Eat Wheat Grass?

There is so much talk about juicing and Wheat grass. Is it all that is hyped up to be? Yesterday while I was at Jamba Juice with my kids, I noticed that they will add wheat grass to your smoothie. So should we all forget the lawn mower and start eating wheat grass?

What does The Mayo Clinic think about  wheat grass?

"Wheat grass is a nutrient-rich type of young grass in the wheat family that is sold in a variety of forms as a dietary supplement. Proponents say that wheat grass has numerous health benefits, but there are no significant research studies to support wheat grass health claims."

So Gluten free people stay away from Wheat grass!

Wheat grass is generally considered safe. It may cause nausea, headaches, hives or swelling of your throat. Wheat grass is usually grown in soil or water and consumed raw, which means it could be contaminated with bacteria or mold. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, don't use wheat grass. If you have a wheat or grass allergy, celiac disease or gluten intolerance, check with your doctor before using wheat grass. Wheat grass can have a strong grassy taste, making it difficult to tolerate.

Wheat grass does provide a concentrated amount of nutrients, including iron, calcium, magnesium, amino acids,  70  percent chlorophyll, and vitamins A, C and E. Wheat grass fans say that its rich nutrient content boosts immunity, kills harmful bacteria in your digestive system, and rids your body of waste. Some proponents tout wheat grass for cancer, anemia, diabetes, constipation, infections, skin conditions, colon cleansing, ulcerative colitis and joint pain, among other health concerns. Wheat grass may also be promoted as a good way to help meet your daily target for vegetable servings. However, there are few research studies about wheatgrass, so it's difficult to assess such health claims.

Wheat Grass juice is the closest substance to hemoglobin known and is therefore a phenomenal blood purifier and liver de-toxifier. The  body converts the chlorophyll from wheat grass into blood,it is able to do that because the structure is almost identical to human blood. Therefore, wheat grass helps to keep a natural renewal of fresh blood supply. Wheat grass may boost the hemoglobin percentage in blood, helping with the functioning of the heart, blood vessels and arteries. It contains vitamin E, which dilates capillaries, enabling blood to flow freely.

According to Columbia University's Health Internet service, wheat grass or wheat grass supplements help to neutralize body odors. Drinking wheat grass juice also reduces bad breath or halitosis. Wheat grass is good at reducing body and breath odors from tobacco, sweat, dental decay and infection.

What about barley grass or oat grass?

Do you use wheat grass, oat grass or barley grass in your smoothies? Tell me what you think.

A great Spring Sprout Chopped Salad

A great Spring salad that is light, filling and energizing

1 Sweet Potato
1 beet
1/4 cup of diced red onion
1/2 apple
Peel, and juilianned ( cut into 2 by 1/2 inch sticks) sweet potato, beet and apple. Mix all ingegients in a small bowl. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon cinnamon , 1 Tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon brown sugar 1 Tablespoon garlic. Spread on to a baking pan, salt and pepper to taste and bake at 450 degrees for 12 minutes or until sweet potatoes are tender.

Salad dressing

2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar

1 Tablespoon raspberry vinegar

1 Tablespoon Tamari (  Reg soy sauce can be used )

1 teaspoon honey

1/4 cup  cooking oil

Add all ingredients in a small bowl and whisk

2 cups sprouts, lentil or mung or adzuki

1 heart of romaine , coarsely chopped

2 cups of mesclun, or spinach

8  pitted and chopped kalamata black olives

1 firm avocado, diced

In a small bowl toss sprouts with 1 Tablespoon of dressing let stand for 10 minutes, toss a few times.

In a large bowl , combine lettuce, olives, avocado and toss. Add the remaining dressing and toss. Put salad on a platter and top with roasted sweet potato mixture, followed by the marinated sprouts and serve.  Serves 4

Spring is sprouting

Sprouts

Sprouts have enough protein to turn a salad into a main dish.

Different types of sprouts

Alfalfa sprouts contain significant dietary sources of phytoestrogens—known to have preventive elements for cancer, heart diseases, menopausal symptoms, and osteoporosis. Alfalfa is one of the most popular sprouts.  It is a good source of vitamins A, B, C, D, E, F, and K and is rich in many minerals, also helps digestion.

Buckwheat: Makes a great salad green. High in vitamins A, B, C and D.

Brassica Sprouts: Cabbage, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, rutabaga, turnip, and mustard. Broccoli sprouts are known to have anti-cancer properties. Peppery flavor makes good taste for salad.

Clover sprouts are known as an anti-cancer herb. It have significant source of isoflavones.

Green Pea sprouts are rich in many of the B vitamins and vitamin C. Green pea sprouts make a rich addition to any green salad.

Lentil sprouts contain 26% protein, and you can eat it raw without cooking.They have a mild ground pepper flavor.

Mung bean sprouts are good source of protein, fiber, vitamin C and A, and with low calories.

Onion sprouts contain about 20% protein, and a very good source of vitamin A, C, and D.

Radish sprouts  are high in potassium and have four times more vitamin A and 29 times more vitamin C than milk and more vitamin C than pineapple. Radish sprout is the most popular variety among Japanese families due to their  have a rich flavor.

Soybean sprouts are a favorite of Japanese and are high in protein, fiber, vitamin A,B,C,E and folate.

Sunflower sprouts are rich in lecithin and vitamin D. Sunflower sprouts have the power to break fatty acids and are easy to  digest.

Wheat is high in Vitamins B, C, and E and has three times the vitamin E of dry wheat.

Most Common Ways to Eat Sprouts

 raw: Alfalfa, radish, clover, cabbage mung bean, sunflower

 cooked: Kidney beans, Pinto

 raw or cooked: Lentils, Soybeans, green peas and wheat

How to make your own sprouts

After germination (process in which a plant  emerges from a seed and begins growth.)

seeds, beans, and legumes can be sprouted. After they are drained during the final step of the germination process, place them in a container for sprouting. Leave them at room temperature for the recommended time. The seed, bean, or legume will open and a sprout will grow from it. Rinse the sprouted nuts or seeds and drain well. They can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Sprouts, The Super Food

Sprouts, The Super Food

 

Sprouts are considered as wonder foods. They rank as the freshest and most nutritious of all vegetables available to the human diet.  Sprouts are among the few foods that are consumed that are still alive when eaten raw. Sprouted food are higher digestibility and nutritional qualities when compared to its  non-sprouted  version.  The carbohydrates are broken down during sprouting . The protein is the most easily digestible of all proteins available in foods. During sprouting, the beans lose their gas producing quality. Sprouts contain a significant amount of fiber and water and, therefore, are helpful in overcoming constipation.

Sprouts are loaded with antioxidants,  protein, chlorophyll, vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Broccoli sprouts have been found to contain 50 times as much of the antioxidant sulfurophane as mature broccoli. Sulforaphane is reported to reduce oxidative stress, fight stomach infection, cancer, and helps liver function.

Sprouted foods have been part of our ancestors’ diets  for thousands of years. The Chinese are known  for mung bean sprouts in their dishes. Sprouts provide all the essential vitamins and minerals, they are a complete food. Sprouts should form a vital component of a healthy diet, since they are  a great energy source and  requiring no help from your body to process them.

All edible grains, seeds and legumes can be sprouted. Generally the following are used for sprouting :

Grains : Wheat, maize, ragi, bajra and barley.

Seeds : Alfalfa seeds, radish seeds, fenugreek seeds, carrot seeds, coriander seeds,
pumpkin seeds and muskmelon seeds.

Legumes : Mung, Bengal gram, groundnut and peas.

New research indicates that peanut sprouts reduce harmful cholesterol and that sunflower, buckwheat and grain sprouts can help diabetics.

Tomorrow I’ll share a recipe for a great sprout salad