Superfoods have become a popular topic of late. If you’re interested in the world of fitness, you’ve probably heard them talked about at length. Superfoods are foods that are packed with benefits, providing more nutrients in one serving compared with ‘regular’ foods. Business is booming in the superfood world, with Business Wire reporting that the global superfoods market size is expected to reach $209.1 billion by 2026.
While these foods certainly aren’t cure-alls, they’re great ways to boost your diet. We’ve previously written an article titled ‘What Are the Benefits of Daily Multivitamins’ and how they can fill in nutrient gaps. Superfoods work in the same way, sometimes with even more benefits than a simple multivitamin. Today, we’re going to talk about another superfood— the surprisingly powerful wheatgrass.
Tons of Health Benefits
Wheatgrass is the young grass of the common wheat plant, Triticum aestivum. Despite its unassuming look, this superfood is absolutely packed with a range of vitamins and minerals. Some of these nutrients include iron, potassium, vitamins A, C, and E, calcium, amino acids, magnesium, and even chlorophyll.
Taking these essential vitamins and minerals into your body can result in an incredible array of benefits. Medical News Today highlights the antioxidant properties of wheatgrass, which can help your body prevent disease and lower oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. Wheatgrass can also help slow down the spread of infections, treat gastrointestinal distress, and can even assist in managing type 2 diabetes. That’s an incredible range for such a common plant.
Easy to Grow
One of the best benefits of wheatgrass is that it’s something that you can grow for yourself in your own backyard. Unlike more exotic superfoods like acai berries, which come from South America, wheatgrass can be grown in nearly every state in the U.S.
You don’t even have to set aside a huge patch of land for it— you can more or less get the same, convenient benefits from a planter you keep on your windowsill. Gardening Know How has a quick and easy guide to growing your own wheatgrass plant at home. While there’s no real issue with growing it outside, keeping it indoors allows you to better manage the health of your plant and gives you convenient access to it 24/7. Wheatgrass generally thrives best in temperatures between 60 and 75 F (or 15-23 C), and home gardeners should avoid exposing it to temperatures above 90 F (32 C).
You can begin to harvest your wheatgrass at around 6 to 7 inches, and you can plant a fresh batch every few days to ensure a steady supply. If you encounter any mold problems then a solution of 1 tablespoon per gallon of water sprayed every day can be a quick fix.
Versatile Forms
If you don’t have a green thumb, or just want the benefits of wheatgrass without the hassle of maintaining a plant, then that’s no problem. Powdered supplements are just as effective, and have the added benefits of being easy to store and easy to transport. You can put powdered wheatgrass into your food or blend it up into a juice or shake for that ultimate on-the-go feel. Dr. Berg’s Wheat Grass Juice Powder is a popular option if you prefer your wheatgrass in measurable quantities. But if you can’t decide between powdered or capsule form, Brightcore’s Sweat Wheat organic wheat grass juice powder comes in both powdered and capsule form. Plus, it’s completely vegan and certified GMO-free, so you can be sure that you’re getting all the benefits of wheatgrass as they were meant to be.
