Morning boys & girls,
I hope y’all had a lovely weekend? Mine was stuffed to the brim with the organic farmers market, Bikram, a visit to my friend and a visit to my grandparents in Haarlem on Saturday. Then Sunday me & my mom visisted my niece and then we did a Bikram class together, my mom’s a natural! I also had to work late last night, and again this afternoon. Phew!
Glad you all liked the posts on juice fasting last week, I hope I got all of your questions answered too 
.
So it’s been a long time coming since I did a nutrition 101 post, which is a shame! Luckily for you guys I’ve developed a new, healthy, addiction which I could go on and on about; wheatgrass! (Yes, I’ve now officially turned over to the dark side and I’ll only be wearing sandals (with socks) from now on 
).
The Deal With Wheatgrass
No doubt you’ve heard of wheatgrass before. But have you had your first shot yet? If you’re anything like me you know it’s out there, but just can’t get bothered to actually try it. Or make it stick.
I got my first shot from the lovely Diana (rawsuperfoods.com) the Saturday after I returned from Maroc (my body was in desperate need for some GREENS) and I’ve been hooked ever since!
But what is wheatgrass? Wheatgrass is the younger, immature version of wheat as we know it. Before wheat grows into a grain it is a grass. As we know form our masticating friends, grasses are super healthy and can sustain large animals in their nutritional demands. However, for humans it is next to impossible to chew the grass thoroughly enough to get the vitamins and minerals released, hence: wheatgrass juice! As with any juice, the nutrients become much more avilable by removing the fiber and releasing them from their whole food form, which most of the time includes hard to digest (for us) plant cells. By the way: wheatgrass is gluten free!
Nutritional Powerhouse
So what’s everyone always raving about wheatgrass one might wonder. Rumor has it that one tiny shot of wheatgrass (1 ounce/28ml) is the nutritional equivelancy of 1 kilo fresh vegetables. Wow! Whether or not this statement is completely accurate or not, it is a fact that wheatgrass’ nutritional content is off the charts. Wheatgrass is super rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, amino acids (building blocks for protein) and enzymes and chlorophyll (70%), among other things. Diana informed me that two shots of wheatgrass covers your entire amino acid requirements for the day, and various sources state that 2 shots (60ml!) meet all your vitamin & mineral requirements for an entire day.
More benefits
Here are some more touted benefits of wheatgrass:
- energizes and reduced fatigue
- improves metabolism & reduces cravings (by stabilizing blood sugar)
- improves digestion
- enriches the blood and lowers blood pressure
- the chlorophyll cleanses the blood and helps in removing toxins from the body
- alkalizes
- improves complexion and reduces skin problems like acne
- boosts the immune system
Wheatgrass is also used by some as a form of complementary therapy in patients with chronic illnesses like cancer.
Get Your Wheatgrass Juice On!
I know you’re all still waiting for one final thing: what about the taste? Honestly, it doesn’t bother me at all, and the second time around I actually liked it. It probably doesn’t hurt I get quite some greens in on a daily basis, including green juices, though. Hell, even if you’re not a fan of the taste, it’s such a small amount that it could easily be glugged!
So, no more excuses, get yourself to your nearest cocktail wheatgrass bar (Amsterdam residents: Diana at the Noordermarket on Saturday or Jay’s Juices)!
Granted, at €2,50 a shot it might not be feasible to get a shot everyday, yet if you really want wheatgrass to work magic on your body, it would be best to drink it consistently. Fortunately there’s the option of growing it yourself too! And instead of a fancy wheatgrass juicer, you can buy a cheap manual wheatgrass juicer (at rawsuperfoods for €45 for example). You can buy wheatgrass growing supplies at tarwegraskoning.nl (dutch webshop), like I did, where you will find a manual as well. It seems simple enough, and there’s plenty of manuals and FAQ’s on wheatgrass growing online as well. This way you can have a shot, or two, of fresh wheatgrass every day for only a small initial investment!
Have you ever tried wheatgrass? If you consume wheatgrass juice consistently, what are the benefits you’ve noticed?
Love,
Sabine
Heb het gezien op de Noordermarkt inderdaad, maar nooit geprobeerd. Je hebt een speciale tarwegras juicer hiervoor nodig? Met je eigen juicer zou het niet lukken? Over je eigen juicer gesproken, was je nou van plan de eerste op http://www.tarwegraskoning.nl/ (nl de Matstone voor 229 eu te kopen)?
nee voor wheatgrass heb je dus een speciale juicer nodig, een handmatige werkt ook prima.
en ja, die heb ik inderdaad besteld!
Maar met die Matstone lukt het dus wel? Quote site: ‘De machine perst niet alleen fruit en harde groente (zoals wortels of kool), maar ook bladgroente en tarwegras tot sap.’
Have tried this a couple of times last year. The taste is alright, almost like it’s got a hint of liquorice to it. The price does put me off, you can have two meals over here for that money. But I’d love to grow it, in the future
i had two shots this morning with a very strong licoriche taste. ew!
Hi! Glad to see you back! I read all of your posts since you’ve been back, but I didn’t take the time to react. So, here’s a summary of reactions for the things you wrote in your previous posts and this one included:
- Girl, what a horrible experience in Maroc. I can totally understand why you came back. I think maybe the reaction of your ‘friend’ has been the heaviest though. I hope you find/found a way of dealing with it!
- I think your kind of a superwoman eating healthy and vegan during your stay in Maroc! Do you take your blender with you on trips?
- The juicefast looks very difficult to me. I think I would miss solid food very much, but maybe it’s an option to try it somewhere in the next weeks, because I have vacation starting friday!
- what a great idea going to a great place to juice feast!
- I bought wheatgrass powder not so long ago. The fresh juice probably contains more nutrients, but I was able to try the powder so I did. I tried it in my green monster, but I didn’t like the taste of that combination. So now I just drink ik plain and that’s doable. Do you have any information about the (health) differences between fresh wheatgrass juice and wheatgrass powder?
Would love to try some wheatgrass juice! I’ve spotted this juice bar in the Kinkerstraat where they sell it as well. Maybe I should get some when I’m going back to school in two weeks. I’ll let you know how it was.
PS: Love your blog, finally some Dutch experiences about being a vegan. At times I find it hard, especially if you’re reading all the American/Canadian blogs and read what stuff they have over there and how little of an assortment we have down here.
ahhh I didnt know they sold it too, haha. (i live a few steps away from that place, sap&enzo right?) thanks for the tip!
I have never tried wheatgrass – because I thought it most certainly was not gluten free! Thanks so much for clearing that little misconception up for me – I think I will have to get some at Whole Foods today!
you’re welcome
!
I try to get everyone I know to drink shots of wheatgrass!! Thanks for such an informative post! You inspired me to write one for my readers as well! Love your blog!!!!
Before I go off to buy some wheatgrass… I’m not really a fan of juicing, so could you please try using the vita-mix blender with wheatgrass and see how the taste/digestion differences, also a glass when using a good nutbag after the blending
Many thanks in advance 
i know for a fact people do the vitamix/nutmilk bag technique!
Thanks! I have ordered a Tribest freshlife kiemer and an additional nut bag together with some organic seeds to start sprouting
Hi!
I just ordered wheatgrass juice, due to your post! I ordered frozen wheatgrass juice as I don’t have a juicebar nearby and I’d love to have one every day! I ordered by daily juice, an online shop here in the Netherlands. I haven’t tried this shop before so I’m curious.. When I like the juice I’ll immediately start growing so I won’t have to order it again. Can I also use my normal juicemachine?
Greetz, Nancy
frozen wheatgrass juice, cool! let me know how you like it!
juicing wheatgrass requires a special juicer, but you can also buy a manual one (see link i provided!)
I will probably receive it today, so will let you know! I asked about the juicer as the site (of the link you provided) says by every juicer they sell that you can also use it for fruits and veggies. I assumed that it would then also be true the other way around
This is a great healthy juice, thanks for sharing this…
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