Wheatgrass is the sprouted portion of the wheat plant. Unlike wheat, wheatgrass is gluten-free and, as its name denotes, resembles grass. It is found in both wild and cultivated environments. Wheatgrass contains vitamins and minerals and is available as powder, juice or raw grass you can juice at home.
Calories, Fat and Carbs
Wheatgrass provides a range of vitamins and minerals, while imposing very few calories. Per 100 grams -- about 2.8 ounces -- wheatgrass juice has about 20 calories, 2 grams of carbohydrates and 0.06 gram of fat. Its low calorie content and impressive nutrient profile make wheatgrass an efficient food choice for anyone pursuing a healthy lifestyle.
Wheatgrass Vitamins
Vitamins in wheatgrass include A, C, E and several B vitamins. The most prevalent vitamin in wheatgrass is pantothenic acid, or B-5. A 100-gram serving of wheatgrass contains 6 milligrams, a full milligram over the suggested 5-milligram daily intake. Pantothenic acid has many roles in the body, including breaking down and converting fats and carbohydrates into energy, maintaining digestive health, and assisting in the production of red blood cells and hormones.
Wheatgrass Minerals
Iron, zinc, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, sodium and selenium are all present in wheatgrass in at least trace amounts. A serving has 24 milligrams of magnesium, about 8 percent of the recommended dietary allowance for women. Magnesium helps oxygenate blood and keep energy levels high. One serving also has 147 milligrams -- about 3 percent of the RDA -- of potassium, which helps maintain the body's water and electrolyte levels while also protecting heart health.
Possible Help for Digestive Issues
Researchers from the Israel Institute of Technology studied wheatgrass's potential to help with ulcerative colitis, a condition that causes chronic inflammation of the large intestine. Participants in the study consumed either a placebo or just over 3 ounces of wheatgrass juice daily for a month. Results showed participants who consumed wheatgrass experienced reduced symptoms. The results of this study were published in the April 2002 issue of the "Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology."
References
- Pure Health Wellness Center: My Wheatgrass -- Wheatgrass Nutrition Facts
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid)
- The Doctor Oz Show: Daily Dose: Magnesium
- The Doctor Oz Show: Daily Dose: Potassium
- Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology: Wheat Grass Juice in the Treatment of Active Distal Ulcerative Colitis: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial
Writer Bio
Sarah Whitman's work has been featured in newspapers, magazines, websites and informational booklets. She is currently pursuing a master's degree in nutrition, and her projects feature nutrition and cooking, whole foods, supplements and organics. She also specializes in companion animal health, encouraging the use of whole foods, supplements and other holistic approaches to pet care.