Wheatgrass Juice: The Remarkable Benefits & How To Grow Your Own Wheatgrass

If you are not familiar with wheatgrass you might think it odd that someone would suggest you actually eat grass. Truth be told, wheatgrass is actually a delicious and nutritious superfood that is beneficial to any healthy diet. What’s even better, you can grow your own wheatgrass with minimal effort.


What Is Wheatgrass?
Wheatgrass is the edible young grass from the wheat plant triticum aestivum. It is gluten-free and packed with therapeutic properties. Most of the time it is juiced or milled to a very fine and beautifully green powder or put into a capsule.

Wheatgrass, also known as “Liquid Sunshine,” can be found in warm regions throughout the United States and Europe. Many people choose to grow wheatgrass inside where plants not only survive but thrive.

Growing Guide To Sprouting Your Own Wheatgrass:
Once you realize just how easy and fun it is to sprout your own wheatgrass at home, you won’t be able to get enough. Imagine, an endless supply of a real super superfood. Just follow this sprouting guide for success.

Step One: Gather Your Supplies
Organic wheatgrass seeds: Starting with the highest quality seeds will yield a better and more nutrient-dense harvest.
Organic potting soil and fertilizer: Always use organic soil and fertilizer to avoid toxic exposure.
Plastic gardening tray with holes: The nice thing about the plastic tray with holes is that it can be reused over and over again.
Spray bottle: This is the perfect way to keep your sprouts moist but not overwatered.
Step Two: Pre-sprout
For a quicker and more substantial harvest, pre sprouting is absolutely necessary.

Place enough seeds to cover the bottom of your plastic tray, without overcrowding.
In a glass mixing bowl, rinse the seeds and place them in a container with 3x as much water as seeds.
Cover the container with a tea towel and soak the seeds for 10 hours.
After 10 hours, drain the water and repeat the same soaking process.
After 10 hours, drain the water and repeat the same soaking process.
Check to see that seeds have sprouted ⅛ of an inch to ¼ of an inch.
Step Three: Tray Preparation
Use unbleached paper towels to line the bottom of the plastic tray
Fill the tray with a combination of ½ moistened organic oil and light compost to one and a half inch of the tray depth.
Step Four: Planting
Arrange the seeds evenly and densely on the plastic tray.
Press the seeds gently into the soil.
Position the tray of seeds in indirect light and plenty of ventilation.
Step Five: Care
Place a piece of slightly damp newspaper over the seeds until they reach about one inch
Water new shoots twice daily using a spray bottle until shoots reach one inch. Decrease watering at this time to morning only.
Harvesting
Your wheatgrass should reach six inches by about day 9 or 10. At this time it will be ready for harvesting.
Avoid any mold that may have grown (see below for mold issues) by cutting above the spot where the mold starts.
Use sharp and clean scissors to harvest your wheatgrass. A 21” x 11” tray will yield enough grass for 14-18 ounces of wheatgrass juice.
You can begin watering again for a second and third harvest. Note: The shoots won’t be as tender as the first ones.
Troubleshooting Mold
As mentioned above, it is possible that if you live in a humid climate, your sprouts may develop mold. Although the mold is harmless, it may turn you off. Here are some steps you can take to keep mold from becoming a problem in the first place.


Allow the seeds to soak for a longer period of time, 12 hours works well. The seeds will expand more and have better germination and a much shorter sprouting time.
When you lay your seeds out on the tray, pay particular attention to allowing space in between for good ventilation.
Be very careful not to overwater your sprouts.
Try watering your sprouts from the bottom by placing a collecting tray without holes under the wheatgrass tray. Be sure there is water in this collection tray and only lightly mist the top of the sprouts.

Health Benefits Of Wheatgrass
Once you get beyond eating something called “grass” and better understand the immeasurable health benefits.

Here is just one staggering statistic: Just two ounces of wheatgrass juice has the nutritional equivalency of five pounds of raw organic vegetables. Wow!!

What’s in Wheatgrass?
Wheatgrass contains the following:

Antioxidants
Chlorophyll
Iron
Magnesium and Calcium
Amino Acids
Vitamins A, C, E
Selenium

How Wheatgrass Can Help You Be Healthy
Here are just a few science supported ways that wheatgrass improves your health.

Alkalinization & Nutrient Absorption: Wheatgrass helps the body reach and maintain an alkaline state which promotes wellness and keeps diseases at bay. It is a known fact that cancer, along with other diseases thrive in an acid environment. Along with this, wheatgrass also helps the body absorb vital nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin E, and electrolytes.