrass is commonly known as a superfood because of the nutritional property of the grass. Apart from rejuvenating the cells, wheatgrass also has some therapeutic advantages. The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory characteristics of wheatgrass work as antibiotic and reduce pain caused by disease like cancer.

Wheatgrass also works as an antioxidant and eliminates the damages caused by the oxidants and free radicals. As per the research of Linus Pauling Institute, flavonoids present in wheatgrass are helpful in lowering the risk of heart diseases, nerve-related problems and even cancer. Unlike wheat, wheatgrass is gluten-free.

• It is rich in nutrients:

Wheatgrass is a plant that has almost all the necessary nutrients that a person requires to stay healthy. Apart from the minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc etc, wheatgrass also contains 17 different amino acids and enzymes.

We need to consume food that is rich in amino acids as our body is not designed to synthesise the essential amino acids. Therefore, as soon as you start consuming wheatgrass juice on a regular basis, your body will start showing results. Your hormonal imbalances will get cured, your muscles will become strong and your overall immune system will improve significantly.

Apart from amino acids and enzymes, wheatgrass also contains Vitamin B complex that is known to lower the risk of stroke and cardiac arrest. While Vitamin D and K improve the health of your bone and heal the wounds faster, Vitamin C in wheatgrass heals and revitalizes your body tissues. Vitamin E present in wheatgrass protects you from the damages caused by the free radicals.

Fresh wheatgrass juice contains approximately 70% Chlorophyll that works wonder for your blood. It detoxifies your body naturally, cleanse your internal organs and boosts the haemoglobin of your blood. The high concentration of Chlorophyll in wheatgrass effectually heals wounds, reduces colostomy odour and it can even thwart the damage caused during chemotherapy.

• Keeps your digestive system active:

Almost all of us have faced digestive problems and have taken over-the-counter medicine to get rid of the complications. If I tell you that you can eliminate any problems related to digestion naturally, will you believe me? Well, you should.

Wheatgrass is a magic potion that is known to cure indigestion naturally. The amino acids, enzymes, vitamins and minerals present in wheatgrass help keep your digestive system clean and active. Therefore, if you take fresh wheatgrass juice daily, your stomach problems including constipation, ulcer, irritable bowel syndrome can be eradicated while giving you permanent relief.

• Gets rid of bad cholesterol:

As per a report published in the Times of India, lower level of good HDL cholesterol is seen in 72% of Indians. Another study by Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd shows that 27% of Indians are prone to heart diseases caused by high cholesterol.

Wheatgrass prevents the bad cholesterol from blocking your arteries and it promotes good cholesterol. While bad cholesterol or LDL can cause coronary diseases, good cholesterol or HDL can be helpful in building the structures of your cell walls.

Apart from avoiding unhealthy foods like baked goods, red meat or whole-fat dairy products, you can consume wheatgrass juice daily to keep your cholesterol level in check. The higher level of fibre content in wheatgrass keeps bad cholesterol, as well as high blood pressure, at bay.

• Beneficial for people with diabetes:

Diabetes or blood sugar is a condition where the body doesn’t produce enough insulin. The hormone insulin is necessary to control the levels of sugar in your blood. As you already know by now, wheatgrass has almost all the nutritious ingredients that humans need.

The minerals, enzymes and amino acids are effective in controlling the glucose level in your blood. The Chlorophyll improves the red blood cells by purifying your blood. Wheatgrass can improve the triglycerides in your blood cells as well.

Wheatgrass Powder vs wheatgrass juice:

There are different opinions about wheatgrass powder vs juice. However, we will provide evidence on why wheatgrass juice is better than wheatgrass powder. Wheatgrass powder is made from the dried blades of the grass.

Many nutritional properties get damaged during the process of drying the wheatgrass. Producing wheatgrass powder is actually beneficial for commercial purpose as a large quantity of powder can be produced with a small amount of wheatgrass. Here are some point to consider.

• Wheatgrass juice contains enzymes:

What’s the point of taking wheatgrass powder when you don’t get the needed enzymes? In the debate between wheatgrass powder vs juice, you must understand the fact that wheatgrass juice contains the enzymes as you freshly squeeze the juice out of the leaves.

Enzymes don’t sustain while the grass blades are dried and powdered. In most cases, manufacturers useheaters to get rid of the water substance in wheatgrass. Later, the dried grass blades are turned into powder. In the process of drying the plant, not only the enzymes get ruined but the minerals and vitamins are also compromised.

• Juice retains the percentage of Chlorophyll:

Many people find wheatgrass juice to be bitter. But the cause of this bitter taste is the presence of Chlorophyll in the plant. 70% of Chlorophyll is extremely helpful to keep our blood clean and improve our health. Besides, the Chlorophyll gives the juice the rich green colour that it has.

On the contrary, much of the Chlorophyll gets vaporised while drying wheatgrass. The molecules of Chlorophyll are similar to the molecules of hemin, which is part of haemoglobin. Therefore, you can get the most out of it when you consume it in the liquid form.

• The fibre content is higher in juice:

Wheatgrass has cellulose in it and it is good for our digestive system. There are two types of fibres that we require to stay fit-Soluble fibers & Insoluble fibres. While the soluble fibres help our body to absorb the nutrients from the food that we eat, the insoluble fibres help in cleaning our internal system by normalizing the bowel movement.

Fibres not only keep our system clean but these are also effective in losing weight, controlling blood sugar levels and regulating the level of cholesterol. When wheatgrass is turned into powder form, the insoluble fibre content of the plant gets damaged drastically. Therefore, the powder is neither able to clear your bowel nor does it aid in weight loss.

• Wheatgrass powder contains chemicals:

While processing wheatgrass powder, the manufacturers tend to use pesticides as the leaves take time to dry. Besides, the powder is sold in packed bottles with a shelf life. To ensure that the powder remains consumable till the expiry date, some preservatives are mixed with the powder.

The preservatives and pesticides can even alter the nutritional value of wheatgrass altogether.

On the contrary, if you choose to consume freshly squeezed wheatgrass juice, you don’t need to add any chemical in it. If you purchase wheatgrass from an organic farm, you can ensure that it is free from pesticides as well. Therefore, you can consume the juice without worrying about any side effects caused by any unwanted chemicals.

• Wheatgrass juice is inexpensive:

Even though we don’t pay attention to the part of the cost, when you want to include an ingredient on your daily intake list, you must calculate the expenses associated with it.

While preparing wheatgrass powder, the manufacturers need to create artificial temperature with the help of machines. They also add some chemicals and pesticides to make sure that the powder lasts its shelf life. Next, comes the packaging where the powder is packed in a bottle and labelled properly.

As the process includes so many steps and different types of products, the outcome – the wheatgrass powder, becomes quite expensive. Not everyone of us is able to buy wheatgrass powder for a long period.

On the contrary, wheatgrass juice can be obtained from freshly harvested grass blades. You don’t need any chemicals, any additional containers or pesticides as you are extracting the juice directly from the plant. Thus, wheatgrass juice becomes an affordable option for almost everyone.

How to make wheatgrass juice from raw wheatgrass?

Wheatgrass grows best in temperate regions. Besides, you need to be cautious while growing wheatgrass because it is prone to getting mould problems. Therefore, we recommend you to purchase wheatgrass online from a trusted store that is professional in growing the plant.

There are two methods that you can use to make wheatgrass juice from raw wheatgrass at home.

1. Use a juicer:

This is only a two-step process. First, you need to put the wheatgrass into the juicer. Then run the juicer following the guideline of the manufacturer.

Next, remove the container with the juice and transfer it into a shot glass. If you are using a manual juicer, make sure to pass the pulp twice or thrice through the grinder to get the most juice out of the wheatgrass.

2. Use a blender:

If you don’t have a juicer, you can surely use your blender to make wheatgrass juice at home. Add the wheatgrass and an adequate amount of water into the blender.

Blend the wheatgrass and check if it has liquified enough to swallow. You may need to add a little more water depending on how much wheatgrass you have added.

Once you are satisfied with the consistency, strain the juice with the help of a strainer or a clean piece of muslin cloth. If you are using a strainer, use the back of a spoon to push as much as juice possible. While using a muslin cloth, make a bag of it and squeeze hard to get all the juice.

Discard the remaining pulp and transfer the juice into a shot glass to enjoy it.

Further queries related to wheatgrass juice:

Here are some commonly asked questions regarding the consumption of wheatgrass juice:

• How to consume?

As we have mentioned before, you can juice the fresh wheatgrass and consume the juice immediately. It shows the best result when you consume the fresh juice.

You can store the raw wheatgrass in the refrigerator and juice it when necessary. However, we don’t suggest storing the juice in the refrigerator. The juice can go stale as it doesn’t contain any preservative.

• How much should you consume?

It’s ideal to drink 30ml of wheatgrass juice daily in an empty stomach. You can drink wheatgrass juice even if you are not suffering from any diseases as this will keep you healthy and strong. If you wish, you can drink 5ml of wheatgrass juice twice a day as well.

• How frequently should you consume the wheatgrass and for how long?

As wheatgrass is a natural supplement, it takes time to show the result. Therefore, we recommend taking the juice daily for at least one year. You can surely continue taking the juice as wheatgrass doesn’t have any side effects.

• Where to buy wheatgrass from?

Once you have made a decision of wheatgrass powder vs wheatgrass juice. The next question arises as to where to buy wheatgrass. As we already mentioned, growing wheatgrass can be problematic. You can always purchase wheatgrass online. However, you should always make sure that you are buying wheatgrass from an organic farm like ours.

You can make an order with us at www.wheatgrassfarm.com. We use organic wheatgrass seed to grow the plant. Our trained farmers take care of the soil so that we don’t need to add any chemical fertilisers.

We are strictly against using any sort of pesticides. The hygienic and clean environment of our farm keeps mould issues at bay.

If you place an order with us from anywhere in Bengaluru, we will deliver freshly harvested wheatgrass at your doorstep on that very day. Therefore, you get the best and fresh wheatgrass that has all the nutrients in it.

We have kept the price affordable so that anyone who is willing to stay healthy by consuming wheatgrass juice daily can buy from us. We offer freshly harvested and hygienically packed wheatgrass that will last you for a week.