Nutrition, Diet and Health Tips

Introduction.

Wheat grass is a functional food from the common wheat plant that can be taken as a drink (juice), food or as a dietary supplement. It can be purchased as powder, juice or capsules and in Kenya we have it locally grown from Springs Health Care/ Mumina wellness solutions.

It can serve as a complete food for the ill who are unable to take in solid food, but caution should be taken when using it. Wheat grass is a great source of antioxidants that help boost and maintain the body’s defense system.

Some of the benefits associated with wheat grass are;

1. High in antioxidants and Nutrients- organic wheat grass is high in Vitamins such as A, C And E, iron, magnesium, calcium, selenium, amino acids (out of the 17 amino acids present in wheat grass, 7 are essential -this means they cannot be produced by the body and thus has to be obtained daily from the diet). Wheat grass is also rich in chlorophyll – the green material found in plants that helps with photosynthesis – and chlorophyll has several health benefits such as: skin healing properties -helps prevent and treat moderate to mild acne as it also prevents bacterial growth, powerful anti-inflammatory properties- which stimulates the immune system, helps in blood and liver detoxification, intestines declogging this helps with energizing the body, maintaining fresh body odour, fecal movements among others. Antioxidants in wheat grass help to neutralize free radicals (waste products produced by the cell as the body processes food and reacts to external factors. If the body is not in a position to handle radicals effectively, this can result into overdrive stress which can harm the cells and general body functions). Antioxidants might also help prevent vision loss caused by macular degeneration in older people.
2. Helps promote weight loss – wheat grass has thylakoids, which are tiny components found in plants that contain chlorophyll and are able to undergo photosynthesis in sunlight. Thylakoids enhance satiety, slows down stomach emptying, and increases the release of the hormone that that decreases hunger (leptin, CCK) .this in turn helps control and regulate obesity. Ghrelin the ‘hunger’ hormones is believed to be higher in obese or ‘fat’ people but lower in lean or skinny people (people with moderate BMIs). Leptin on the other hand is the hormone that tells your brain that you’re still full and this reduces intake and thus promoting weight loss. Thylakoids works in an almost ‘similar’ mechanism as fasting and portion control would.. And this makes wheat grass a good nutritional supplement to incorporate into your daily routine if you are trying to maintain a healthy weight.
3. Promotes relieve from inflammation.- a normal immune response to protect the body from injuries or infections. However, Chronic inflammation can be harmful and has been associated with several conditions such as cancers, heart diseases, auto-immune disorders, diabetes among others.
4. May help the body reduce on ‘bad’ cholesterol. Cholesterol in the body is used in hormone synthesis and production of bile. However too much cholesterol has proven to be harmful to the body predisposing one to certain conditions such as heart diseases, diabetes, arthritis, hypertension among others.
5. Aids in blood sugar regulation
6. Could help kill cancer cells –due to its high antioxidants levels, it can be used together with traditional medicine to help relieve symptoms associated with cancer treatments (chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery) such as malnutrition, diarrhoea and vomiting, nausea, GIT complications among others.
7. Wheat grass is easy and safe to use for everyone- it can be easily be incorporated into your daily family routine, you can have it with your smoothies, milk or even water. You can as well take it as capsules or juice. Caution: organic wheat grass is said to be gluten free, however caution should be taken in situations where anyone has gluten sensitivity. It should also be stored well as it easy for molds to grow. If you are looking to purchase the wheat grass either in powder, juice or capsules, feel free to reach us on +254723899429 our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/FittyandFab/ @instagram @muminawellness
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Prepared by:

Lilian Mumina

Registered Nutritionist

MPH (Epidemiology and disease control)

BSc. Foods, Nutrition and Dietetics.