Prairie Naturals Wheat Grass (Fermented & Organic) - 150g

WHEAT GRASS

What is it?
Wheat grass comes from one specific part of the wheat plant seed, called the cotyledon It is cultivated when the plant reaches its peak nutritional value, from there it can be consumed freeze-dried or fresh as a food (often juiced), or in supplement form.

What makes wheatgrass so great?
Wheat grass powder is an excellent concentrated food source of chlorophyll, vitamin E, beta-carotene, phosphorus, magnesium, fiber, iron and vitamin K. It is also contains vitamin C, vitamin B-12, folic acid, vitamin B-6, calcium, and other trace minerals. Wheat grass is also an amazing and complete protein source, containing all essential amino acids. This makes it a valuable addition to any vegan or vegetarian diet, along with having powerful benefits in terms of weight loss, blood sugar balancing and general recovery from accident or illness.

Chlorophyll content
Wheatgrass is a significant source of chlorophyll. Approximately 70% of wheatgrass is chlorophyll. This high chlorophyll content is one of he main reasons that wheatgrass is thought to be so beneficial to health. Chlorophyll is essential for healthy blood supporting the purification of blood through removal of toxins, as well as providing red blood cells with the nutrients they need to function optimally. For these reasons, wheatgrass is often recommended during detoxification, as well as being recommended during acute or chronic infection, as it also helps support a healthy immune system. Wheatgrass is also alkaline in nature. An acidic internal environment can be a precursor to, or exacerbate, inflammation and a variety of disease states.

Anti-inflammatory
Aside from being alkaline in nature, wheat grass is believed to have anti-inflammatory properties of its own. Inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, such as Crohn's, Colitis and pancreatitis, often use wheat grass and other greens, as a form of easy to digest nutrition, and for effective healing. Joint inflammation, such as both Rheumatoid and Osteoarthritis may also benefit from a diet that includes wheatgrass.

Buy it at your health food store, or SPROUT it yourself.
As a supplement wheat grass is found in tablets, as a powder, or as a freeze-dried liquid. If you plan to sprout your own wheat be sure to get a variety of wheat berries that are suitable for sprouting and have not be irradiated. Seeds and grains are irradiated to kill the active plant and prevent them from sprouting. Many green food supplements are combinations of medicinal foods and herbs, usually containing wheat grass as one of the primary ingredients.

Is it safe for Celiac's?
There is some debate as to weather wheat grass contains gluten. Although wheatgrass, if harvested properly, should contain no gluten, individuals with celiac disease should use caution and be observant for any potential reactions to wheat grass or products containing it. A gluten free guarantee is difficult to make with so much potential for cross contamination. Wheatgrass should also be avoided for those with a wheat allergy or sensitivity.

Greens Powder

What is it?
Greens powder consists of a wide variety of plant extracts and concentrates freeze dried into a powder that can easily be dissolved in liquid, such as water or juice. There are a number of different greens powders, each of which contains different plant sources and many other ingredients.

The plants and extracts used may include: fruits, vegetables, herbs, phospholipids, phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals, and healthy oils.

In a nutshell, greens powders are like whole food "multivitamins" that can also contain a variety of other useful substances such as medicinal herbs, probiotics, and spirulina. These powders allow the user to increase their nutritional intake, particularly increasing antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Thus, greens powder can help to boost energy levels, increase metabolism, support healthy immune function, and prevent the visible signs of aging..

The Benefits of Fruits and Vegetables
It has long been established that eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables can improve health, reduce the risk of disease, and help to fight aging. These foods are extremely high in antioxidants and also help to alkalinize the body to improve our metabolism. Unfortunately, current research is showing that less than 1/3 of North Americans get even the minimum of 5 fruit and vegetable servings per day. This leaves the majority of people deficient in a number of vitamins and minerals, as well as extremely low in antioxidant levels. Reduced nutrition causes less efficient repair in the body and low antioxidant levels results in an increase in cellular damage. This cellular damage can ultimately results in inflammation, harmful DNA changes, and the physical effects of aging. Taking in at least 5 fruit and vegetable servings a day can help to prevent and even reverse some of these conditions.

Why supplement with greens powder?
The fact that less than 1/3 of us are getting sufficient fruits and vegetables is due to a number of different causes. Fresh fruits and vegetables are expensive, and many people cannot afford to eat such large amounts on a daily basis. It is also difficult in today's busy lifestyle to get to the grocery store frequently enough to buy and maintain a stock of fresh fruits and vegetables in your home. If you simply can't manage to get your fruit and veggie servings with food, there are supplements that can help you to cover the gaps in your diet. One great example is greens powder. Beyond just supplementing specific vitamins and minerals (like a multivitamin can), these powders contain most of the other nutrition also held in fruits and vegetables. They also contain enzymes and phytonutrients that are proven to improve digestion and overall health. An additional bonus is that greens powder has the nutrients from a variety of different fruits and vegetables, giving you a broader spectrum of nutrients than even the most healthful eater could hope to attain from one meal. In fact, often one serving of greens powder is equivalent to more than the minimum 5 recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables, with the particular number of servings depending on the product examined.

What about fibre?
Beyond simple nutrition, one of the greatest benefits that fruits and vegetables provide is their substantial content of both soluble and insoluble fibre. A concern with replacing our recommended fruit and veggie servings with a greens powder is that we will no longer eat as much fibre. Fortunately, most greens powders also contain at least one natural source of fibre, such as apple fibre or rice bran. This helps to offset the replacement of these foods, although it may still be a good idea to ensure you ingest adequate fibre in other parts of your diet using whole grains, nuts, seeds, and/or psyllium.

What's in Greens Powders?
This varies depending on the brand, but there are some general ingredients that most brands will select from, and there are some that help to improve taste while improving the health benefits. Generally any grains used in these formulas have been sprouted to increase their nutritional potency.