Wheatgrass Benefits and Side Effects, wheatgrass powder
What does wheatgrass do?
Wheatgrass has been promoted as one of the most potently healthy substances on earth.
Wheatgrass contains chlorophyll, amino acids, minerals, enzymes, vitamins and
antioxidants (e.g. carotenoids and flavonoids). [3]

Fresh leaf buds of wheatgrass (tritium aestivum or agropyron cristatum) are often crushed
to form a wheat grass juice [4] Wheatgrass juice is a popular health drink. While
wheatgrass may also be dried or dehydrated then grounded into wheat grass powder.
Without much scientific evidence, wheatgrass is promoted that it can benefit people at risk
of cancers, menopause, colon and liver diseases. A website publisher claims wheatgrass
can offer benefits of preventing gray hair and bad breath. Another website publisher says
wheatgrass juice is a detergent in our body, and wheatgrass juice can help prevent tooth
decay. The publisher further suggests readers to gargle with wheatgrass juice for a sore
throat, and use wheatgrass juice for skin problems such as eczema or psoriasis.  Wheat
grass juice has even claimed to have benefit on high blood pressure and scars formed in
the lung. Not sure, if these claims have scientific supports. Wheatgrass may possibly have
lots of health benefits, as it has a high content of fibers and antioxidants.
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Let us review some interesting recent studies on wheatgrass benefits:

Clinical studies

Wheatgrass benefits - on ulcerative colitis
In a randomized, double-blind study, Ben-Arye E and co-workers from Israel Institute of
Technology, supplemented 23 patients suffered from ulcerative colitis with 100 cc of
wheatgrass juice daily for one month. They found significant improvements of these
patients in disease activity index such as rectal bleeding and bowel movement. They
found no serious side effects.

Wheatgrass benefits - on thalassemia
Researchers treated patients with thalassemia with 100 mLof wheatgrass juice daily. They
found a decrease in the need of packed red cells by 25% or more. They didn't notice any
adverse side effects. [2] Thalassemia is an inherited autonomic recessive blood disease.
In thalassemia, the genetic defect results in reduced rate of synthesis of one of the globin
chains that make up hemoglobin. The disorder leads to anemia.

Wheatgrass benefits - on rheumatoid arthritis
Researchers from Finland included wheatgrass juice and berries in their special diets for
patients suffered from rheumatoid arthritis. During the study, researchers noticed the
improvement of joint stiffness and pain and quality of sleep. [3]

Wheatgrass benefits - anti-cancer (anti proliferation effect)
Wheatgrass was found to have cytotoxic effect on human acute promyelocytic leukemia
cells HL60 while no significant cytotoxic effect was observed on other type of cells. [Pak J
Pharm Sci. 2011 Jul;24(3):243-50]

Wheatgrass benefits - on gray hair
There is no report that wheatgrass prevents gray hair (up to the date of August 17, 2011)

Wheatgrass benefits - on lung scar
There is no report that wheatgrass can diminish scars in lung (up to the date of August
17, 2011)

Wheatgrass benefits - on bad breath
There is no scientific evidence that wheatgrass can stop bad breath (up to the date of
August 17, 2011)

Wheatgrass benefits - on menopause
There is no scientific evidence that wheatgrass offers benefits to people at menopause
(up to the date of August 17, 2011)

Wheatgrass benefits - on tooth decay
There is no scientific evidence that wheatgrass offers benefits to people at risk of tooth
decay (up to the date of August 17, 2011)

I can't understand how those marketers can come up with so many health benefits for
wheatgrass. I notice, one publisher applies chlorophyll benefits to wheatgrass.
Wheatgrass contains chlorophyll but chlorophyll in wheatgrass is associated with fibers or
even encapsulated in fibers. Chlorophyll in supplements may be in fine powder form.
Thus, the benefit of chlorophyll supplement is different from the benefit of wheatgrass.

Wheatgrass side effects
Wheatgrass is probably safe for most healthy adults. However, wheatgrass side effects
may happen with individuals, the side effects may include nausea, appetite loss and
constipation.

THIS ARTICLE IS FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY. YOU SHOULD CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR IF YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTION AND BEFORE TAKING ANY SUPPLEMENTS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ZHION 2011.DO NOT COPY NOR
TRANSFER THE CONTENT OF THIS ARTICLE TO OTHER WEBSITES.

[1] Ben-Arye E, Goldin E, Wengrower D, Stamper A, Kohn R, Berry E. Wheat grass juice in the treatment of active distal ulcerative colitis: a randomized
double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Scand J Gastroenterol. 2002 Apr;37(4):444-9. [2] Marawaha RK, et al, Wheat grass juice reduces transfusion
requirement in patients with thalassemia major: a pilot study. Indian Pediatr. 2004 Jul;41(7):716-20. [3] Hänninen O, Rauma AL, Kaartinen K, Nenonen M.
Vegan diet in physiological health promotion. Acta Physiol Hung. 1999;86(3-4):171-80. [4] From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
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