Because it’s loaded with natural vitamins, chlorophyll, and enzymes that feed our cells and help rid them of toxins.


Researcher and nutritionist, Ann Wigmore, explains that by adding wheatgrass juice to the diet, you can improve the complexion and cleanse the body, gain energy and strength, boost the metabolism, more easily access the vitamins and minerals needed for optimum health, and more quickly heal various ailments and illnesses. Studies also show it helps combat chronic fatigue syndrome. One of the key ways it does all this is by cleansing the lymph system and removing toxic metals from cells.

Scientists have found that, apart from being rich in micro-nutrients, wheatgrass also contains protein, chlorophyll, calcium, Vitamin C and lysine. What’s amazing is that a single ounce of wheat grass juice has the nutritional equivalent of 2.2 pounds of fresh vegetables. Wheat grass is a living food. It is a complete protein with about 30 enzymes and is approximately 70% crude chlorophyll.

You don’t need much. Typically, all it takes is 1½ to 2 ounces a day to reap its benefits.


Intrigued, I bought a half-flat from our local health-food store, Good Earth. Each morning, I snip off ½ cup or more and add it to the rest of the fruit and greens I’m mixing up for the day.

There’s been no appreciable change in taste of the smoothies, even though wheatgrass has a strong grassy taste on its own. But I have noticed an increase in energy, some internal cleansing, and a clearer complexion.

Ann Wigmore wrote The Wheatgrass Book, which tells how to do even more with this green. It’s been a wealth of information. She goes into depth as to the benefits of wheatgrass, what chlorophyll does for us, explains how to grow wheatgrass at home, and includes some basic recipes.


The only drawback I see to wheatgrass is the need for a special juicer, if you want to drink it as a straight juice or use Ann’s recipes. I haven’t gone that route since I have a Vita Mix. I just add the grass to the other greens I drink, as mentioned above.

But if juicing wheatgrass interests you, here’s the scoop: This special juicer acts slowly to extract the juice from each blade of wheat grass. Compared to other juicers, a wheatgrass juicer extracts the juices at slow speed, acting somewhat like a press. This is preferable because high-speed extraction might damage or destroy the enzymes. Most juicers have an RPM of 1000 or more, whereas wheatgrass machines usually run at 80-120 RPM. (Oops, MY juicer has the huge RPMs, so maybe I’ll look closer at the idea of getting a wheatgrass juicer after all!)


There are different types of wheatgrass machines available—manual juicers, multi-purpose electric juicers, heavy-duty/ commercial electric juicers, etc. Commercial grade wheat grass juicers cost about $800 and are what’s used in juice shops—too pricey for this girl. But Lexan and Miracle have wheatgrass juicers for between $175 and $189—that’s OK—I can save up for that amount.

But then there’s the hand-crank type by Healthy Juicer for around $45 (much more doable if don’t mind devoting a little time to the process).


If you don’t have a wheatgrass juicer you might get some pre-prepared at your health-food store (a 1-ounce shot can cost around $3.00). That fact alone gives me reason to seriously look at getting a hand-crank juicer. A half flat of grass sells for about $7.50, and you can get 10 ounces of juice from it. So, if a daily shot is only 1 ounce, then you’ll get 10 shots at $3.00 each—retail you’d pay $30.00 for 10 shots. Seems smart to buy the grass and make your own, right?

Finally, in case you’d like to try wheatgrass juice, here’s one of Ann’s recipes.