How to Enjoy Wheatgrass

Wheatgrass is available in a variety of forms, and each has its own pros and cons. There are powdered or dried wheatgrass formulations that are meant to be mixed with water. There are pill supplements. Most advocates of wheatgrass, however, prefer to grow the grass themselves—either in their own backyards or lawns and nourished by the sun; or indoors in a tray and a special lamp. For those whom wheatgrass is now an important part of their diet or regimen, growing your own grass is by far more economical. Wheatgrass kits are available in centers such as the Hippocrates Health Centre (pioneered by Dr Ann Wigmore).

            However, the catch is growing your own grass requires effort and care—from the soil you use (should you grow it outside) to ensuring the grass in your tray get enough nutrients and are not over-watered. Wheatgrass is generally good for harvest after 10-14 days. One important note about wheatgrass is to cut it at its “jointing stage”—loosely defined, this would be the adolescent age of the grass. At this point, the grass will have absorbed all the nutrients it could from the sun and soil.

            Once grass is harvested it can be store in plastic or glass containers or sprout bags. This is to allow air circulation and avoid choking the grass. They can be stored in the refrigerator until they are needed. Grass is juiced by specially-crafted juicers, usually by grinding. These are different from regular juicers that fruit or soft vegetables are fed into. Wheatgrass—or any cereal grass for that matter—juicers are more durable and have more powerful motors because the grinding of grass to get the juice needs it. Juicing grass tends to be slower than an average juicer, because care must be taken so the vitamins, minerals, and enzymes stay intact. Like using wheatgrass itself, growing your own grass and juicing it requires some study, but its benefits of better health at a lesser cost more than makes up for it.