Wheatgrass Juice

There, I spelled my city right this time tho I won,t bother to correct the other mistakes no dought caused by the shortage of oxygen to my brain because I'm drinking a beer rihgt now instead of a nice glass of wheatgrass juice.

Dennis Fath, Edmonton, Canada
November 10, 2006 8:25pm

My uncle tried to treat his cancer by living on wheat grass. That was back during the first wave of "health food" quackery in the 1970s.

He died, of course.

Cambias, Amherst, MA
November 14, 2006 8:12am

Even more than wheatgrass, I'm curious about the benefits of plain ol' grass, if you know what I mean. Skeptoid?

Stephen, Portland, Oregon
November 27, 2006 11:09pm

Good points. What was the of the lunch destination?

Shane, Ottawa
November 28, 2006 8:47pm

Good item! Nice to see rational healthy skepticism on the Internet is alive and well! Shame more people don't take note.

Richard, Bradford, UK
November 30, 2006 2:27am

Brian. You're too good!

Neil Griffiths, cardiff,wales,uk
December 12, 2006 4:08pm

Thank you for your info on Wheatgrass Juice. I have Celiac Disease (meaning that wheat, among other grains, is completely off limits to me). What I find most outrageous about this product is the unsubstantiated claim that this product can be helpful for people with gluten intolerance, which I found on the following website: http://www.remedyfind.com/treatments/104/237/.
Of course, not only is this possibly dangerous (the jury is still out on whether this product is gluten free), but the claims look absolutely ridiculous. I had never heard of this idea that antioxidants are important for my condition, but even if I had heard it from a reputable source, two juices associated with grains I cannot tolerate would not be on the top of my list for treatment.

Bailey Meeker, Geneva, NY
December 17, 2006 5:13pm

Since Oxidative Phosphorylation in the electron transport chain is used to synthesise ATP, our energy, would someone please like to tell me a use for an 'anti-oxidant' that the evolved body has not already 'thought' of.

The term 'radical' is put-about like a hoar! Radicals like [acetate] from pyruvate, are stabilized very well, thank you, by enzymes such as co-enzyme A, in the 'link' reaction.

After 4 billion yrs of evolution, give or take an hour, I think cells have it just about figured it out!

Neil Griffiths, cardiff,wales,uk
February 12, 2007 1:51am

How foolish of you to jump to conclusions. Wheat grass is not gtown in regular soil and it is grass therefore it is not wheat.
Wheat grass is sprouted wheat which has all the nutrients released its composition is vastly different to the grain of wheat. I suggest that you do some real research before you slam a very valuable nutritional resource. scepticism is healthy if you research with an open heart with an attitude of getting at the real truth not to disprove it.
Julia

julia, Australia
March 13, 2007 10:56pm

Strange, I thought that what the leaves make goes into the grain?

Griff....

neil griffiths, Cardiff uk
March 25, 2007 4:39pm

I couldn't resist. This is too easy. Everyone is right. The protein found in the grain of wheat is gluten, It is translated within the confines of the wheat kernel as a storage material to provide the germinating grain a source of carbohydrates and nitrogen/sulfer. The enzyme deglutenase, which is present in the emerging plant catabolizes the gluten into smaller molecules that are then used as building blocks for metabolizing necessary growth proteins. The likely benefit (still in research) of the consumption wheat grass is related to the presence of the deglutenase enzyme as a digestive aid for any gluten that may be in the diet. Other enzymes present may have other health benefits as well but none of these theories have been proven to date.

cliff, cleveland, oh
April 11, 2007 8:12pm

love your site. All health food is garbage i think. my mum drinks this wheatgrass junk and I nearly threw up when i tried it. Im 17 and eat a steady diet of mcdonalds, kfc and fried foods.. never willingly ate a salad in my life and I'm healthy as hell so whats the point of eating healthy food??? Im going to continue eating junk food all my life my dad does and hes healthy too. its all a scam.. just eat what you want. whatever is bad comes out in your poop anyway lol.

kingluva, herethere
April 30, 2007 4:25pm

Just chiming in late.
I tried wheatgrass juice (twice, to make sure the first one wasn't caused by something else), and have had the worst allergic reaction imaginable. Think of it as a super-dose of hayfever.
I wish these shots (apart from being vile) came with a warning label. I also wish I hadn't been so dense and realised that "wheatgrass", despite the hype, is still the grass stage of wheat.
Live, sneeze and learn.

Kiki, Melbourne
June 28, 2007 9:11pm

First off, I love your website and your comments. It's pretty frank and to the point.

As for wheatgrass juice - yeah they make a lot of unsubstantiated claims about it's health qualities.

Without going over all of the health claims (most of which are ridiculous), wheatgrass grown correctly contains large quantities of chlorophyll - yes plants get their energy from the green stuff, we dont - however it's relatively easy to find scientific papers that show chlorophyll ingestion reduces the absorption of dioxins - a cancer causing agent.

With a bit more time I'm confident that many more papers could be found supporting this as a healthy addition to a diet (though most likely not quite living up to it's fantastic claims).

Not sure why you would spend so long insulting something without discussing any of it's benefits. Especially when some of the comments above seem to believe a diet rich in McDs and KFC is a great way to live a long healthy life. Anyhoo keep up the great work ! and thanks !

Dan, Ottawa
July 15, 2007 9:22pm

Hi can anyone tell me if they have had a reaction to wheatgrass in there fingers by tingling or numbness as i have .I have been taking wheatgrass for 6 weeks and everytime i do this happens and i cant put it down to any other food or liquid source .
If anyone can help please email me massage_togo@hotmail.com

I would like to know if its still safe for me to use ?

Thanks

Phil

Phill, u.k
July 28, 2007 1:43pm

Nutritional Analysis of PINES Wheat Grass
Click here for a nutritional analysis of Mighty Greens Superfood Blend

NOTE: THIS IS NOT A COMPLETE NUTRITIONAL ANALYSIS. This analysis only shows those nutrients for which we have paid to have independent testing done. There are often thousands of nutrients in a given whole food like PINES Wheat Grass. Like other green leafy vegetables, PINES Wheat Grass certainly contains other carotenoids, plant pigments, vitamins, minerals not tested, and likely other nutrients yet to be discovered.

Where no RDI amount is listed, it is because we do not know of an RDI for that nutrient. Where there is an asterisk (*), that means the RDI of that nutrient is less than 1%. Amounts are based on a single 3.5 gram serving (1 teaspoon or 7 tablets).

NUTRIENT AMOUNT RDI
Calories 13
Calories from fat 0
Cholesterol 0
Carbohydrates 1.6 g
Protein 860mg
Dietary Fiber 1 g 4% RDI
Chlorophyll 18.5 mg
VITAMINS
Biotin 4 mcg
Choline 5 mg
Lutein 1 mg
Lycopene 29 mcg
Vitamin A (Betacarotene) 1668 IU 30% RDI
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 11 mcg *
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 260 mcg 17% RDI
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 252 mcg *
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) 36 mcg
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) 39 mcg *
Vitamin B8 (Folic Acid) 21 mcg 10% RDI
Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) .05 mcg *
Vitamin C 7.5 mg 13 % RDI
Vitamin E 320 mcg
Vita

Otello, Miami
August 09, 2007 10:05am

The claims that you see everywhere are sourced from The Wheatgrass Book by Ann Wigmore.

Being in the wheatgrass business, I agree that the type of claims seem unusual. Being a health enthusiast, not a scientist, I'm not in a position to either prove or disprove these; however, some of them do not track with our experience with wheatgrass. That said, we definitely believe there is something to it as we do have a number of immediate family success included breast cancer and blood sugar control.

In order to bring better focus to health experiences, we started a forum where people post their own stories. The stories are really quite remarkable and worth a read.

You can see the health experiences forum at http://www.dynamicgreens.com/wheatgrassforum

or read more about a variety of http://www.dynamicgreens.com

Derek Stem, Stouffville, ON, Canada
August 13, 2007 10:59pm

I am a ballet dancer and university student and take my health very seriously. I recently discovered wheatgrass juice and have personally experienced positive results overall. If you are going to try wheatgrass, research it! Most people will try it expecting to feel positive results instantly. Guess what? The wheatgrass is eliminating the toxins from your body due to all the junk you have been eating so of course you will experience discomfort, stomach ache, headache etc... The argument against wheatgrass that scientific research doesn’t support wheatgrass is debatable. Science is always changing and has limits 1) the availability of tools and technology and 2) people not ready to accept new hypothesis (sounds familiar). But even if you don’t want to believe wheatgrass facts you can’t deny this Americans consume forty percent of Saturated Fats in our diets; the considered healthier nations only consume seven to ten percent. Trans Saturated Fats, also known as “Partially or Fully Hydrogenated Vegetable oil” are found in anything that needs to be preserved; cookies, crackers, chips, pastries, bagels, doughnuts, peanut butter, margarine, vitamins, salad dressings, cereal bars and more. This type of fat is a foreign substance that your body can not breakdown. It contributes to cardiovascular disease and increases bad cholesterol. It takes one hundred days for Trans fats to exit your body and it has been banned in Europe. Now lets talk about sugar; a candy bar and a coke suppress the immune system for up to six hours. Sugar feeds cancer cells and chemical sweeteners destroy our liver, kidneys and our bodies. 500,000 heart attack victims in America die each year (American Heart Association). 1 in 3 women and 1 in

Chiara Casiraghi, West Palm Beach
October 08, 2007 9:55am

Chiara,
How exactly does Wheatgrass eliminate toxins? How are the toxins expelled from the body? How long does this process take? 100 days for trans fats to leave the body? I was not able to find evidence for these claims.

I question where you are getting your facts. I think it's great that you are striving to live a healthy lifestyle, but I think you should question your sources -- you may have been fed incorrect information.

Derek del Barrio, Austin, TX
October 08, 2007 12:16pm

"The wheatgrass is eliminating the toxins from your body due to all the junk you have been eating" -Chiara
How? Like the freakin' Terminator?
"The argument against wheatgrass that scientific research doesn’t support wheatgrass is debatable."
Site sources" ibid
"This type of fat is a foreign substance that your body can not breakdown." ibid
What, so yo just poo it out, like a lump of ambergris?
"Now lets talk about sugar; a candy bar and a coke suppress the immune system for up to six hours. Sugar feeds cancer cells and chemical sweeteners destroy our liver, kidneys and our bodies." ibid
Sources, and they better be good.And explain what you mean by suppress.
"2) people not ready to accept new hypothesis (sounds familiar)." ibid
Relevant example? Here's one. Seems you are having trouble with existing good science on wheatgrass
4/10 Sorry, that's a fail.Subject requires thorough research and less opinion and generalization.

Marius vanderLubbe, Nulabour Plain, Australia
October 16, 2007 1:13am

Wether it's good for you or not, it tastes gross...

On a side note: Brian, you keep mentioning Flinstone's vitamin pills as an alternative (at least in 2 episodes, of those i listened to). Do you have a contract with the manufacturer? :)

Elizabeth Bell, Caldwell, Idaho
December 16, 2007 5:51am

@Derek Stem

"That said, we definitely believe there is something to it as we do have a number of immediate family success included breast cancer and blood sugar control."

Derek, just because a cancer went in to remission or blood sugar levels dropped after someone drank wheatgrass juice doesn't mean the wheatgrass juice caused the beneficial effects.

It's massively irresponsible of you to go round telling people wheatgrass cures cancer and diabetes when you have no robust evidence that it does, or even a reliable hint that it might.

This is what scientific medical testing is for. If you are in the wheatgrass business and you believe it cures cancer, you can make yourself richer than bill gates by submitting it for medical trials as a cancer cure.

James Pilcher, Isle of Wight, England
January 26, 2008 4:41am

Believers of WGJuice go and have a look at Choice (choice.com.au), the leading consumer affairs magazine in Australia. It gives even more reasons to doubt wheatgrass juice claims.

Andrew Walsh, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
February 01, 2008 7:30pm

I dont know what it dose for you but it helped me pas many a drug test. You take a shot or 2 of that lonmower tasting trash. Drink a few glasses of water piss a few times and magice pass my drug test. Could this be a plasibo if so who cares if it workes. ps all docters should try plasibo first.

potheadscientist, salt lake city mormanvile
April 05, 2008 9:22pm

I hope to christ this helps you pass drug tests. I need a job...and for the most part places test around here. The only reason I'm concerned is the THC that courses through my urine.

Matt, Des Moines
April 14, 2008 5:08pm

"There's nothing worse than an educated fool."

-Nina Simone

I'm looking at you, article writer...

David, Austin
April 17, 2008 12:32pm

i was quite surprised in this episode that mr. dunning never once plunked down a dollar and tried the juice!

in the health area, sometimes i think the disdain for anecdotal or personal evidence is so strong among skeptics that how something makes you feel is considered irrelevant... but its kind of a big deal for me when deciding what to eat.

for nutrition, id take the fresh juice of almost any vegetable or fruit (or wheatgrass) over a flintstone vitamin anyday. i base that solely on how they make me feel, but there you go.

again with the bias against "feelings" there is a bias towards hard numbers. everyones so impressed with the list of vitamin content on a multivitamin package. but no sugary pill ever made me feel as good as fresh food.

unscientific, i know. but when it comes to nutrition, i pay attention to my body, not "experts" who surely have an imperfect view of the workings of the body, and may themselves be in too lousy a shape to know whether their advice is worth following or not.

i think most smart people know the claims for "healthy" products will be overhyped nonsense. but damn, at least take a swig if you're going to report on it. and overhyped doesnt mean "you're a fool to drink it", any more than you could say "all overrated things are bad."

that said... love the show.

owen, san jose, costa rica
April 19, 2008 11:30am

It's been proven that you piss out most of the vitamins in pills. your body absorbs nutrients more efficiently when they are in the food you eat. and the FDA? please. they approve countless prescription drugs with side effects worse than what they are supposed to cure. id like to see more research on wheatgrass, though.

john, new york new york
May 05, 2008 9:32am

Fascinating. Make fun of vague claims, and prosecute specific claims. Just like Mohammed's challenge to write a more perfect Surah in the Quran, while threatening hellfire for those who try.

Speaking of vague claims, what exactly are daily vitamin supplements supposed to treat or cure? Oh that's right, they're not regulated by the FDA either.

They're so nutritious, they reduce life expectancy. Evolution 1, Experts 0.

How about doing the next episode on vitamin pills.

Max, Boston, MA
May 09, 2008 5:11am

Yeah, this article is useless.

Gnar, California
May 19, 2008 7:26pm

I feel better after a few beers too; that doesn't mean beer is good for me.

Garth, Berkeley, CA
June 17, 2008 11:01am

I agree. It's hard enough fighting the other food industries. It leaves me somewhat cynical trying to decipher what's true vs. vague unsubstantiated claims of health by 'experts'. I've done my research and am frustrated too.

Having said that, I also think people putting something nutritious in their body is a step in the right direction. It's pretty well agreed upon that wheatgrass juice is healthy and not harmful. Any effort to eat and drink naturally should be encouraged in this country.

Much better than a Big Mac, not the fountain of youth it's claimed to be.

Charlie, Portland, OR
June 24, 2008 8:23pm

Well done. I too am irritated by the grandiose, completely unsubstantiated claims made by the wheat-grass promoters.

re: Max, Boston, MA
Sorry, dude. You fail at basic reading comprehension skills. Also at basic critical thinking skills. If a cursory look shows the vague claims to be so vague as to be totally unhelpful and the specific claims to be essentially false, this is not cause to attack the person investigating the claims, but rather a cause for concern. I encourage you to investigate this for yourself. See if you can't find whether any of the wheatgrass proponents' claims have any hard science to back them up. If they do, share it with the rest of us, and you'll have advanced our cause.

Remember, the point is not to prove that wheatgrass has no benefit. The point is to find out what benefit, if any, wheatgrass actually has.

Paul, Novato, CA
June 28, 2008 5:53pm

I hereby take you up on your challenge, Mr. Dunning.

I was bored this afternoon so I purchased a pallet of Wheatgrass. I plan to grow it hydroponically over the next six weeks, accumulate sufficient amounts of wheatgrass juice and conduct a double-blind trial. The results I plan on posting to my blog site and here, if you so desire.

I'm not trying to prove anything. I would love it if wheatgrass was as healthy as people say it is, but it will have cost me $15 and a minimal bit of effort if it's not. If the stuff is totally useless, I would rather test it and write about it instead of needlessly drinking awful-tasting green goop.

That said, the potential benefits are significant enough that it's worth a shot.

With this in mind, would you all help me figure out the parameters of the test so it's scientifically sound? Thanks!

-Ændrew.

Ændrew Rininsland, Calgary, Alberta
June 29, 2008 6:41pm

I have just purchased a container of organic wheat grass. So I shall see if it makes any difference to my health too. lol Andrew...you are going to HATE the taste. I like your idea to post on here it will be funny. I hope it really does have some good benefits because it tastes revolting!!

Audrey Moss, Sunshine Coast
July 07, 2008 9:27pm

I was skeptical when I heard about the benefits of wheat grass. I was shopping in Whole Foods one day and they had samplers of wheat grass juice (probably mixed with some fruit juice). It didn’t taste really that bad, and I just went ahead and purchased organic wheat grass powder. I have started taking one table spoon of wheat grass mixed in water everyday after work. Initially I haven’t noticed any change for about two weeks. I was just about to discontinue it after another week or so, and then it happened. I have started noticing that I no longer feel tired after I reach home from work. My digestion has improved significantly and I really felt energetic every morning after I woke up. I’m not sure what additional benefits it has, but it is good enough for me to continue using it. I guess you just need to use it long term to see the real good effects.

Vishal K, Dallas, Texas
July 09, 2008 9:31am

I, like Vishal K, have also purchased wheatgrass powder from Whole Foods. I just bought it the other day and today was my first day consuming it. I am hoping to experience improved digestion most of all from this product.

I am looking forward to hearing about Andrew's test and find out the results.

Sarah, Ohio
July 14, 2008 1:08pm

I'm surprised no-one has mentioned the Wheatgrass/Sprout Salmonella/E. Coli scares of the 1990's.

I would ask the kind folks from the wheatgrass farm ... er ... ranch ... hmm ... paddy if wheatgrass was the only lifestyle change the person(s)with cancer adopted? Or was it more likely a complete overhaul and wheatgrass was but one aspect of the person(s) regime.

Ly, Austin TX
July 16, 2008 3:41pm

I cannot speak to the science of wheatgrass juice howeverI like the taste of fresh wheatgrass juice. It is actually very sweet.

I look forward to the results of Skeptoids experiments and all comments.

Although drinking it straight can be an acquired taste and ounce of it in a cup of pineapple juice is most delicious. It also can enhance the tste of apple juice and fresh squeezed vegetable cocktails.

Bill Lynn, New Orleans, Louisiana
July 16, 2008 4:46pm

What are you trying to claim that you have no idea about? Negative Ion boy.

You have no clue about Biochemistry or how your body works. You don't realize that wheat/rice/corn are the staff of life for 10000 or more years!! You think that a banana smoothie was eaten in Egypt to build pyramids? Try something with more muscle.. like Grass juice. Ignorance is no excuse for debate.

Shawn, Texas
July 18, 2008 7:55am

In complete agreement with what the author of this article is saying. Granted it's not a very difficult arguement to make, seeing as this is one of those stupid new-age fads.

For bonus marks, look up the amazing health benefits of green tea. (Note: there are none)

You really want to improve your digestive system and build energy? Eat a healthy diet, get off your sofa, go outside and do something active.

I need to go and anti-oxidize now.

Tom, Seattle, WA
July 24, 2008 1:18pm

I just came home from Safeway with a small wheatgrass plant...they were on sale for $.99. Anyway, thinking i was getting a good deal on something healthy (hey, it's even ORGANIC after all) i jumped online to do some research. I feel a bit stupid buying into this fad. Oh well. Thanks for the info anyway. I like the last comment also, so true. Most of us are still looking for that quick easy fix, rather than getting up and getting healthy and taking care of ourselves the good old fashioned way. Also, to the guy in Texas, it was a pineapple smoothie.....if you're gonna argue, at least get YOUR facts straight. Thanks again

Heather, Alameda, CA
July 26, 2008 4:57pm

"Interesting, given that enzymes are proteins made of amino acids, which contain no magnesium at all"

Half true. Which, of course, rounds down to complete misinformation. Yes, you'll find Mg as a cofactor in any number of enzymes. That is, the enzyme won't work without its presence, either in the enzyme or its substrate.

Peter Camper, Glendale
August 03, 2008 11:09am

Can anyone tell me if Wheatgrass will help fight Breast Cancer for my "little Girl" Daughter.?

Thank you

John, Connecticut
August 18, 2008 5:07pm

John,

No. Wheatgrass will not help fight your daughters cancer.

What will help is rapid, no... immediate medical intervention.

You do NOT want to dick about with alternative therapies when someone's life is at stake.

Brenton, New Zealand
August 18, 2008 5:26pm

My cats love their green grasses growing in a pot. I don't think there's any harm in it.

Diana, Wisconsin
August 19, 2008 1:15pm

I approach the wheatgrass claims with skepticism as well, but vitamin supplements, including Flintstones vitamins are not a substitute for proper nutrition. Absorption of vitamins is substantially lower in such supplements, your body only gets 10-20% of what is in a vitamin.

Don't use Flintstones instead of wheatgrass, eat spinach or broccoli instead of wheatgrass. In fact, be skeptical of most things that claim to provide amazing nutritional benefits. A balanced diet is still the best way to get what your body needs. I know that wasn't the core of this post, which is mostly on the level, but I wanted to point that out.

Zubin, California
August 25, 2008 12:51pm

I have to admit that I did at least become interested in wheatgrass after reading some claims posted about it at a juice bar and from hearing a friend tell me how she drinks a shot before exams because it helps her focus. The juice-bar's source for all of the alleged benefits were from a book about wheatgrass, by the way, not from any scientific or academic sources.
The ridiculous cost of a single shot ($2.50) and the fact that none of the claims can be substantiated has changed my mind about this mystery "vegi" that suddenly appeared on Earth out of nowhere.

Lou, Lawrence, KS
August 28, 2008 2:35pm

There are ongoing tests on the benefitsn of Chlorophyll in the teatment of Cancer/Chemo patients. The initial results are very positive. I believe you are misleading the public by saying Chloropyhll is only useful for plants. And by the way there are many other very real beneficial alternative forms of Medicine that are not recognized by the Western world; including Chirotherapy, what say you? And why does the FDA approve hundreds of products with Dangerous side effects and oh, recall them after ten years. Why aren't you skeptic about these products?

J Lopez, Trinidad & Tobago
September 06, 2008 12:40pm

wheatgrass makes me poop

dan, new jersey
September 10, 2008 8:49am

Whoever wrote this article hasn't done their homework. There most certainly are substantiated health benefits to wheat grass juice as to certain health benefits.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11989836

Here's a study on the health benefits of chlorophyll done on rats.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16046728

That said, how hard would have it been to look this stuff up on Wikipedia like I did. They even provide the links to the government databases that has the study information.

Is it the only thing I would want to eat, of course not.

Jonathan, Longview, WA
September 12, 2008 6:49pm

When will people realise that one friend or family member having a positive effect from something is not science. It takes a double blind randomised controlled trial to determine whether it is the active component or a placebo effect.
Classic example - My brother in law had a cold and decided to start taking garlic tablets. He got better and so concluded it was the tablets. How does he know it wasn't going about to get better on its own. They usually do.

John Scarborough, NSW Australia
September 15, 2008 1:07am

im sorry the person who wrote this article is wrong. i use chlorophyll daily, it has dramatically reduced the pain of my menses cramps and my flow went from 7 days painful to 4-5 days and manageable with continued use. i use the chlorophyll daily, 2 tsp in the day 2 at night. It cleared my skin after about 1 month of morning and night use my skin has truly cleared up. i used to suffer from cold sores every month with my menses, that has went away since using the chlorophyll. I am talking actual facts and results i have experienced. I am a 30 yr old, single mother in Philadelphia just wanted to eat better and do my body right. Please try it for yourself, it is inexpensive you can get it at any GNC or VitaminShoppe, health store whatever. Its worth it to try. Everything does not work for everybody but this surely has worked for me!
peace stay healthy!

jahzara, philadelphia
September 17, 2008 11:37am

Jonathan, Longview, WA seems to have committed the usual internet deception of posting articles he has yet to read as proof for his arguments.

I looked up the wiki page he mentions. Under chlorophyll it says, "As the chlorophyll molecule is structurally similar to hemoglobin, it has been argued that wheatgrass helps blood flow, digestion and general detoxification of the body. These claims have not been substantiated. Some research however exists that relates diets high in chlorophyll, present in higher concentrations in green leafy vegetables, with lower rates of colon cancer." This is hardly "substantiated" by any means. The other two links also do not prove anything conclusively. We know veggies are good for us. This doesn't lead any support to the illogical hysteria surrounding wheatgrass.
Anecdotal stories are not EVER proof of anything. Double blind, peer reviewed studies with repeatable conclusions.

ScottyB, Houston, Texas
September 21, 2008 1:02pm

I don't buy into the wheatgrass fad either. But my guess is that the writer of this fine piece of literature is over weight and unattractive to the opposite sex, just unhealthy in general. Am I right? Probably. Maybe HE should try and drink some wheatgrass juice, I hear theres one atom in it that will make your hormones work.

Steak, Carpinteria, CA
October 02, 2008 1:40pm

I was able to balance my female hormones naturally by adding wheatgrass and other chlorophyll rich greens to my diet.

I had all the symptoms of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), including irregular menstrual cycles. I would only get a period every two to three months and they would last 6 to 7 days. Now my cycles are regular and lasting only 3 to 4 days.

Forget waiting for double blinded studies. Why not try it for yourself and then decide if it works for you.

I buy the frozen cubes of wheatgrass from my local health food store.

Roz, Atwater, California
October 02, 2008 11:58pm

Has it ever occured to anyone that wheatgrass, like most raw green plants or cruciferous vegetables, is good for you-- therefore if you conscienciously increase your daily intake of vegetables/plant matter(wheatgrass included) of COURSE your health will improve.

For those who claim wheatgrass fixes all these health problems-- why not try eating a bunch of broccoli each day? Probably will have a similar effect.

And to all the naysayers-- really, wheatgrass isn't going to harm you anymore than a cauliflower floret. Calm down. The Atkin's fad is far more dangerous that a little green pulp ever will be.

Elle, Massachusetts
October 03, 2008 10:07am

you had a little tickle on that so called grassy issue, there is a Fact: somewhat closely relates that a grass was a Higly Allergen to Humans as far as i know grass was good for herds feed and not for human digestions it will leads to indigestion Problems to sensitive individuals,and most likely results of skin rashes and itch' i drink as tiny as 1/2 oz. and i felt something weird tastes bittery carbon,charcoal burnt flavor i try adding chocolates milk & ice but still taste like Carbon'' and it gives me an itchy feeling so i try my best to use an Anti-Dote to detoxify its effect there 1 powerful enough to cleanse my system back to Normal and Green Tea surprise me because its removes the itchy side effect of WhtGrss' in my skin now everytime i eat and drink something that makes me become allergic i just drink a cup of warm Green Tea w/ or w/o Lemon to cleanse my stomach from harmful food junkies''

skuallah Lionhart, Panorama California,91402
October 06, 2008 9:21pm

This comes from a friend who I believe has done all the research necessary to conclude the truths and falsehoods on this issue. <a href="http://www.tuberose.com/Grasses.html">All about wheatgrass.</a>

Joshua, Florida
October 13, 2008 11:10pm

I was curious about the wheatgrass myself. So I've taken it twice so far, about 3 weeks apart, (simply because Jamba Juice kept running out of the wheatgrass each time I went into the store). I only consumed 1 ounce each time, and I notice a significant result. I have a surge of energy each time, lasting several hours. It's very, very interesting. You should try wheatgrass some time. The guideline is to drink wheatgrass on an empty stomach.

The first time I drank freshly squeezed wheatgrass, I made the mistake of drinking it with food, and in 30 minutes, I thought I was going to puke. It just didn't go well together with food. My intestines went crazy, and I really had to go to the bathroom. Once I relieved my intestines with a nice big dump, I felt much better though.

Just a word of caution, one ounce is very potent. The second time I drank, it was more difficult, disgusting tasting, but I still think the benefit is worth it. I don't know if all of the health claims are true. But I do know my body, and my body has felt different each time I drank wheatgrass, and it's been only twice so far.

My goal is to drink an ounce of wheatgrass once a week. I don't think I can yet, simply because the taste takes some getting used to. So I'm slowly easing my body into it.

Also, the second time I went into the Jamba Juice store, I noticed that the cost of an ounce of freshly squeezed wheatgrass went up significantly from $1.50 to $2! Obviously, demand for it is high.

Tae Kwon, Sacramento, CA
October 18, 2008 6:35am

Wheatgrass is natural..enough said. As for false claims, no one is better than Big Pharma and their "independent" and government experts...

"Research data, public records, and regulatory evidence indicate that false drug claims and unethical or fraudulent pharmaceutical clinical and marketing practices create serious health threats for individuals (and their families) who use prescription or conventional over-the-counter (OTC) drugs or health products."

Chris, Ocala, FL
October 24, 2008 6:32pm

Interesting. When you say that it's natural, does that mean that it's safe, healthful, or has any positive benefits? If not I wonder why you mention it.

Robert Houghton, San Diego, CA
October 24, 2008 7:06pm

Chris, if you think all natural things are good for you, drink some snake venom too. That came from a natural source, as well as poison Ivy, China Berries, spider venom, jellyfish stingers and straight sea water. If you drink enough of the latter, you will hallucinate, lose all bodily functions, and die as your kidneys shut down.

Why do you hate big pharma? They are not evil, they are not good. Like every other corporate entity, they are soulless. They do not care how they make money, but they do have the best interest of most Americans in their mind.

Unlike the alternative medicine people, "Big pharma" actually helps people. The reason that people take drugs is because they work and most people are aware of the risks when they take them. I am aware of the risks that taking ibuprofen has on me, and so does everyone else who takes it. Liver failure, ulcers, and heart failure are some of the things I need to worry about. The doctors did not cover that up when I asked them.

Joseph Furguson, Brawley, ca
October 24, 2008 7:52pm

Robert and Joseph,

Right you are to question my response. I am new to this and tried to be succint. You are obviously well educated on the topic. Although I disagree, Joseph, that Big Pharma is not evil. They are in business to mostly treat symptoms, not cure disease. When you combine the number of deaths from misdiagnosis, unneeded hospital stays and prescription drugs TAKEN AS DIRECTED, they are the third largest killer, behind heart disease and cancer. I could go on and on but my point is simply that we should eat over half of our diet from raw foods, avoid alcohol, fats , caffeine and processed foods. ( I do not achieve that so I am not holier than thou). Wheatgrass is a raw food that I enjoy and feel good about.

BTW, a couple of sites that might interest you:

http://www.westonaprice.org/moderndiseases/statin.html

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/142437/drinking_urine_for_health.html?cat=68

Best to you

chris, Ocala, FL
October 26, 2008 5:52pm

Chris,

I am all for you loving wheatgrass juice. You can drink all that you want of it. Infact, you can drink my fill as well. The only time I had some, I hated it. The country is free and you can do whatever you want to, as long as you do not hurt me in the process. I will have to go with the evidence on this one. All the studies point to Wheatgrass juice having no health benefits for the body.

But I will have to disagree with you about big pharma, however. They are not evil, nor are they good. Like every corporation, they are ultimately soulless. They are bottom line driven just like every other business.

That is why they started that whole myth about drugs from Mexico and Canada being harmful to people in the United States. I get the majority of my drugs from Mexico and they affect my body just as well as the ones here in the United States. The cannot make the claim because the Penicillin we use in the US comes from Mexico anyway, and somehow it becomes better for us when it corsses the border, like some sort of magical, make-it-all-better process happens at the border.

People take drugs at first because they work. When my Herniated Disc starts to affect my day, 2 advil and 45 minutes of rest keeps me from going crazy. I am well aware of the side effects, namely my ulcer and potential liver problems in the future. I am well aware of the problems because my doctor tells me so.

Joseph Furguson, Brawley, ca
October 26, 2008 7:00pm

Big pharma is what made wheatgrass popular! Don't believe the hype on wheatgrass... it's funded by big pharma itself. Check out this quote from the wikipedia entry:

"Two large corporations, Quaker Oats and American Dairies Inc., invested millions of dollars in further research, development and production of products for animals and humans."

LOL. Nice irony there. This previous commenter loves wheatgrass because it's natural and "not big pharma" yet it looks like wheatgrass obtained it's popularity due to two BIG corporations backing it and funding it's marketing in the early days of it's popularity.

I dont drink wheatgrass juice. It doesn't taste good. I prefer, for example, spinach and tofu and garlic.. saute with some salt and thai chilis.

The false claims regarding wheatgrass are ridiculous and widespread. Where was this original poster? The store is a candidate for a false advertising lawsuit.

And oh yeah. Go drink some urine while you're at it, some nuts believe that's healthy too.. LOL (Sarcasm).

Richard, California
October 27, 2008 12:59am

I must have missed something in my haste to get up, but when did a cereal company and a dairy manufacture count as Big Pharma? General Mills make cereal and American Dairies might not exist anymore.

Also Richard, you are misquoting the wikipedia article. The sentences before that line talked about how it was used to improve the lives of Chickens, things that have grown over millenia to gain nutrition from grain, mind you. The sentence after the part you quoted says: "By 1940, Schnabel's powdered grass were on sale in major drugstores throughout the United States" [sic].

The way you quoted the line implies that the research is modern thing, when it was conducted in the 1930s. The line about big pharma funding it is clearly false when it was, in reality, two food makers. The food industry and big pharma are clearly two different things.

Joseph Furguson, Brawley, ca
October 27, 2008 5:44am

Opinions about goodness for the body and spirit are synonymous with political opinions. Both are like a**holes..everyone has one!

As a final comment on the subject I suggest you talk a look at www.foodmatters.tv. Read the website and view the trailer. It is short, free and entertaining.

"Exercise relieves stress..nothing relieves exercise" (just a little humor..laughter is a great remedy)

Later..

Chris, Ocala, FL
October 27, 2008 7:13am

I do not have opinions. I have studies and evidence to back up my claims. All the studies I found point to wheatgrass juice having no significant benefits when used on humans. All the wheatgrass studies that claimed improvements were used on livestock, things that evolved to get their nutrition from directly from that source leaves.

I went to the website and I saw the trailer. What am I supposed to say? "Wow this impressed me so much!" "Wow, you convinced me I was wrong?"

Sorry, but I have to follow evidence. The evidence for the claims is subpar at best. Even if Big pharma is evil, they did do the research on the their products. They did the 5 years of clinical trials to see how much of the population is helped or hindered by the product. When big parma discovers that, for most people, if the risks outweighs the benefits, they do not put it in the markey. They are not amoral dicks like the one in video. Your side, makes a wild claim and when asked for evidence, start to cry foul because asking for proof is not reasonable for you.

Now, you have made the claim that wheatgrass juice is good for us. You need to prove it. Unfortunately, proof for this claim has to be just as good as the claim itself. You have to show peer reviewed studies to back up your proof. It cannot be a biased movie, a couple books with a mysterious "they" causing the problems, or a dozen or so quotes. That is not good enough when compared to peer reviewed studies.

Joseph Furguson, Brawley, ca
October 27, 2008 7:44am

Ignoring for the moment all of the dubious claims made by wheatgrass people, there's one thing I discovered about it. After reading about the body's pH, Wheatgrass is supposedly very alkaline-forming in the human body. As part of an attempt at fixing a crappy diet which is full of acid-forming foods, it's supposed to be helpful, cleansing, etc. Any takers on this question?

Laine, California
October 27, 2008 2:02pm

Joseph, relax!

I said the trailer was entertaining, nothing more.

You have interpreted your "proof" and "evidence", which has formed your opinion (which refers to my comment about politics).

I respect your "evidence" but I consider the source of evidence and proof and the motivation behind it in forming my opinion.

Laine, try it..if it feels good do it! Cleansing is tough to measure or prove..so are good feelings.

"Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon." ~Doug Larson

Chris, Ocala, FL
October 27, 2008 3:59pm

I have been drinking wheatgrass juice for barely three weeks and my fart became odorless. Yeah true. And my wounds healed so fast. After two weeks of drinking i farted several times and when i went home washed my ...you know what i mean..some kind of oil was actually excreted from my anus but it didnt smell anything...odorless. Unbelievable? Believe it.

I think, this kind of plant really did something good inside my body. The long term effect could be some kind of prevention from getting cancer illness or serious diseases and eventually getting old healthy.

Also i noticed that my friend looked younger and his skin was looking better after consuming this for a month, two times a day. Unbelievable again? Oh, I am not here to convince you but this is actually a transformation i noticed.
Although it may not taste good...but where can you find a healthy food that really taste so good..Junk foods taste good but well...start saving for some kind of illness in the future..

Nicole, Makati, Philippines
November 11, 2008 10:00pm

Dear Nicole,

Good lord.

That is all.

Holly, USA
November 12, 2008 1:36pm

Nicole, can you please provide more details?

Your descriptions of your exhudations are creepy and repellent AND fascinating!

;-)

Brenton, New Zealand
November 12, 2008 3:06pm

Wheatgrass DOES assist in cleansing the body's lymph system. Most people dont know the lymph system is what cleanses your body. Activated by breathing, lymph fluid surrounds the cells and collects the cells waste. Lymph fluid then travels through your blood system through effective breathing and that waste is converted to and excreted as the carbon dioxide. That's why major exercise programs like yoga focus so much on breathing. Aerobic exercises stimulate your breathing which in term triggers your lymph system. 1 in 3 Americans now gets cancer, but of those Americans who are considered athletes only 1 in 7 gets it. Why? Because athletes give their body what it really needs, oxygen. Oxygen is what triggers the lymph system. If it were to shut down for just 24 hours, you would die of trapped acids and waste in your body. Wheatgrass considerably assists this lymph system, which in turn "cleanses your blood", and blood being the very enviroment our cells live in. If that enviroment is polluted, your cells become weak and you will die.
Wheatgrass doesn't pack all the vitamins you need, it does pack chlorophyll. I can go on and on but I'm running out of characters. Just think about this, the strongest and most powerful animals on earth are what? Herbivores! The elephant, the rhino, the gorilla, etc. It's simple, wheatgrass greatly assists the lymph system, which is triggered by breathing. Breathing cleanses your cells enviroment. You are only as strong as the cells that make you

Orlando M, Houston, Texas
November 18, 2008 1:34pm

What a marvelous post. I think every single thing you said, without exception, is simply meaningless scientific-sounding nonsense. It's so easy to fool innocent consumers with jargon like that. "Hey, he used medical-sounding words, he must know what he's talking about."

Eric Schulman, Corona, CA
November 18, 2008 1:38pm

Orlando

After reading your post, I truly wonder if you have any idea what the lymph system actually is. Your description of it is basically nonsense sprinkled with tidbits of fact.

The lymph system is responsible for returning interstitial fluid to the blood stream, as well as playing a large role in the immune response. The lymph is created because the pressures present in the arteriole and venule sides of your capillaries causes a net flux of liquid out of your blood (the lymph or interstitial fluid). This fluid needs to be returned to the blood or it will build up causing edema and decreased blood volume.

The lymph system is not activated by breathing. Breathing is not even included in the many things that help to circulate the lymph (peristalsis, skeletal muscles, valves). The lymph system has nothing to do with oxygen or its transport and is minimally involved in transporting waste (that is the job of the circulatory system).

Other factual inaccuracies show your complete lack of science education.

"blood being the very enviroment our cells live in" The only cells that live in the blood are blood cells. The rest are bathed in interstitial fluid.

"Lymph fluid then travels through your blood system" Once lymph enters blood, it becomes blood.

"waste is converted to and excreted as the carbon dioxide" Waste is processed in the kidneys and liver and is never converted to CO2.

I could go on, but I think you should get the point by now.

Steve Loeffelholz, LeClaire, IA
November 18, 2008 5:59pm

I believe it helps the body in many ways. I've slept far better when taking it before going to bed. I noticed that also woke up with an erection at 4 a.m. and everyday thereafter, earlier than usual. It got annoying, some people don;t appreciate that when you share the news at 4 a.m. and my wife soon asked me to take it during the day, she wasn't getting enough sleep.

I feel brighter, less hungry and more energetic throughout the day when I have 2-4 ounces throughout the day.

I believe that if you were to try drinking the same quantity of wheatgrass juice that you do of your pineapple and banana then you would very much notice a difference. Until then your own assessment is based off of disproportionate data. Try it out... see what happens...

Anyone with a doubt, simply try it out, more than one shot in your lifetime. Just go and get some and try it. Even the freeze dried capsules or powder you can mix in a drink... try it out in similar portions as your smoothies and see what happens. I dare you!

Stop talking and walk. Brian based his data off of opinion and inconclusive data and research.
Here is a site with research, the expensive kind: http://www.citeulike.org/user/akita/article/2601824

Know before you go. Try it before you fry it! And Look before you leap!

I hope this helps...

Mike

Michael, Norwalk, CA
November 20, 2008 1:14pm

Mike, that study that you linked to was a joke. I don't know what you mean by "the expensive kind", but after reading the study, I have to assume that you mean the kind where the researchers are paid to find specific results.

First, the study was not blinded at all. This means that any bias held by the researchers could have, and probably did, taint the data. Second, the study was not placebo controlled. Without this very important control, it is impossible to determine if the wheat grass would have had any effect over a sham treatment. Finally, the study itself is less than a page long. They don't provide any of their data and the materials and methods section is severely lacking. It is not even mentioned if the patients are getting other treatments that could affect the outcome of the study. This paper would have received an "F" in my freshman biology course.

Don't knock it till you try it doesn't apply in this situation. It applies to sushi, racquetball, and Russian cinema, not magical grass. Until there is a logical explanation as to why something should work, and quality research showing an effect, there is no reason to try a quack remedy. Even Bill Gates would go bankrupt before being able to try every quack remedy, cure, or treatment available. A smart consumer thinks and then buys, not the other way around.

Steve Loeffelholz, LeClaire, IA
November 21, 2008 10:49am

Ha ha ha. I see. Have you tried what I suggested above? No.. probably won't. Yea..

Enough WGJ (Wheatgrass Juice) has been used to date to show it's not dangerous to the body, anymore than a bunch of vegetable juice is. So do try it.

Steve, you can sit back and say what you will but you miss the point of trying something for yourself. Try it, do your own study. This would have gotten an "F" in any Big Pharma camp called medical school.

My point is, you try it for 1 week yourself, it'll cost you next to nothing if you actually do it yourself and if you use a health food store then it'll cost you maybe $20-$45 to get a very good idea.

Try:
6 shots 1st day
0 shots for next 3-4 days and another 6 on the 6th day.
Post your results.

Anyone posting here who has not used Wheatgrass is talking from a pedestal of ignorance behind the facade of "degrees". Get up and do your own "field test".

What do the largest land animals on this planet and the most numerous eat? What the heck makes all that meat we eat? Grass. If it builds cattle there must be something in it. Common sense tells you that there is nutrition in it since the largest herds on the planet depend on grass to sustain life, no matter the country. This isn't rocket science. Without grass we do not have meat. We eat meat to get what cattle got from grass.

Simple. Look into it. Get out of the Ivory Tower and look at life head on. Experience it.

Mike

Michael, Norwalk, CA
November 25, 2008 8:19am

To mike:

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

Why do you think that just by trying stuff, we will change our minds. I've tried eel before, snake, horse, and whale meat. I hate the flavor of them and would never try them again.
I have drank wheatgrass juice before. The first time I tried it, it made me sicker. The other times, since I like to be scientific when I try new products, I recorded the data. The week where I drank the items, I felt great for 2 days. The week I was off the stuff, I felt great for 2 days. No difference. My dog felt the same way. In fact the wheat grass juice worked better on the dog.

I did the test. WGJ failed. Good enough for me.

BTW, we cannot get a lot of nutrition from grass because we have evolved differently than cows. Cows have evolved to gained a lot of their nourishments from grass and wheat. We have evolved to gain our nutrition from a varied diet of meats, fruits and vegetables. Our stomachs do not have enough of the enzymes to breakdown the grass to get any nutrition. We do not have 4 stomachs to get this kind of nutrition from that. We are also not spending 18 hours a day eating.

You presented a false dichotomy in your example. Just because we our food gets nutrition from grass does not mean we can.

If you spent time in the Ivory Tower, you would know this.

Joseph Furguson, Brawley Ca
November 25, 2008 8:59am

Wow...

I'll leave it at that.

Michael, Norwalk, CA
November 26, 2008 10:18am

Strong move Mike.

The fact of the matter is that science does still not understand a lot of things.

For instance it cannot give a good explaination for the difference between a living seed and a dead one.

What we know is a droplet and what we don't know is an ocean.

We just don't know if Wheatgrass is al its said to be. But if it works well for you (even if that is by means of placebo effect) than that is just great!

Have nice day!

Ian van Haaren, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
November 28, 2008 5:59am

It would probably help your cause to use correct grammar in the very same paragraph where you're taking a shot at someone else's.

Eric, California
December 02, 2008 12:26pm

Mike wrote: "We eat meat to get what cattle got from grass."

That is true - but why not take it to the next natural step? Cows eat grass to get what the grass got from the soil, air and sunlight.

Why don't we just sit with our feet in the sand, sucking up micronutrients and water, breathing in CO2 that we convert to carbohydrates, and power it all by photosynthesis?

Simple answer is ... we can't. We don't have chlorophyll packed chloroplasts to allow us to do this.

And we can't get the same nutrition from grass that cows do for many different reasons. Some of these reasons are the number of stomachs we have (vs cows) and the length and construction of our caecum, and the flora we have living in our guts.

We can't synthesise some of the nutrients that cows can when they are fed grass, and we certainly can't break down cellulose in the same way to extract food energy from this material.

Brenton, New Zealand
December 02, 2008 3:39pm

To hell with eating grass. To hell with drinking it, too.

Bill, Chula Vista, California
December 08, 2008 7:35am

Agreed with above. Grass is only for smoking!

Ivan, New York City
December 20, 2008 9:20am

nobody is forcing anybody else to drink wheatgrass. if you don't like the idea of it....don't drink it. why spend so much energy trying to prove it right or wrong. focus on what's good for you and that's it. focus on positive. you'll be better for it. all the best.....

amee, new jersey
December 22, 2008 8:02am

Being positive is such a subjective thing that it can mean anything that you can think of. Your positive is coming to this site and chiding us because we do not share your passive, "let them do it" attitude. Our positive is the truth because that is all that matters in a skeptical debate.

That whole "let them do it if it feels good" thing was never the claim that he was addressing. He wanted to see if there was any health benefits to WGJ. There is none

Now, why is it so hard to demand a little truth in advertising? We think that it makes up feel good if everyone knows what they are doing to themselves.

Joseph Furguson, Brawley Ca
December 22, 2008 8:52am

I've tried wheatgrass before, and it tastes exactly like a fresh cut lawn. It was pretty disgusting!

Ash, California
January 01, 2009 5:28am

I do 1-2 oz of wheatgrass juice daily and I understand the skepticism.

There's really no hardcore empirical data on the virtues of wheatgrass. The claims made by "wheatgrass nation" border on ridiculous.And it doesn't taste good.

But I can tell you this- since I've started drinking wheatgrass I feel great. My energy level is high. My digestive system works. My immune system is strong. I've had conversations with cancer patients who believe in it. In fact, the healthiest people I know are wheatgrass believers.

So, go ahead and bash it. I think I'll keep drinking it.

Chuck, Annapolis MD
January 03, 2009 7:49am

1. An item does not have to cover every last vitamin in order for it to be beneficial.
2. The FDA requires research and "empirical" evidence for pharmeceutical approval - yet we keep hearing about recalls and lawsuits on "approved" drugs. I'm not knocking empirical evidence but you have to come better than using that which still results in suits, deaths or can eliminate one symptom but may cause headaches, vomiting or extra toes.
3. Just wondering - are you using the same energy on the skepticism around FDA approved drugs?
4. Why limit obtaining oxygen via our lungs? I definitely appreciate my lungs, but I do realize that the rest of the world - due to greed - does not which results in pollution. Therefore, unless you can afford hyperbaric chamber treatments (which should not be done in excess) or fancy oxygen bars, I say don't knock alternative resources. Like someone mentioned - don't like it, don't drink it. At least those who choose to drink it do not have to worry about occassional vomiting, strokes, blood clots, headaches and nose bleeds.

Joseph Furguson: this one article does not confirm that no research is available or no health benefits exists. These are his opinions based on his research which noone hear (to my knowledge) can validate as sufficient. Continue to read for yourself.

Like I said - I surely hope articles will be written on the low hanging fruit - FDA approved pharmaceuticals.

Critical Thinker, Thinkforself, USA
January 03, 2009 9:32am

Well, this one article was not the point Critical thinker.

If you bothered to read the article, you would have seen that the people selling wheat grass juice are lying. The poster he was addressing, which claims all sorts of benefits of WGJ does not match the FDA label.

In other words, the sellers are lying to sell their woo.

As for research, I have read 15 scientific papers on the topic going back to 1939, when the idea was first proposed. Since the beginning, there have been no reliable studies that says it works on humans. The only thing the studies have shown is that putting wheatgrass into feed only works with chickens. They have evolved to generate their nutrition from that source. Humans can't.

Now the danger in letting people do this to them is delusion. Instead of going out to get some real medical advice that can only come from visiting your doctor, they are killing themselves with bunk cures.

Joseph Furguson, Brawley Ca
January 03, 2009 1:18pm

I whole heartedly agree with Brian.
At first i liked the idea. The marketing made sense. Then I spent time over the course of a year trying to find any analysis in any country. Even official UK food standards agencies. Guess what. Zilch.
They done nutitional analysis on oranges and apples. But nobobdy has done anything on wheatgrass.
No proof anywhere. just bollocks

russ

Russ, Leeds,UK
January 03, 2009 3:01pm

I dot not need scientific evidence, only my own, if you drink wheatgrass juice from the God giving land and you feel good, keep drinking it, if you do not feel good don't drink it , as simple as that. Same goes with pharmaceutical vitamins and FDA man made approved drugs.

Life is not that complicated. Listen to your body. That is the only one you can trust.

Jose Quintanilla, San Salvador , El Salvador
January 03, 2009 3:58pm

Interesting. I remember someone once telling me that there is no such thing as herbal medicines. They've been tested, and the ones that work are now known as medicines.

Seems a similar argument to me then!

Fee Williams, London, UK
January 04, 2009 8:34am

I was diagnosed with dysplasia, pre cancer cells in the cervix when I was 23. They wanted to do surgery immediatly.
I asked for 30 days.
I grew and drank my own wheatgrass juice 3 x's a day for 30 days. I didn't eat much cooked foods.
All living. Much like Ann Wigmore's philosophy.
I went back 30 days later...all displasia cells were gone.
Doc's were amazed.
I told them Wheatgrass 3 times a day, and living foods.
I believe it to cure anemia as well.
I am highly anemic, lethargic, like a feeling of dying....I drink one shot, and I'm perfectly normal, energized in minutes.
Truth.

donna, la
January 11, 2009 6:30pm

Kind of like the propane sound cannons they shoot at clouds to prevent hail formation in an effort to protect susceptable crops in hail areas...You can't prove it dosen't work

kb richard, Vermont
January 14, 2009 4:06pm

While true many cures come from plants, these cures have been altered, concentrated, and bound to make them effective. ie, you would have to suck on an entire willow tree to for days to get the same pain relieving power of a single Bayer.

However, I wholly believe in the power of the weak mind clinging to its faith. Truth be told, most of the problems people claim these things cure probably were not there to begin with.

lz, Illinois
January 20, 2009 5:17pm

"Interesting. I remember someone once telling me that there is no such thing as herbal medicines. They've been tested, and the ones that work are now known as medicines.

Seems a similar argument to me then!"

This is misinformation. Pharmaceutical companies moved almost solely into synthetic chemistry after a few early successes, all but abandoning the field of ethnobotany. There are thousands of alkaloid-containing plants which have not been analyzed for medicinal purposes. This is true of over 90% of the plants in the Amazon rainforests, many of which have been used by indigenous peoples to treat ailments for hundreds of years. It's best not to jump to conclusions based on generalizations. If wheatgrass helps someone, then it does. If not, don't drink it. It's unlikely to harm anyone even at high doses.

The fact that the FDA hasn't evaluated something has no correlation to its medicinal value. If you're having trouble sleeping, chamomile or valerian tea will likely be of benefit. Ginger will aid in digestion. Kava kava will help with anxiety (and possibly knock you on your ass). The list goes on.

There's much in this world we've yet to discover.

James, Texas
January 26, 2009 10:48am

Fortunately, there is scientific value to some of these claims

Please see studies below:

1) A DNA-technology-based cellular assay used to
measure specific biological activity in a
wheatgrass extract.
http://www.wheatgrassprofessional.info/WG%20technology_JAIMA_Mar05.pdf

Based on:

2) Wheat Grass Juice Reduces Transfusion Requirement in Patients with
Thalassemia Major: A Pilot Study

http://www.indianpediatrics.net/july2004/716.pdf

Sam Miner, ny, ny
February 03, 2009 11:19am

this doesnt have anything to do with the wheat grass posts but im just commenting on the 17 year old's post in 2007 by kingluva, herethere) :

...you are going to die of a heart attack eating like that! and NO you cannot eat anything you want and everything bad comes "out in our poop" like you said.

you should really get educated about eating right, it is really important,....i dont know where you got the idea that eating that way it "GOOD"

Rohn Connor, Ottawa
February 04, 2009 9:00pm

Skepticism is fine, I am all for it.
But just because there are no double blind studies cited here doesn't mean there are none, does it? I have not had time to look for them yet but I will...

Secondly, there are MANY remedies that work but that are not part of Western medical practice nor approved by the FDA.

In the case of wheat grass what there are, are tons of anecdotal evidence that it helps. Does it CURE anyone? I cannot say, but I can say that many people have tried it and found it helpful. There are so many articles and books about it because it is does indeed seem to help people.

I hate to see someone discouraged from trying something that might help them and that there is no evidence to suggest it is harmful. It's easy to grow, easy to buy and I say "Don't knock it if you haven't tried it!" I, for one, plan to grow my own and try it for a month or two. I'll report my experience here and elsewhere. But of course someone like the author of this article will completely discount my own experience because I am not part of a double-blind scientifically run, FDA approved experiment.

Miguel Blanco, Los Angeles, CA
February 10, 2009 1:41pm

I did a 21 day fast with no wheatgrass juice and had no change in my arthritis. I did a forty day fast with 2 ounces of fresh wheatgrass juice twice a day and by day five the arthritis in my hand began healing and by day 19 it was totally gone. I would say that people who try to discount the benefits of wheatgrass are people who have no actual life experience of drinking it. You must see for yourself from actually taking it on a consistent basis to reap it's benefits. It is amazing. I have worked at an institute where it is given to people who have illnesses like cancer and drinking it combined with a raw food diet and weekly one day fasting, cured those cancer patients.... Now they are on staff there teaching the exercise class or whatever. Don't believe anything but your own hands on experience. Literally. My hands are arthitis free because of wheatgrass.

Pamela, Maui
February 11, 2009 9:17am

The cancer patients were cured without any chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery?

Don't discount the benefits of surgery until you've had it done on you!

Max, Boston, MA
February 11, 2009 5:11pm

I am anemic and I am going to give it a try. Hopefully it will make a difference!

Summer, California
February 14, 2009 7:51pm

Summer, eat red meat. The amount of iron in most leaf vegetables is tiny. If you are aneamic, you need a much richer source of iron than is available in wheatgrass!

Brenton, New Zealand
February 15, 2009 12:55pm

Wheatgrass is great for people with low iron. You may want to try working your way up from one ounce of juice to several ounces a day, a few times a day! That should do the trick...That's what helped me.

Dean, Toronto
February 16, 2009 4:14pm

Summer, Brenton (NZ) is right. Wheatgrass may have some helpful iron in it, as the above article says there is no tested evidence to back this claim up. Eating 6-8oz of red meat a week, however, will probably help you a whole lot more, and it's going to be a lot cheaper. I'm not anemic myself but my old GF was and the above was her doctors recommendation (you should check with your own). She didn't like it at first, she was a vegetarian, but after a couple of months her red blood cell count was up to near normal and she had lots more energy.

The difference, apparently, is that there is lots of iron in red meat and is easer for our bodies to metabolize than from vegetable sources, but I'm not an expert on this so again a doctor would likely be helpful.

Greg, Toronto
February 19, 2009 11:11am

The chlorophyl molecule and the human red blood cell molecule are almost identical, O2 tranport.
Wheatgrass plant draws 97 out of an estimated 107 minerals from organic soil, makes it easily available to you.
I've been using wheatgrass regularly for three years and always feel good after consumption.
Chlorophyl is liquid life.

JuiceMan, Squamish, BC
February 25, 2009 11:51am

I'm pretty sure wheatgrass is pure hokum, but I would like to point out another, possibly more important reason why there is no "real, peer reviewed, double blind clinical trial" for wheatgrass (or really, for almost any "superfood" or alternative medicine or treatment:

You can't patent it.

Good clinical trials require hundreds, maybe even thousands, of participants, and lots of doctors, nurses, statisticians, etc. You've heard of pharmaceutical companies investing "hundreds of millions of dollars" into clinical testing of a single prospective medicine. They're not kidding; it's that expensive to get FDA approval. Or even to get statistically significant data.

Since you can't patent wheatgrass, or acai juice, or whatever, all the money you pour into scientifically proving it, is distributed amongst you and your competitors (they are, in a way, "free riders").

This is a huge disincentive, although I should point out that a clever, ethical company could probably find a way around it - say, by arranging a clinical trial using solely their product, with a "patented special formula," and the lack of such patented formulas might be a red flag.

But the lack of serious clinical trials is understandable from the sheer economics of it. So it doesn't really prove anything except that no one's stupid enough to spend money making their competitors rich. Of course, it also doesn't prove that the product actually works.

Billy Kang, Long Beach, California
February 27, 2009 10:50am

I've been taking wheatgrass tablets(buying from ebay USA) for 3 months now and I can say that I can see the difference. I do not care if it's pricey or the people who say it's non-sense.

I can sleep well, no more stomach cramps during my period and no cystic pimple for 2 months.

Bianca
Laguna, Philippines

Bianca, Laguna, Philippines
March 03, 2009 7:53pm

Juiceman - WTF???

What is a "red blood cell molecule"? Do you mean haemoglobin?

This is an incredibly complex protein with several components to it.

Chlorophyll is a much less complex pigment, and is a single component in chloroplasts.

Their chemical and molecular structures are wildly different.

By extending your argument that drinking something that mimics blood (and I am not for a moment suggesting that chlorophyll does!) is good for you, then surely drinking blood - which is much better at mimicking blood, surely - would be even better for you!

Can it be that drinking wheatgrass juice is just a surrogate for frustrated or vegan vampires?

Brenton, New Zealand
March 10, 2009 4:10pm

Lets pretend that the evidence is bunk and that the dubious are well grounded in reality. I would think that the more vehemently of the naysayers should put their opinions to the test. Why not try Wheat Grass Juice for a couple of weeks and see if you can feel a difference. I grow and juice my own. I live in Alaska and hate the produce selection available. Horrible under-ripe foods with no taste or nutritional value. Wheat grass juice is how I keep well nourished. I could provide you with I believe accurate anecdotal evidence, but I could easily be a hippy with a taste for blood. Hate the anecdotal evidence, love the results!

David M. Brust, Anchorage
March 18, 2009 11:13pm

David, I can prove to you why anecdotal evidence is not reliable. I have an experience with wheatgrass juice that is different than yours and you will reject it because it does not fit into your understanding.

I did a one month study, two weeks on wheatgrass juice and two weeks off of it. I took detailed notes. I drank WHJ in the amount I was supposed to. Then after one hour, I write down how I felt. Then I did two weeks on just water. Then after one hour, I wrote down how I felt. After that two weeks, I looked at my notes. I had good days and bad days on both and in roughly the same numbers.

There you go. Anecdotal evidence that you will reject because it does not confirm your preconceived notions of WGJ.

I know this because I did the same thing with Monavie and they do not respond afterwards.

Joseph Furguson, Brawley Ca
March 18, 2009 11:42pm

I helped my stepfather with Dr. Ann Wigmore's Wheatgrass cancer regimen to come back from his deathbed from cancer. It was stunning to watch. To the posters who say they knew someone who drank it and still died, it has to be incorporated into a strict protocol. You can't drink wheatgrass and eat regular food and expect results. There is a process of creating the proper healing support. It works...I saw it personally. Read the science before making a decision based on opinion. I am gluten sensitive and I tolerate wheatgrass juice well. I grow my own and am careful when I harvest to just cut the blades.

Carolyn Blake, Duluth, MN
March 22, 2009 10:32am

The problem with studies, is that they can still be highly subjective. As a Registered Dietitian, who has been across the range of food spectrums, the one thing I can say with complete confidence, is that NO two people are alike. I will also say that, if you are drinking WGJ and continuing to have stress, poor diet, no water, not enough sleep, etc., you may not feel any benefits. Joseph, as a researcher, I must say that two weeks on and two weeks of ANYTHING really would give skewed data. There are other things to be considered, (like what I mentioned previously).

That's just my two cents. ;)

Kevin Killebrew, Los Angeles, CA
March 26, 2009 7:06am

Hey, I am countering the claims that all the pro people tell me. They tell me to try it, but they never tell me how long to take the stuff. I try the stuff usually for one bottle's worth of time. In the case of WGJ, the smallest bottle that I can find at GNC lasts about 3 months, but I can never take that stuff longer than two weeks at a time.

What I did discover is that my birds love that stuff. I mix it into their water and they drink it all up in one setting.

Now, with monavie, I tried that stuff for a month. It did not work for me.

Carolyn Blake, Duluth said:
"I helped my stepfather with Dr. Ann Wigmore's Wheatgrass cancer regimen to come back from his deathbed from cancer. It was stunning to watch."

Wheatgrass juice did not work for my stepfather and his cancer. My stepfather took WGJ all the time before his bout of blood cancer. It did not prevent him from getting it. Chemo and radiation reversed the cancer.

I hate to say it, but cancer sometimes goes away. Your stepfather was the lucky one in a million case. My stepfather wasn't.

Joseph Furguson, Brawley, Ca
March 26, 2009 8:45am

You know, water has no nutritional value, but unlike food, if you don't consume it for just three days, you will die.

Is it possible that there is just some quality to wheatgrass that has not been identified that helps the body repair itself? The argument that it does not contain some of the handful of nutrients identified by science is not compelling based on the "water" argument. There are probably thousands more types of nutrients that have not been identified yet that contribute to health, new age mumbo jumbo aside.

Alexis, NYC
April 11, 2009 6:28pm

Wishful thinking aside, wheatgrass has been used for over 75 years in many studies and there has been no verifiable data that it does something for the human body. The reports I found never made it past the clinical trial stage.

If you are a chicken, however, this stuff works wonders.

I think that after 75 years of testing they might have found something in it that is useful to humans.

But on the off chance there is some benefit that we do not know about, science is still looking for answer.

Joseph Furguson, Brawley Ca
April 12, 2009 6:20am

Thanks for responding, John. I hear what you are saying. This post has made me think a lot about new age remedies, etc., as someone who uses a lot of them -- yet I would not want to be in a world without science. Science is awesome, and it is the accumulation of verifiable, objective facts that allows us to be having this virtual conversation via computers and networks. BUT there is still so much that we don't know. There are things we "don't know we don't know," and there is of course the incredible power of the human psyche, which is stimulated more by things like love and imagination than dry data. So with the wheatgrass thing -- I just think that despite the fact that nothing has been found "yet," there could be important aspects to the juice that can benefit people as I said above. Also, he subjective experience of why people take it is important, and nevertheless can be healing. This is not a substitute for thinking and science, but it's not really helpful to deny the psychological benefit of perhaps ritualistic "new age" practices, in which you "invoke" health like a spirit. Even the placebo effect has been scientifically documented, meaning that the suggestion that you are getting better actually makes the body cure itself. I don't think this is a bad thing. I am just throwing the flip side in here, not saying I was to revert to a world without critical thinking. But too much critical thinking can erase the ability to see new possibilities and crush the soul

Alexis, NYC
April 12, 2009 6:45am

My friend,
Have you ever drank it on a consistent basis? I think you should start from there, perhaps 20-30 minutes before you drink your smoothies. And keep a journal of your body and mind. Then get back to us in a few days or a week.

Larry, Chicago
May 01, 2009 8:48am

If you have any ailment and the the doctor says there is no cure. take care of you health and that you have only 5 more years of life left.

Any one will drink wheatgrass juice or other ancient therapies to tryt o prolong the life consuming disease.

Modern day doctors have not found medicines for common ailments like asthma and diabetes or arthritis. they are still researching. maybe the ancient people lived thru these things and knew something more than modern day science.

Not a skeptoid.

balaji, boston
May 05, 2009 9:06am

It is not ancient wisdom that brought us the power of Wheat grass juice. It was discovered by a Agricultural scientists in depression era America. He tested it out on chickens and they developed stronger shells because of it. He figured that it could work on humans, so he sold his idea to the alternative medicine giant General Mills who. They first marketed it in 1939 and sold it to the American Army during WWII.

Not ancient wisdom, but American.

Joseph Furguson, Brawley, Ca
May 05, 2009 9:19am

Actually Balaji, the "ancient people" had significantly shorter lifespans than "modern people", and typically blamed their aches and pains on fairies and witch doctors.

Galduke, So Cal
May 05, 2009 1:18pm

i just drank my first glass of whest grass, it looked rarther strange "illuminus green" but to be honest most of the sweets i ate as a child were of similar colour so i went for it, there are two things i would like to say and that is the taste is verry hard to overcome first time thats for sure, second is my body started to tingle and i felt like i was lifting of the floor 5minuits after drinking i felt tipsy, light headed. 30mins later i feel amaizng
i can only think this in my life will be a good thing

james pecking, london uk
May 21, 2009 2:34pm

WOW Skeptiod, I guess the Wheatgrass folks showed you!

tim, Oakland
May 25, 2009 8:44pm

Okay, so...getting so upset over wheatgrass? Really?

It is something that is natural. That is not processed, hydrogenated, loaded with fats and high fructose corn syrups. In the McSociety we live in, choosing something like wheat grass should be applauded.

As far as evidence against wheatgrass, where are your studies that show that wheatgrass is NOT beneficial?

Molly, Minneapolis, MN
June 02, 2009 6:07pm

You're wrong about one thing, that wheatgrass is not processed. Harvesting, transporting, and certainly blending are all considered food processing methods.

If you mean something else, then say something else.

Eric Schulman, Corona, CA
June 02, 2009 6:17pm

According to me, Wheat grass juice is very good for skin. It helps in reducing the level of cholesterol. For more information visit www.zippy-health.com/miracle-of-wheat-germ-grass/

Glenn Fernandes, U.S.A
June 03, 2009 3:45am

According to me, Wheatgrass juice does not improve skin quality. The water in the drink did that. It has no medical benefit whatsoever. Here is a link that proves that assertion: http://skeptico.blogs.com/skeptico/2005/04/wheatgrass_madn.html

Are you going to accept my anecdotal evidence? If you are not going to, why do expect your anecdotal evidence is going to work on us?

Joseph Furguson, Brawley, Ca
June 03, 2009 6:52am

Claims that something is a cureall supposes that it's too good to be true, and if that's the case, then we all know the response for it: "anything that is too good to be true, probably is". Which brings to mind, that if it were this good, then everyone would be using it with good results, and no one would be sick anymore. Obviously, it works for some people, but not for all, and possibly it cures some things, but not all. If you believe, it will happen is another phrase that comes to mind.

Sybil, Orlando, Fl
June 03, 2009 10:47am

I'll believe in wheat grass juice claims when President Obama appoints a "Wheat Grass Czar" as one of the ways to reduce health care costs. The czar would be responsible for setting up a series of nationwide wheat grass juice dispensing systems.

Just another thing to throw money at!

Don Bredeman, Vancouver, WA
June 15, 2009 1:33pm

I'll believe in the health benefits of WGJ when the people that say this product does wonders start backing it up with something more than anecdotal evidence.

I am not interested in anecdotal evidence because you can easily dismiss it.

Joseph Furguson, Brawley, Ca
June 15, 2009 5:04pm

all these health foods are simply money making ideas.... humans are convinced that there is always something 'wrong' with them ...hence some smart guys exploit our insecurity.

the ideal way to stay healthy is to exrcise, eat moderately, drink water, avoid booze and tobacco, avoid sodas, eat vegetables,etc .... and most of all accept the 'limitations' of life .... nothing is going to make you deleriously happy forever!

vijay, india
June 16, 2009 6:54am

Fact # 1 The Dead Sea Scrolls wrote about the greatness of this stuff 2000+ years ago

Fact # 2 Wigmore has proven results

Fact # 3 It can be grown for pennies a serving (probably the most damning, "no-one can profit from the utlization of it")

HJ Erickson, Mpls/StPaul
June 20, 2009 4:49pm

Facts and Falsehoods

BarleyGrass Juice and WheatGrass Juice are both natures wonder products.

Consume the grass if you are a four leg animal, which by some of the comments on here.....

The Japanese have documented proof of the VALUE of Fresh Barley Grass Juice

Wheat Grass Juice ?
Charles Kettering ?
Essene Sect ?
Dead Sea Scrolls ?

Grow it,,,Juice it,,,Use it DAILY for ONE Year and then COMPLAIN THAT IT DOESN'T WORK FOR YOU !

HJ Erickson, Mpls/StPaul
June 20, 2009 10:31pm

It keeps my prostate cancer in line. I was told in February of 08 that I had two years to live. I started taking wheat grass and my cancer, which was everywhere on my body,(bone scan) can no longer be found. It may not be the wheat grass. It could be Jim Beam od Marlboro, but I don't think so.

Mack A McCallum, Rocklin
June 21, 2009 3:00am

I would suggest everyone read the article at the following website written by an MD. Someone who is adequately versed in medical uses of wheatgrass and has given his own advisement. He also discusses several studies, etc.

http://jeffreydach.com/2009/03/23/wheatgrass-the-path-to-health-by-jeffrey-dach-md.aspx

Wheatgrass_survivor, Miami, FL
June 21, 2009 9:43am

And I am not going to trust someone that is a shill for his own product for no other reason than that. He has a financial stake in the sale of the product and it would make him biased towards his own product.

Where is the longterm peer review study?

Joseph Furguson, Brawley, Ca
June 21, 2009 3:26pm

I stopped reading this article a paragraph in, after the author made the statement that chlorophyll does nothing for our health.

There have been a significant amount of studies that prove chlorophyll promotes health in numerous areas, especially digestion, cardiovascular, and anti-cancer fighting.

This authors ignorance is shocking, especially the confidence with which he speaks over subjects he knows nothing about.

He probably still thinks the food pyramid is relevant.

Ryan Hawkins, Atlanta, Georgia
June 25, 2009 3:31pm

I have been using the wheatgrass tablets since last several months. Certain allergies which had made my life miserable are now cured. I has also cured my chronic cold and cough besides other skin allergies.

Sanjay Sharma, Bombay
June 28, 2009 7:57am

Do some real research!!WG juice is an alkalizing drink. Our body, cells require to function at its optimal when we are 80% alkalized, 20% acidic. All JUNK food consists of a high acidic content. Hence look at the american people: heart disease, diabetes... Get a clue people.

chas, sf
June 30, 2009 11:59am

So chaos, where is your evidence for those claims? Or is the scope of all your science based on pulling things out of your ass?

American have heart disease, diabetes or whatever else not because of acidic content in food, (not true btw) but because we eat too much. We also spend more time sitting in one spot and we do not exercise.

Your magic drink is not going to fix that.

Joseph Furguson, Brawley, Ca
June 30, 2009 12:54pm

I have used wheatgrass at 7 AM this morning (on an empty stomach), and since then, I have managed to get rid of my chronic cold, asthma, herniated disk, lazy eye, and impotence. I can't wait to see whats next? Will I finally be able to walk again!!

Mutombo, Dubai, UAE
July 06, 2009 4:31am

I wonder about the skeptic himself. Simply by using the word "Wheatgrass" he not only gets a solid organic ranking in the search engine, but also gets some nice, pretty wheatgrass ads on his blog, which of course earns him advertising dollars.

Clever chap

Ben, Clearwater FL
July 07, 2009 1:40pm

Where is the long term peer review study ??

Furgie Furguson Who is going to fund this ?

If some group did do a study and they found out this stuff cures many ailments, how would they recoup there study's cost ?

Chlorophyl has been around for eons yet as of 2009 not much research ???

If your THIRSTY you drink water.
Water is free (if you know a source)

Pennies a serving if you grow it yourself.

Dynamic Greens if you are one of the fortunate ones left here on planet earth !

HJ Erickson, Mpls/StPaul
July 10, 2009 9:02pm

I have no basis for any claims made pertaining to wheatgrass health benefits. However a quick search of "alkaline" foods will usually turn up wheatgrass. I happen to be addicted to almost every acidic food on the list so I conjecture that I can use wheatgrass to offset my intake of unhealthy food.

Al Grocster, tulliana turky
July 11, 2009 4:12pm

Oranges are acidic, why would they be unhealthy?

Claire, Melbourne, Australia
July 12, 2009 12:17am

Debates r always fun but some people r just blind 2 the fact that it's obvious natural foods r better for ur body. Plain & simple. & if people r willing 2 change & substitue fries with wheat grass, let them. People say they eat crap & they r healthy but everything catches up eventually. Just because u feel good today, doesn't mean u won't be sick with something serious tomorrow. & I honestly think nature holds the cure 2 all diseases; we just have to open minded enough 2 find it & if people never try these natural things, we will never truly find any cures. I have been drinking wheat grass for awhile now & I feel so much better. U aren't going 2 notice a difference right away but after awhile, you realize all the little things that have improved from headaches to acne. I'm not basing this off of "facts found on the internet". I'm telling u from experience. There is something, whatever it may be, in wheat grass that just makes u feel better. & who wouldn't want to feel better, right? Its worth a try. It can't hurt u but then again, it's not for everyone because so many people can't just suck it up & get over the taste. I just wish more people would take control & take care of themselves...

Nature Holds the Cure, Chicago, IL
July 13, 2009 10:14pm

I really liked your article and how people can blindly follow things, Infact i came across your article while searching on net to verify the claims made by one such handout same as you have mentioned.

There is however one elusive point about the elusive B12, while searching for wheat grass i read an article on wiki where they have compared the nutritional value of Wheatgrass, Broccoli and Spinach and the only thing according to this article where wheatgrass scores above among them is content of B12 which is 0.30mcg, I dont know if by 0 you meant the abysmally small amount.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheatgrass

It would be a great idea and equally great help if you could also tell us your source of obtaining all this information that you have mentioned in this article. Whether you conducted laboratory test?

But the fact still reamins your article is really comprehensive and i believe wtten with a noble intention of finding truth behind all these big claims.

Amit Abhishek, Gurgaon, India
July 14, 2009 8:56am

All I can say wheat grass juice help me a lot with regards to my health especially to my wife who is hypertinsive and diabetic. She use to take antihypertinsive drugs, diabetic drugs and addition she take also anti cholesterol, but she didnt take any of this drugs now, we just drink daily wheat grass juice and I regularly check her blood chem and its better as compare before

fcvillena, philippines
July 16, 2009 1:11pm

To start with, I am NOT a doctor, or a medical and/or nutrition researcher and do not work in any related field.

Here is a link to a page linking to studies about wheatgrass juice. This is a pro wheatgrass juice page, so not unbiased, It looks like there are some true studies, not just a list of "It worked for me, I no longer have -insert ailment here-"

http://cellfeast.com/why-wheatgrass-juice/wheatgrass-references-and-resources

and here is another links with info on studies.. lots of overlap. This page also sells wheatgrass related products, so they are not unbiased.

http://www.healthbanquet.com/wheatgrass-juice-research.html

Tim, Tucson
July 20, 2009 8:02pm

You can say what ever you want. You can trust who ever you want.
When you will be dead nobody will give a damn **** who you were , how you died and if you suffer or not. Wheatgrass will still be there ready to cure

I know one thing for sure Wheatgrass juice cure my grandpa prostatic cancer in 6 month. which was the size of a golf ball.
He went 2 weeks at hypocrate center in San diego to learn how to heal is self with raw food. continued the living style for 6 months and Cancer was done. DR's never wanted to belive what he did. they said he got treated in another hostital with Chimio.

WheatGrass juice is not something you buy YOU MAKE IT

My Grandpa live happy and very activelly for another 8 years after his cancer and died in his sleep at the age of 80.

So what ever you say about this will never convince a Child that saw his loving grandpa survive drinking green juice.

Forget Wiki if full of miskates it even say so in the fine print the what you read may not me true.

for more info about that incredible juice I think nobody knows more about it then Dr Ann Wigmore

Robert Gratton, St-alphonse Quebec canada
July 21, 2009 8:24am

No clinical trials? ? Looks like your reserach was not very thorough...You did not come up with this test from 2002 where wheatgrass was PROVEN to be effective .. this link is easily found on Wikipedia-Wheat Grass (BTW right above your link)....hmmm who is bias now?
TITLE OF THE STUDY:
Wheat grass juice in the treatment of active distal ulcerative colitis: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.
WHO DID IT:
Ben-Arye E, Goldin E, Wengrower D, Stamper A, Kohn R, Berry E.
Dept. of Family Medicine, The Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, The Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa. eranben@netvision.net.il

RESULTS: Twenty-one patients completed the study, and full information was available on 19 of them. Treatment with wheat grass juice was associated with significant reductions in the overall disease activity index (P=0.031) and in the severity of rectal bleeding (P = 0.025). No serious side effects were found. Fresh extract of wheat grass demonstrated a prominent tracing in cyclic voltammetry methodology, presumably corresponding to four groups of compounds that exhibit anti-oxidative properties. CONCLUSION: Wheat grass juice appeared effective and safe as a single or adjuvant treatment of active distal UC.

Laurie Harvey, New York
July 22, 2009 2:16pm

I find it quite amusing that you really sock wheat grass but at the same time you are making money off of it by sellin banners on your site. Hum smells something like a Hypocrite

dennis mccallisrter, miami
July 24, 2009 11:01am

Don't let dennis here get you down. I have been searching endlessly for some opinions from real people on wheat grass juice to see what the real deal is. By putting up this negative wheat grass post, those who believe in it were compelled to respond. Just what I needed! These people have turned me from a skeptic into a "willing-to-tryit" type. Thanks everybody for telling it like it is.

Jessica Bosari, Plymouth, MA
July 24, 2009 11:15am

Dennis, did you even bother to read the bit in the ads where Brian declares that he is not responsible for the ad content and that with enough support, he can remove the ads completely? It seems that whoever mananges this particular bit of advertising on the internet matches ads to content, probably by keywords. Just lazy Dennis. This is far from being the only website with this problem.

Adrian, Brisbane, Australia
July 24, 2009 3:24pm

Robert..."Dr." Wigmore claimed that it could cure AIDS. She was also sued for making other health claims that could not be substantiated. That's awesome that your Grandfather survived cancer, but there is no conclusive evidence that it was because of the wheatgrass.

I agree with most of what Brian wrote, and admit that I do not know enough about wheatgrass to have a strong bias either way. I believe it is easy for one to have a self-fulfilling prophecy about wheatgrass when something, ANYTHING, goes right after taking it.

If it was all it was cracked up to be, it would be widely used at a higher level than the local juice mart. It's marketable, and because people want to believe that it is a miracle plant, others buy into it. A network of wheatgrass clones have been created that will swear to it, even if it means putting pride before reality.

Ben, PDX
July 29, 2009 4:21pm

Ben,PDX

Did you read the post by Laurie Harvey ?

Wheat and Barley Grass Juice is being used at a higher level.

It is a natural plant juice that has Chlorophyll as one of many active ingredients that are known as FACT to aid in healing.

It doesn't take a Brain Surgeon to tell you (and they won't) to use it,,,because its almost free,if you grow it yourself.

HJ Erickson, Mpls/StPaul
July 31, 2009 9:47pm

I am not a scientist and do not know much about all this mumbo jumbo science talk about what is in wheatgrass, but I do know this from personal experience: I out-run, out-bike, out-climb all my friends since I have been drinking wheatgrass. A fluke you would say. Sure except that I did not change anything else and the difference in my recorded times on specific distances is just too great to ignore. So who cares why it works. It just does and that is all I need to know. Of course my wife and my friends think I am crazy but none of them can keep up with me anymore while they were always complaing of me being too slow.... Ha! Keep it secret will ya!

W, Colo
August 01, 2009 4:44am

Do not condemn something before you do adequate research. I have had a lot of questions about wheatgrass juice but instead of just dismissing it I have researched it a lot. These studies are just the tip of the iceberg.

An experimental study of its water soluble derivatives in wound healing. Smith L, Livingston A. Chlorophyll. Am. J. Surg. 1943. 62:358-369

Wound healing involves an inflammatory (exudative) phase and a proliferative tissue growth and repair phase that presumably involves growth stimulating factors. This study tested various water soluble chlorophyll preparations and other agents including vitamin ointments and sulfathiazole on wounds created by excising portions of skin from rats, guinea pigs, rabbits and dogs. Response in rate of healing tended to be greater for chlorophyll than with other agents tested (the data is summarized in several tables not reproducible here).
Conclusion: On the basis of these observations it is suggested that chlorophyll preparations should be used much more extensively in the treatment of wounds and burns.

Studies on the constituents of green juice from young barley leaves. Antiulcer activity of fractions from barley juice. Ohtake, H., Yuasa, H., Komura, C. Miyauchi, T., Hagiwara, Y., Kubota, K. 1985. J. Pharm. Soc. Japan. 105:1046-51.

Green juice and fractions from green juice of young barley leaves containing water soluble proteins and water soluble organic compounds showed anti- stomach ulcer activity in stressed rats.

1. A supernatant extract from wheat grass reduced the production of carcinogenic aromatic hydrocarbon (benzopyrene) derivatives. Inhibition of benzopyrene mutagenicity with non-chlorophyll containing wheat sprout extract suggests that chlor

Lee, Knoxville, TN
August 03, 2009 8:27pm

that chlorophyll will aid in healing and get living tissue back to their healthy state.

HJ Erickson, Mpls/StPaul
August 03, 2009 9:31pm

Funny how one week it is wheat grass, then it is pomegranate juice, then acai berry, then sea silver (cranberry and aloe vera @ $90 per gallon)!!!! Dont you see you are being played lika a harp by these so called "super foods" companies!! Watch out for the current BUZZ WORDS like "every nutrient known to man", "organic super foods", "super healing compounds", etc. All of these things mean only one thing...you are going to massively overpay for something you could have gotten by eating a smart / well balanced diet. Nothing will save you from a constant diet of pizza, beer and cheese burgers!!!!

Brian J, Denver Colorado
August 07, 2009 8:13am

Put some wheat or barley seeds in a sprouter
Grow,, turn to sprouts, eat some of them tooooooo! Grow the rest
When the blades are long enough , cut them and run them through a inexpensive table mount juicer and drink the fluid of life ! No Body playing any harps, no company or salesman selling you anything. JUST YOU,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, GETTING WHAT MOTHER EARTH WANTED YOU TO GET : H E A L T H Y !
Can't get much simpler, but I'm sure someone can talk you into making it more complicated for you

HJ Erickson, Mpls/StPaul
August 08, 2009 4:12pm

Ben ,
if wheatgrass juice did not cure my Grandfather prostatic cancer , Who did GOD ? cuz I am a 100% positive that it was not a Doctor or a so call modern medecine scientist.

He only did one thing drank 6 oz of juice 3 times a day and eat only raw live food.

If he was not cure by the green stuff, what happened ?
When he started that programm it was either he die or live.
Doctor told him he had 40% chance of surviving with Chimo. He felt he had more chance with going Green And Im sure he did the right choice.

You cant saved them all even with Chimo, so why poison a body thats already poisoned ?

I choose life I go Green

Robert Gratton, St-alphonse Quebec canada
August 10, 2009 10:10pm

Here is the problem with anecdotal evidence: you will only count the hits and not the misses.

As for your grandfather, why do you have to go the miracle explanation off the bat? "I do not understand it, so it must be God that dood it." Here are the three likely answers for why the cancer went away.

1. Modern Science, you know the same miracle that gave use the internet, did save your grandfather's life. They gave him the life saving treatments and whatever else he needed to survive.

2. It went away by itself. This is known to happen in 1 percent of all cancer cases, where the person has the cancer diagnosis and it goes bye bye. Nothing miraculous about it.

3. Never had cancer in the first place. It was a mis-diagnosis. That is whay in cases like this, you need two confirmations of it. Self explanatory.

Now before you spout off about how I do not know what I am talking about, know this. My stepfather had to go through cancer therapy twice in his lifetime. He had his thyroid removed after one round round of Chemo-therapy. Unlike you, I did not go looking for a miracle to make it all better. I took the time out of my busy life to understand what is happening and what can be done about it. My stepfather did not run away from the diagnosis into a bottle of woo.

Joseph Furguson, Brawley, Ca
August 19, 2009 8:29am

This Juice has been around 2000 plus years !

One of the first accounts came from the Vatican Library, ancient documents recorded the use of this juice by the Essene's(jewish sect)
near Jeruselum. This was confirmed by the discovery of ancient documents the "Dead Sea Scrolls"
found in the 1940's

It takes years of bad habits in diet and living before life threatening disease can occur.

Some people believe if they try something for afew days or weeks even a few months things will change.

Adding either wheatgrass(sweet) or barley grass(bitter) juice to your diet can only give you added benefit.

HJ Erickson, Mpls/StPaul
August 19, 2009 12:49pm

I've taken both wheat and barley grass and all I know is that they both make me feel good when taken for long periods of time. It takes a while though, if you feel super awesome instantly it is the placebo effect. It's biggest benefit is the fact that it reduces the acidity in your blood. It's a known fact that the more alkaline your body is, the less likely your body will be diseased.

You can get the same benefits by eating plenty of vegetables a day. Then reducing foods that make your body more acidic. But not everyone has the time to always eat healthy and/or get a substantial amount of vegetables for this. Not I.

Cereal grasses are known for having a large number of vitamins and nutrients. In fact before there were ever any vitamins people were selling wheatgrass pills to get the vitamins that they needed for healthy nutrition. Then along came the vitamin pills and we all know how that blew up.

As far as cereal grasses go, only take them if you feel like you need the added nutrition or if you feel like you don't get enough greens.

And yes, there are plenty of scams out there, there are scams surrounding almost every healthy natural "superfood." Companies are always waiting to capitalize on next new healthy thing that comes out. You just need to educate yourself and do some research to see if it is something you should take or something you should pass on. More often you should pass, but I've been taking wheatgrass or barley grass for awhile now and I feel great.

Kevzilla™, Wichita, KS
August 19, 2009 1:25pm

It's funny how some people think this is a "magical mystery drink" and with a negative pessemistic attitude tell others how it has only been proven to help chickens.
Actually it is not a laughing matter

What has been proven is that it has all the vitamins and amino acids needed to aid people who would like a healthy diet plan.

Clean up your act and use these very good natural juices.

Make it yourself or pay some-one for it if you wish

Good Luck , Drink it and enjoy the health that come with daily use of it.

John Smith, Minneapolis
August 20, 2009 5:05pm

In response to the comment about the alkalinity of wheatgrass juice and the pH balance of the blood: While it is true that many diseases, even cancer, fail to thrive in an alkaline environment, it is important to note that the blood is strictly regulated at a pH of 7.35-7.45 and regardless of what you ingest, the body will respond as needed to regulate that narrow range.

Julie, Portland, OR
August 23, 2009 12:13pm

Not everything in life can be explained in terms of pure chemistry and physics.

Take the case of a simple hangover or the common cold. There are not. clear explanations what they occur or how they can be effectively cured 100% of the time. Or even take the case of Homeopathy. It goes totally opposite to Allopathy but it works in almost the same ratio of effectivety as Allopathy. Buy we never suspect Allopathy because FDA or some agency like that can offer a chemically & statistically verified proof.
In fact the US goverment of health is recognising and funding research into Alternative & Complementary Medicine. See here:< http://tinyurl.com/mqztpj >

Now here something that will mess up you chemical & linear logic mind. The 'energy' that is contained in wheat grass juice does the work and not all those chemical compounds and molecules you mention. The energy is called 'Ki' in Japanese, 'Qui' in Chinese or 'Pranaa' in Sanskrit (Indian).

Whether you accept it or not. It still works! The very fact that it works and you don't accept means what you reject is wrong.
Go figure!
Same goes with Bee Pollen or Ginseng.

Sridhar, Bangkok
August 29, 2009 2:39am

I believe that when our bodies are young, they have a much greater ability to self regulate as Julie states in the second to the last post.

Regardless of what one ingests, I think is a pretty bold statement.

If the body doesn’t have the needed resources to guarantee what Julie states as a strictly
Regulated 7.35-7.45 ph balance, what organs of the human body are going to be over-
taxed to keep this level of ph balance in check? If you are drinking a water supply or food
that is overly acidic verses alkali, do you really believe the human body will just
Miraculously keep your blood and system at the right ph level without harm to its vital
Tissues?

If this was the case our miracle working human bodies would survive indefinitely.

Read up on Dr. Ann Wigmore she and others have documented proof of the very
important great value of getting these juices (wheat and barley) into the human body.
They stress not just drinking (then it has to go through the digestive tract) but getting into
the body at the end of the digestive tract. There it is directly absorbed into the body and
the “Energy “that Sridhar of Bangkok talks about is utilized 100% more effectively.
This is a process most skip because it is not a regular task of every day living, but all I
can say is its value is highly promoted from the legends that pioneered their way such as
Dr. Wigmore and others.

HJ Erickson, Mpls/StPaul
August 29, 2009 11:56am

Interesting news article about Big Pharma and their shady, shady ways.

Our tax money pays for most stages of medicinal research and cures, and then Big Pharma steps in, buys the rights and conducts the testing.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/johann-hari/the-horrifying-hidden-sto_b_251365.html

Messed up? Yes. How can anyone defend this? How can ANYONE bash natural alternatives? Its so easy to call someone a hippy for wanting to eat the way we were meant to.

Tara, Canada
September 02, 2009 10:04am

In regards to your comment, Julie. True, the body has it's own pH buffering systems so as you don't keel over dead when your cells close up like clams. However, since your body relies on finite sources to fuel these buffering systems, and because the vast majority of the Western diet spectrum sits tubbily in the 'Acidic' range, anything alkaline should be welcomed with open arms to prevent your body frequently forcing your pH up just far enough to keep you from getting ill.

Also, Brian - I just read an article showing that wheatgrass has beneficial effects for those with a gastrointestinal disorder that is altogether too long to pronounce, suggesting it should have (limited) beneficial effects for everyone else (ie, those with the above-mentioned shit diet). Check it out here http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=11989836&ordinalpos=2&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

Jamie, Sydney
September 04, 2009 1:58am

i don't like your article or your skeptisism.yeah stick with your smoothies...it's obviously a better choice for you.

maybe you should get your facts from the obvious. people who are using it and experience the benefits.

sz, portland
September 08, 2009 4:50pm

Its amasing that this is still being blithered about... even the odd very weak trial or the essenes being mentioned... The latter is absolutely laughable considering the average lifespan of anyone 2100 years ago.

Guys, you have NCCAMS to draw on... after so very long, not one positive study that ties in all the strange "natural medicine" studies has appeared and been ratified.

Without any sort of support you cant make any sort of claim.

Dont just point to big pharma for your claims.. all providors of chemicals make grandiose claims.. some just have to be supported.. There is no major evidential support for wheat grass or st johns wort etc etc

Big pharma got its tail stung this week... I just wish the chemical companies that supply your natural drugs have the same scrutiny... sales on burden of proof.. Here in Oz, its a joke.. I assume its the same state side

Henk van der Gaast, Sydney, Australia
September 08, 2009 9:34pm

Dont just point to big pharma for your claims.. all providors of chemicals make grandiose claims.. some just have to be supported.. There is no major evidential support for wheat grass.

Its amasing that this is still being blithered about... even the odd very weak trial or the essenes being mentioned... The latter is absolutely laughable considering the average lifespan of anyone 2100 years ago. OK VanderGast

I'm taken a Gast

What is not so Laughable is the very fact that this very natural,untouched ,unprocessed ultra nutritious juice can be debated so ridiculously.

I guess when you mention Essenes, from which sprung Jesus Christ, you open up the debate,,,,,,,for non- believers.

Bone fragment analysis for certain groups of people in antiquity show quite different length of life spans.

It's the jokers that go early and the believers that make the haul

Cheers !!!! To another glass of Fresh Barley and wheat juice.
Natures Ultimate Food.

J.Smith, Mpls
September 09, 2009 5:00pm

True grasses include cereals: wheat, corn, rice, rye, and barley. Wheatgrass is simply the young nutrient-paced sprouts.

Wheatgrass nutrients include: 20 amino acids, hundreds of enzymes, up to 90 minerals, nearly all vitamins.

“Claims are all entirely unsubstantiated”

CHLOROPHYLL:
The leading European university in life science research, Wageningen University(Netherlands), CONCLUDES: natural Chlorophyll, not synthesized chlorophyllin, prevents toxic effects on the colon.

ZINC:
“Absorption of zinc … toxic metal” – zinc is an essential mineral and has a recommended US RDA amount. Check your vitamin bottle.

TESTING:
“I would welcome a scientific test … easy enough in a real, peer reviewed, double blind clinical trial.”

Such trials are extremely expensive and mainly funded by multinational corporations that instruct research to prove the claim they want to make. But, here you go:

A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial: Wheat grass juice in the treatment of active distal ulcerative colitis. -- CONCLUSION: Wheat grass juice appeared effective and safe as a single or adjuvant treatment of active distal UC. (The Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa)

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY: Effect of wheat grass juice in supportive care of terminally ill cancer patients-- -- CONCLUSION: hemoglobin improved significantly: wheat grass juice is an effective alternative of blood transfusion. Its use in terminally ill cancer patients shoul

Jack Sprat who ate no fat, San Francisco
September 17, 2009 12:40am

No time (or willpower) to go through all the comments.

Overall I'd say the post/article is pretty well thought out. Bear in mind it's 3 years old.

It's not uncommon for wild, unsubstantiated claims to be made about things like wheatgrass - people are regularly looking for natural alternatives these days and many people have somehow been convinced that natural = safe. I'm not sure where arsenic fits into that equation. Sometimes these claims are based on truth, but have been exaggerated. Wheatgrass is no different.

On the comments:
@Sz - anecdotal evidence is no evidence at all. I've tried various vitamin supplements that others have recommended due to their own positive experiences. Not one has ever made an even slight difference to me and it's not as if I had a great diet that would mask any additional vitamin intake. The subjective experience cannot be used to establish objective truth since it does not account for things like the placebo effect.

@Jack Sprat - yes, zinc is needed by the body, but, like many things, is toxic if the levels are too high. It's all very well that wheatgrass is claimed to contain all those things, but in what quantities? If a shot of wheatgrass juice contains 1 nanogram of vitamin A, what use is that to anyone? Green tea drinkers fell into this same trap. It was stated that drinking green tea would reduce the chance of getting cancer, etc., but it wasn't said that vast volumes would have to be drunk daily to get any benefit.

CTheB, Cape Town
October 06, 2009 2:47am

Very interesting debate, I'm a proponent, but love the sceptical view. My own take i sthat the large pharmas and GPs have a huge vested interest in NOT getting tests done on any natural cure, especially one we can grow or obtain ourselves.
Energy levels and skin cures I can vouch for, as I have personally experienced both, and I am a serious sceptic on almost any subject!
If it's gonna kill me, so is too much Prime112 steak, and I love that, so I suppose that moderation and not ignoring general medical practice would be the best answer. My first port of call is WG, for anything external and sure, some of the claims may sound preposterous, but I wonder if you've actually tried it and refuted the claims, rather than just turning back to overpriced banangaberry smoothies!?
Pasting the powder and rubbing it on my skin 'cured' a common recurring skin ailment I have that normally only hydrocortisone can touch, and Im happier with a bit o' Hippy Grass on me to be honest.
Each to his own.
My only real beef with your POV is that we wouldn't want to see the WG trialled. I would.I'm sure many others would too.

mat jackson, UK
October 08, 2009 6:39am

IS THERE ANY WAY TO PROVE THAT THE "JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY" ACTUALLY MADE THE STATEMENT ABOUT THIS BEING A ALTERNATIVE TO A BLOOD TRANSFUSION ?

BRYANT, ROCKY RIVER, OHIO
October 08, 2009 6:46am

The journal didn't make the statement. A cancer clinic in India did a small study the results of which got published in the journal. That's not really the same thing.

Craig, Washington DC
October 08, 2009 10:21am

I CALLED THE PEOPLE AT THE JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY AND THEY E-MAILED ME THE ARTICAL.

I THOUGHT IT WAS RATHER IMPRESSIVE, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY THOUGHT IT WORTHY ENOUGH TO PRINT.

BRYANT, ROCKY RIVER, OHIO
November 11, 2009 2:09pm

Looks real, coz I had a tooth pain and was looking for remedies in the net.I found a site which was insisting on me taking Wheatgrass crushed(juice)
I did not believe that wheatgrass even existed.
I typed wheatgrass in search engine and this is what am getting.Perfect,marvelous too.

I believe you.

Mwasamani Gunda, Dar es Salaam
November 16, 2009 7:24am

Still not sure if i believe in the wheat grass hype. This guy however is also off of his rocker! Chlorophyll is NOT a carbohydrate. Just google the general chemical structures of each. Basic chem knowledge will take you a long way in this argument. You just cant pick and choose the parts of science you need in order to support or reject a claim.

jay, kent ohio
November 29, 2009 8:37am

I suggest all you naysayers check out Naturalnews.com. Best site on the web.

Dave, Playa El Agua
December 02, 2009 5:14pm

Dear Mwasamani Gunda, Dar es Salaam,

I highly recommend you brushing you teeth. If it still doesn't help I would go to see a dentist instead of searching the net for remedies.

Bill, New York
December 03, 2009 2:57pm

Chlorophyll is not a carbohydrate, and plants do not use it to make proteins! This guy is hilarious! I am also amused by his unwavering faith in the medical establishment. I just cured my own debilitating menstrual cramps by taking vitamin B. When I told my friend, a physician assistant, about it, she said she'd never heard of that. Doctors mean well, but their knowledge is limited! Naturopaths have a lot to offer too! I know how I feel when I eat raw and when I juice wheatgrass. The lack of scientific tests doesn't bother me, although I think they might be interesting!

Lisa, MN
December 10, 2009 2:11pm

I am a cancer patient who underwent 2 major neck surgeries. My levels kept on going up and one of my friend suggested me to go to Top cancer hospital. I went to MD Anderson in Houston to realize that my first 2 surgeries were a disaster. They messed up big time and screwed up all my neck nerves. The surgeon at MD Anderson recommended me against any surgeries due to my current situation.

So, I decided to take things into my own control. I started eating lot of raw food and drinking wheatgrass everyday for the last one month. I feel much better and more optimistic now than in the past. FDA is another institution that is heavily linked to pharmaceutical companies and you have people from these companies working for FDA. You have these people lobbying our congress. All the Food Companies in our DOW 30 manufacture too much garbage. We must rely on mother nature to heal ourselves and rely less on the medications and surgeries. I wish I had known about all the things I know now cause I would have healed my cancer myself. Hmmm....unfortunately too late. I know an Indian family who were struggling to have a baby for 6 years. The lady went into depression. After being forced by her dad, she got a wheatgrass shot from wholefoods everyday for 9 months and guess what, she had a baby boy in 9 months. Now the boy is 3 years.

Brian, Mother nature is full of miracles and there is no science or tech. that could really decode how it works. So, stop criticizing and publicizing false claims.

Tel Ammayi, Memphis, TN
December 14, 2009 8:37am

Has anyone here had stomach problems after juicing their own greens. I never had stomach problems until I started this green juicing thing a few weeks back. It only started after I purchased a juicer and started to juice things like: spinach, kale, cucumber, parsley, and collard greens. Maybe it's because I don;t use organic greens and don;t wash the juicer after every use. Don;t be I caught some bacteria.. lol. Anyway I would hate to give juicing up so fast.

Manny, USA
December 21, 2009 9:31am

Wash the juicing machine,,if you do it right after juicing everything just rinses away.

Wash your produce before juicing !!

Go to Fern's or others on the web and buy the ultrasonic produce cleaning device

Growing your own wheat or barley grass is the best , non chemical worry free way of getting your juice and alot less expense and waste of store bought veggies.

It takes time and effort to set up a good repeatable growing system
WORTH ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD FOR THE BENEFITS !!!

HJ Erickson, Mpls/StPaul
December 23, 2009 10:29pm

I have to agree, corporations are meant to make a profit, not to make you more healthy. The health business is exactly that, a corporation. Follow your inner instincts.

Matt Burton, Moncton NB
December 29, 2009 12:48pm

Matt raises a good point. It's funny to listen to all the people talking about Big Pharma and other "evil corporations", as if alternative medicine and organic foods weren't also a huge global industry largely controlled by corporations.

Safe-Keeper, Bergen, Norway
December 29, 2009 2:04pm

I would like to report that not only did wheat grass juice fill me with vitality, it also aided me in gaining the power of flight. After several months of taking wheat grass juice my back sprouted great big feathery wings, which I must say have increased the quality of my life tremendously.
I have many, many friends who have had similarly trans formative experiences, which I attribute to the inclusion of wheat grass juice in their diets.
If you want more information about their experiences, I can provide you with plenty of information that you will likely find Uncanny, and Incredible.

Warren Worthington III, Centerport - New York
December 31, 2009 1:32pm

Gee, I thought my original comment came in at the end of silliness .

Guys, Its about time you started reading and evaluating journals... properly. None of you are getting much past a 4th year highschool getting hung up on wikipedia, web sites or single evaluation papers.

As I've probably said on skeptoid, 90% of papers are observations, minimal studies, reviews or meta-analysis. The real science probably only sits in a few, or a body of consensus. The latter is hard to pick if you dont know what you are doing.

Also, seeing clearly that I have made reference to a previous post re "essenes", I should not be castigated by a delusional 1st century BCE revisionist.

Henk van der Gaast, Sydney Australia
January 03, 2010 9:39am

I am just about to start a home experiment with wheatgrass juice its in the freezer now - have taken on all your comments and the happy juicers - I do love the idiocy as have been trying wheat free also
bottoms down then

Cate, Barton hants
January 17, 2010 12:07pm

Mr. Dunning, Wheatgrass may be THE MOST nutritious super-food there is! It is almost a complete food. It also detoxes the system. I have been using it for 30 or so years, and I am strong as an ox, and almost as smart. lol Did anyone notice Dunning mentions the Federal Death Administration like they are actually looking out for our well-being???? I wonder whose payroll he is on???? To Cate, Barton. If you are FREEZING wheatgrass you are missing the whole point of LIVING FOODS. It was meant to be cut, juiced,(or chewed) and consumed right away to receive the maximum LIFE FORCE!

russ hook, penticton
January 24, 2010 5:03pm

Hey Brian, do you think you could do a show on Puma Punku? It was built by someone, right? I like your show, and would enjoy hearing your take on this one. Thanks-T
PS. I think you missed on the bee venom though.

tim, oakland
February 01, 2010 11:40pm

i have been drinking fresh wheatgrass juice for about 5 years. I agree that it doesn't cure illness, however, it is quite healthy. You admit right in your article that it has 15% of your daily allowance of Vitamin C, and 20% of iron. is that bad for you? is a hamburger better? what if i am allergic to pineapples and bananas? is it okay that i drink wheatgrass? with the rise in FAT people in the U.S., i think it wise for them to replace a meal or two every week with a shot of wheatgrass. don't you? or maybe you are too skeptical. in our present unhealthy climate, i think it prudent to point out that it is much more healthy and cancer preventing to eat and drink fresh fruits, vegetables and wheatgrass rather than a T-Bone. so there.

burpy, beverly hills
February 02, 2010 3:04pm

I'm just as, or more, skeptical than you are about much of this health garbage. But wheatgrass certainly helps a person poo more regularly. And that is always a good deal.

Evaluating "health claims" people need to be fair and logical, on both sides. "burpy" from Beverly Hills makes a good point.

Emily, Hong Kong
February 03, 2010 11:41pm

wheatgrass juice is said to contain anti oxidents and flava noids,
Is it true. has there been any research for this.can any reader enlighten me

sushil kumar shyamsukha, Kolkata India
February 04, 2010 10:08pm

My mum put me onto this stuff and I've been drinking it for a few weeks now.

I'm with you in that some of the claims made about this stuff are absolutely ludicrous to say the least - however - I'm sure it does do a lot of good too.

I would like to see a lot more testing done on it, because if it's even half as good as the people trying to sell the stuff say, we should all be drinking this stuff 3 times a day.

As it is, I'll keep drinking my shot of wheatgrass because even if it's doing nothing for me at all (which I suspect there's a strong chance that that's the case), it still makes me feel better about myself and that I'm at least 'trying' to be healthy.

If I'm being honest though - I think my energy levels have plummeted these last few days - although I do now quite like the taste. Which the container told me would be the case as 'the acids left my body'.

Who knows: more tests needed

Tombee, Newcastle England
February 05, 2010 9:21am

I wonder - this is just a natural juice product like any other, is it not (except from all the ridiculous claims of various health benefits)? So why does Brian Dunning seem so eager about it (he made it one of his first InFact films, it's the 6th Skeptoid episodes, and I believe he likes to mention it in interviews, too)? Also, why has this episode (and the one about MonaVie) gotten so many replies?

To reiterate, I'm wondering what it is about a simple "miracle juice" that Brian and commenters both feel deserves so much attention?

Safe-Keeper, Bergen, Norway
February 06, 2010 6:14pm

Because there are some people in the States who constantly talk about how great and healthy the juice is. It's also pretty obvious that there is no way it could have even a quarter of the claimed health benefits.

Frankly, it's annoying. Thus, the attention paid to it.

Brandon, Falconer NY
February 06, 2010 7:21pm

Wheatgrass/barleygrass are superfoods! Fresh juice bar opened near me. I tried wheatgrass juice because I had done my own research and figured it was good. Diagnosed soon after with DVT's in both legs (accidentally self inflicted - don't ask but reno's were involved) - had to have weekly blood tests for 6 months. Told not to change normal diet. Kept having 3 shots per week. Doctors had to keep raising warfarin (that rat poison based blood thinner) levels to try and get me to the MINIMUM level. Eventually taking 8.5 & 9 mg alternate days. DOUBLE THE USUAL ADULT DOSE. Made the MINIMUM levels finally. Went away for a week holiday - no access to fresh wheatgrass shots but still taking usual warfarin dose daily. Came home - had blood test. URGENT call from Doctors to sit down and not take any warfarin for at least 3 days - levels had SHOT THROUGH THE ROOF. Went back on 3 shots per week and same problem returned. PROVES that it clears the blood of poisons - my test results showed healthy rich premium blood so I know this stuff is gold. DVT's cleared up and sadly local shop then closed so I have no access now to fresh juice. I am now taking an organic dried variety - better than nothing. Say what you like, but I know beyond a doubt that this stuff is liquid gold and better for you than just about anything else out there other than fresh whole fruits and vegies, preferably organic. But you decide, once you've tried it...

Lindel, Brisbane Australia
February 19, 2010 12:22am

The health-benefits mentioned are rather ludicrous, surely. On the other hand, reading some more serious literature, it seems there is something to it. Before more modern and synthetic vitamin pills were developed, they were based on wheatgrass. This was acknowledged by the AMA.

One thing that shouldn't be forgotten is that most of these healthfoods work best if grown organically in real soil, in natural situations. Instead of becoming spoiled sugarbombs, they'll have time to root and collect many trace elements people are missing out on nowadays. A similar story can be told about most store bought vegetables. When compared to organic vegetables grown with lots of compost, they turn out to compare more sugars, proteins and mineral. Sugars & proteins can be easily tested for with a refractometer. If you're skeptic, try for yourself. I did and decided not to pay for expensive water anymore.

The above story by Lindel is amazing, IMHO. You should take it up with your doctors, this is worth researching.

J. Klop, Schapehals
February 24, 2010 11:06am

I was discussing it with a natropath recently who was interested from the point of view that natural medicines and herbals are to be blended very carefully with modern drugs due to their ability to actually enhance/increase the effect of a drug and cause harmful effects - this is why you disclose all medications, including herbs/vitamins etc., to your doctor when being prescribed new drugs. He was interested to hear how it had mostly scoured the drug clear from my blood instead, in my case. It would be the first thing I would be reaching for following cancer treatment, I know that, to feed my body the nutrients it needed to help repair itself. (Prevention is better than cure of course, hence I take it now :) )

I would love to discuss it further with a doctor, but you need to find one open to listening - most are quite brainwashed against anything 'natural' I have found. I have just taken possession of my 1kg tub of powdered Organic Barley Grass as I can't get it fresh anywhere any more - am hoping the effects are as amazing as the fresh Wheat Grass shots. I'm no rabid proponent for alternative medicines, although they certainly have their place and I am always open to at least giving them a try, along with western medicine, but the wheat grass is something I am convinced about. I would love to see it researched further!

Lindel, Brisbane Australia
March 01, 2010 7:04pm

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=11989836&ordinalpos=2&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

Alex, Santa Barbara, Ca
March 03, 2010 8:38am

This article is useless.When is everyone going to realize that the effects of any food, drink or product varies from person to person and some might have allergic reaction or their bodies dont react to it at all, for others it does wonders, for me like a lot of other people i know it works and results are visible and i would swear by it. Just because a product doesnt work for you, dont bash it! This debate is pointless.

Anna, Calgary
March 05, 2010 12:22pm

If you need living proof! And not establishment hype, Google Lance Armstrong or Ann Wigmore! They both beat cancer using wheatgrass! The Medical establishment dont like to promote this fact as they cant profit from it!

Jason, Nottingham, England
March 24, 2010 2:08pm

i like this article because the author is a very open-minded person who has done a lot of relevant research and personal experimentation. you can trust him. really.

charles ranalli, albuquerque
March 29, 2010 7:51am

I'm sure all the people who support of your negative take on wheatgrass think it's fine to eat pop tarts for breakfast too; or, there's no difference between organic and regular veggies; or there's no such thing as superfoods.It's all just hippy mumbo jumbo to you. You're ignorant, can always find support for the other side (look at Pharmaceuticals) and basically need a life.

jaslyn, novato
April 05, 2010 11:46am

Jason: Lance Armstrong beat cancer by having a testicle removed and undergoing standard anti-cancer treatments.

MikeTheInfidel, Niskayuna, NY
April 05, 2010 3:41pm

Look, wheatgrass doesn't have cancer, you are what you eat, if you eat wheatgrass, you'll be wheatgrass, so you won't have cancer either, plus you'll be green, and green is the new orange. And short. Wheatgrass also gets energy from the sun, so you won't need to eat, but you'll still need water, lets not be silly here! Since I switched to an all wheatgrass diet I've lost 98% of my body mass, have no physical ailments, and can post these comments whenever there are solar flares, mentally, riding the wave of electromagnetic radiation with my thoughts. Anyone who denies this can happen obviously hasn't tried 5 solid years of exclusively wheatgrass. Trust Jaslyn, shes on her way to joining us in the garden!

WG, San Francisco
April 05, 2010 3:45pm

Brian is right. Fantastic claims about wheatgrass, or any other kind of grass, is just that: fantastic, as in: FANTASY.

People like to believe crazy stuff. Being cured by energies, mystic pyramids, magnets, silly wheatgrass.

Health is a state of mind, there's no doubt about it, but certain things NEED real and proved/tested medicine. If you beat cancer solely by drinking orange crush, good for you. But it wasn't the orange pop, that's for sure.

BRIAN, keep up with your work, big fan here.

Luis, Monterrey, Mexico
April 05, 2010 3:57pm

jaslyn, may I introduce you to the Straw Man?

Joreth, Florida
April 05, 2010 5:56pm

Hey, Jaslyn. I think that Brian is absolutely correct and I had a protein shake for breakfast (and yes, it has lots of protein). Your argument doesn't make sense. Anyone who doesn't believe that wheatgrass is a super food doesn't believe in good nutrition?

For the record, it is a fact that the organic label is often misused and often (but not always) is meaningless. Do I prefer chicken that was raised without anitbiotics? Absolutely, and there are valid, scientific reasons for that preference.

Jon, Florida, USA
April 05, 2010 6:12pm

Jaslyn,
There's a reason organic produce farmers have stopped making the claim that it is more nutritious for you... because quite simply the evidence doesn't support those claims!

See Bullsh!t episode on organic foods.

Lenny, New York
April 05, 2010 7:39pm

A few years ago I went on a personal campaign to start eating as heathily as I could. I got roped into the wheatgrass claims and drank it quite often. But when I started coming across research showing that it does nothing it's proponents claim that it does, I was happy to accept the facts and drop the wheatgrass. There's no reason for people like Jaslyn to be hostile or defensive, facts are facts. I didn't take it personally when I was proven wrong. *shrug*

Shannon, Dallas
April 06, 2010 7:12am

Whilst I do agree with the conclusion made in this article, I have to suggest that half the points made aren't exactly scientific in nature.

Brian, you list the elemental composition of chlorophyll, and insult the measely single atom of magnesium...
Its not only the content, but also the accessibility of the molecules required to synthesize certain nutrients in the body. Now, I won't pretend to be half as educated as you, but I think theres more to it than merely the composition of the molecule. As I'm sure you know, this applies to the oxygen too.

And of course a vitamin pill is going to have more vitamins than wheatgrass...

Sam, Adelaide
April 07, 2010 7:51am

Does anyone else find it amusing that the ads alongside were for wheatgrass juice!?! :)

Prada, Chicago, IL
April 07, 2010 10:29am

It's a long journey for us sceptics! Even the Onion News Network is in on it!

http://www.theonion.com/video/in-the-know-should-more-americans-get-in-on-the-ez,17244/

Urgh.

Øyvind, Norway
April 15, 2010 11:13am

omg why stop at wheatgrass....did you here the one about the man walking on the moon? This whole 9-1-1 scheme and then there is that whole " people dying in Haiti " scam. Glad there are people like you around to rip our heads out of the clouds.

Maybe instead of half assed research you could try it out and see how it makes you feel. In the end that's all people are after ... I don't really need to know the science of enzymes to experience change in my body. But then again Im obviously nowhere near as clever as you

KALI, REALITY
April 15, 2010 9:07pm

Look at just about any ad for any product and you'll find a lot of hype...You can have a giant masnion, but if the key to the front door isn't cut right, you can't get in and enjoy. (you need trace minerals, coenzymes)
The body requires all kinds of different molecules....minerals, metals, amino acids, sugars, etc.
Wheat Grass is not going to cure anyone all on it's own, but it could be a beneficial source of some enzymes necessary for proper cellular function. When you take a Flinstone, you are taking a chemically-synthesized, low-efficacy,hard-to-absorb version of what the body needs. Deer meat is higher in protein and lower in fat than domesticated beef, because they eat a lot of grass, and grass contains CLA, conjugated linoleic acid. If nothing else, drinking wheatgrass should provide some CLA. CLA HAS BEEN CLINICALLY PROVEN (at Univ of WI, Madison, 1996.) to increase lean muscle mass and decrease storage of fat in fat cells. 50 years ago, 1 in 50 Americans got cancer. today the rates are estimated at 1 in 2 American men, 1 in 3 American women. 1 in 5 women get breast cancer. 1 in 6 men get prostate cancer. TOO MUCH JUMP TO BE GENETIC. SO IT IS ENVIRONMENTAL...Drink a lot of clean water, eat a lot of fresh veggies, fruits, whole foods (organic tastes better if nothing else) and exercise.
Juicing anything free of organic chemical contaminants will probably help, but too much of anything is too much.
There's a middle path that is ignored by emotion &opinion.

Matt the Biophycist, Roscoe, Il
April 19, 2010 8:28am

Mr Brian, I think you need to do some more research.

Aditya Loya, Indore
April 19, 2010 11:10am

A friend got Breast Cancer. Doctor told her to do Radiation treatments. Radiation is nasty. My FCC training taught me that Gamma radiation causes cancer. It will break your bones.

She drank 2 ozs. of wheatgrass juice after every radiation treatment. Her doctors were puzzled by her blood counts going up(good). They usually go down(bad) during radiation.

Although that was not a double blind placebo.

Like mikey says"Try it you'll like it"

Open Minded, NY
May 05, 2010 3:24pm

Firstly, let me make something straight here. Brian, you are not at all a qualified Homeopathic, Ayurvedic, or Naturopathic doctor. Maybe YOU should go do a little more research on what you talk about instead of giving your ignorant opionion over something you clearly know nothing of. I am an ayurvedic doctor and have worked with thousands of cases involving treatment with wheatgrass and other so called "superfoods" and let me tell you THEY WORK. I myself have used wheatgrass on myself for 2 conditions that are considered "incurable" by modern science, and I am disease free. People have even been cured of final stage cancer using wheatgrass. However, the mind also plays a HUGE role in combating any disease (BUT I WOULDNT EXPECT YOU OF ALL PEOPLE TO EVEN HAVE A CLUE OF THIS, AFTERALL... IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT YOU ARE QUALIFIED IN). Get something straight "Mr. I know so much with a non-existant medical education", you need to understand medicine before you criticise it. Otherwise, your just making yourself look like an ignorant ass to the rest of us professionals.

Dr. Ramnunan, Toronto
May 07, 2010 10:57pm

Plain Ignorant. An hour spent on reading a poster and collecting data, and suddenly your an expert?

GrassFed, New york
May 10, 2010 8:16am

I can't believe I just read that, minutes of my life I will never get back!!

Colin, Surrey BC
May 14, 2010 11:52am

Brian, while it's true that the proponents of wheatgrass juice tend to make many unsubstantiated claims, I'm afraid your rebuttal wasn't completely honest either (probably not intentional but from ignorance).
First of all, you're right - our bodies don't create energy from chlorophyll the way that plants do. However, that doesn't mean our bodies don't use chlorophyll.In fact since it's so similar to hemoglobin, it provides our bodies with the basic building blocks to produce more hemoglobin (thus better oxygenation and more energy). There's not enough space here to clear up all your misstatements so lets suffice it to say that while I don't believe all the miracle claims I do believe (from experience) that wheatgrass juice is one of the best things you can consume for balance, energy, health and general well being. Try it yourself (replace your morning coffee or carrot juice with at least 2 oz of fresh, outdoor grown wheatgrass juice for a week and you'll be a convert.

MikeA, NY
May 16, 2010 12:37pm

That's some convincing logic. "Although the claims of other wheatgrass promoters are unsubstantiated, MY unsubstantiated claims ARE valid."

Brian Dunning, Laguna Niguel
May 16, 2010 7:38pm

"If you want magnesium, take a vitamin pill."

Brilliant, if you want vitamins (or minerals like magnesium), pop a pill, forget eating healthy.

http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/magnesium.asp#h2
"Green vegetables such as spinach are good sources of magnesium because the center of the chlorophyll molecule contains magnesium."

A cup of spinach has 40% the daily value of magnesium. Wheatgrass wasn't listed.

Max, Boston, MA
May 18, 2010 4:28am

so I posted on April 19th and then bought some very expensive, organic, flash-frozen, outdoor-grown wheat grass which was shipped to me overnight. I bought 100 oz. It is one month later and I've got about 10 oz left. Forget the medical claims, forget the biochemistry and biophysics. I AM POSITIVE THAT I FEEL BETTER ON AN EVERYDAY BASIS, AND SO DOES MY WIFE WHO DRANK IT ALONG WITH ME. Having said that, we bought some frozen "wheat grass" from the local vitamin store, but when you read the box carefully, it is cereal grass from different grains and has some wheat grass. On the two days that we substituted that instead, it tasted watery and dull, and DID NOT give the same overall sense of well-being.
Why? How? Who cares? It works for me. If you haven't tried it or don't want to....that's great too. We all have our own path to walk.

Matt the Biophycist, Roscoe, Il
May 18, 2010 4:48am

Matt,

Expensive placebos are more effective than cheap ones.

Max, Boston, MA
May 18, 2010 7:04am

lost 5 lb in 2 month by taking 2 shots in the morning

Alex, NYC
May 21, 2010 4:46am

I am all in favour of scientific evidence to support claims made by companies selling potions etc. Do you have a list of healthy products that have been scientifically proven to help? I take Chia seeds and I have found sufficient scientific research in support of it's claims.
Thanks for your advice.
Carla

Carla Hay, Rainford, United Kingdom
May 25, 2010 12:04pm

I agree that a lot of healthful products are over marketed and over promoted, but this guy takes the bashing a bit far. He complains about there only being the one oxygen atom so it couldn't possible help. While that is true it was never really the claim in the first place. Having a high chlorophyll in your diet increases your bloods ability to transport oxygen that you get from your lungs, but does not provide it directly. You think that would be obvious since your literally taking a 1-2 oz shot which is smaller than a breath by far.

Also his whole it absorbs heavy metals such as zinc and cadmium is misguided because the author obviously doesn't know one of the functions zinc has in the human body. Zinc while being a heavy metal is actually one that is good for you. It helps your body eliminate other heavy metals that have have negative effects on the body if they build up too much before they have a chance to build up.

So as far as wheat grass juice goes it is a bit over hyped, but shouldn't one try it before they go bashing it. In my experience Wheat grass juice gives me a huge amount of energy with almost no calories and still curbs my appetite for hours.

Also if a researcher wanted to bash wheat grass they could easily grow it in poor soil then test and say "look there is nothing good in it." Well no crap knucklehead. Wheat grass will grow anywhere but to have it be healthful it needs to be grown on high quality organic soil.

dressel11, the lou
June 12, 2010 8:25am

My father in law started taing wheat grass, 2 shots a day, but never changed his diet that led to high levels of bad cholesterol and low levels of good cholesterol, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. After taking 2 shots a day for a couple months he returned to the doctor. In the new tests his bad cholesterol had gone down, his good went up, blood sugar went down, and blood pressure went down. And this is by changing nothing in his diet or exercise regimen, just taking wheat grass.

steve, Albany, NY
June 26, 2010 4:58am

I drink 3 to 4 ounces of wheatgrass a day. I feel amazing...I have lost 10 pounds in 2 months and my workouts have doubled. Plus I love the rush I get from it in the morning...better than coffee..so Brian Dunning is just another fool who wants to be controversial by saying thinking and saying the opposite of the truth. After reading some of his articles, I now actually have more respect for Michael Moore!

Chris, Port Richey, FL
July 02, 2010 7:04am

About 250 posts on here. All of them are obsessed about whether wheatgrass is beneficial for the human, and trying to compare, or understand the impact on the human body.

We may not be animals (well, there are actually quite a few people who remind me of them, if that's not an insult to the animals) that many of our physiological functions are identical, or a least very similar.

Furthermore, if you care to look in the wild world, or even in the farmers fields, you will see lots of huge animals eating predominantly grass to both create themselves from a little baby into a massive creature, and then maintain the enormous frame and body they possess. So, it's a good job they can't read that grass isn't going to work for them.

Oliver Dowding, Wincanton, Somerset, UK
July 12, 2010 12:12pm

Oliver, are you implying that because one type of creature can eat a type of food, then humans can as well? And gain the same, or better, nutrition from it?

You do realize how much herbivore's digestion differs from our own, right?

It's an odd analogy. Let me try:

Plants grow and thrive just fine on sunlight and nutrients from the ground! Therefore, all you need to do for good health is stand bare-foot in soil and bask in the sun's rays!

Doesn't really work. Food that works for one animal type doesn't necessarily work for others.

Take care,
Mike

Mike Weaver, Athens, Ga
July 12, 2010 3:17pm

"We may not be animals "

We are. In fact, we're apes.

"Furthermore, if you care to look in the wild world, or even in the farmers fields, you will see lots of huge animals eating predominantly grass to both create themselves from a little baby into a massive creature, and then maintain the enormous frame and body they possess."

I suggest you look again at those creatures. They are distinctly NOT humans, and to attempt to gain knowledge of nutrition from them is rediculous.

Or, to play your game, go out into the REAL wild and you'll notice that a lot of animals eat other animals, and have large brains. Obviously, eating animals makes one smarter. Considering the primary advantage humans have is oru big brains (relative to body size), that would indicate we should avoidplants all together and just eat raw meat.

Gregory, Alabama
July 12, 2010 5:33pm

Brian: It sounds like the poster was misleading, and it led you to make some unsubstantiated claims of your own.
Firstly, your statement "I probably wouldn't rate wheatgrass as high on the nutrition scale as a proper vegetable" is reasonably fallible and I urge you to consider the function of a seed before you judge their nutritional benefit.
Furthermore, your concern over the "127 hydrogen and carbon atoms" in comparison to the "lonely magnesium atom" is laughable. there are plenty of Mg atoms in a glassful of juice. The other atoms have their job to do - consider, if you were just hot air without a sack to contain it all in...
I trust you understand the value of this magnesium in our bodies, if not, I encourage you to retake Human Biology 101.

Oliver: yes, it is true... we are animals. Nothing else. Sorry!

Mike: Yes, we metabolize nutrients differently, but ultimately minerals and vitamins are not altered and destroyed in our attempts to attain them. If they were, they cattle would collapse.

Gregory: Your argument is sound, insofar as Humans were reliant on the nutrition of meat in order to evolve. By eating un-rinsed, organic vegetables this requirement is no longer necessary.
K12 is only present on the blades of the grass. Likely, the product advertised in the store had been rinsed before packaging.

Best regards,

Benjamin, Canterbury
July 28, 2010 12:54am

Ben, there may be ways to avoid the need for meat in your diet,as numerous vegetarians will attest. Unfortunately just munching unwashed vegtables isn't the answer. Vegetarians and vegans still have to have a balanced diet.

Your body still needs a number of vitamins, minerals, protiens and nutrients. Go and have a look at the episode "what we eat". Been there? Seen the list? Good. Meat is a convenient package that contains stuff we need. Our ancestors needed those nutrients, and so do we. There may be other ways to get those nutrients, but we have not outevolved them. To say that suggests you dont know what evolution is, or how the human body works.
Do not mistake the fact that we now have a global market with a much wider variety of foodstuffs available to us to fulfil dietry requirements for some kind of change to the human body.

Infact, as a canterbury man take local figure the Foraging Man as an example. He foraged for food in hedgerows and natural sources for an entire year. His adopted lifesyle hadto cover all his dietry needs. And it needed a hell of a lot more than unwashed vegtables.

Tom H, Kent, UK
August 12, 2010 1:59am

I started drinking about one ounce of wheat grass juice a day and within 6 weeks, i noticed that a planters wart that was on my toe was nearly gone. It had been there for 10 years and i wasnt going to spend the time and money to have it surgically removed. It has never come back since. I spoke to a health food store owner and he explained that wheat grass juice would have that remedy effect for a nmuber of reasons that i am not going to go into here ... I have known people who were diagnosed with cancer and traditional treatment was doing little if any good at all. They began wheat grass juice therapy and the cancer disapated. The same goes for a person who was diagnosed with HIV, total remission. The proof is in the pudding and whether or not a treatment is substanciated, when u are looking at a possible short lived life, try different things and see what works best for u. nothing ventured nothing gained.

Danny Nova, Lake Hopatcong, NJ
August 19, 2010 10:17am

Unless of course you spend that short life drinking wheat grass juice, instead of getting a cure that has a success rate that is better than a placebo.

Seriously Danny, if it was that effective then the UK government could save billions each year by replacing expensive cancer treatments and HIV meds with wheatgrass juice. With no active ingredients and no supporting evidence.

But wait! The shelf stacker at the Health Food Store told you! My god, and I was wasting my time talking to doctors, chemists, and people with a pharmacists degree. I should have asked the manager of the Weigh and Save!

Tom H, Kent, UK
August 19, 2010 11:48am

Seriously Tom,

No active ingredients or supporting evidence ??

Not True !

Why do they call a doctors legal certificate on the wall
"License to Practice Medicine" ?

What if Wheat and Barley juices are found out to indeed renew abnormal cells ?

My ,,,what are we to do with the surplus of hundreds of billions of currency ?

HJ Erickson, St.Paul/ Mpls
August 21, 2010 5:30pm

What exactly is your point HJ? That Wheatgrass Juice MUST work because Doctors have to apply for federal control?

Yes lets look at your thought experiment; what if Barley cured cancer. Well for a start the rich pharmaceutical companies would get even richer by investing in barley farms just as the price was about to sky rocket. Doctors would get rich by having a cancer treatment that was cheaper than we have now and more effective. NICE would be over the moon and spend millions making NHS barley clinics.

People dont make money by making exspensive drugs nobody can afford. Theymake money from cheap drugs that lots of people buy. They make money from asprin sold in tesco for 12p. One penny per pill.

If wheatgrass juice works why is the National Health Service not using it? Why is it not in the BMJ or the Lancette? Why is there not a wealth of peer review data proving the clinical effectiveness?

Because it is bunk is why.

Tom H, Kent, UK
September 02, 2010 4:03am

I wonder why the AMA would publically acknowledge that many of the the formulas for drugs in the early part of the twentieth century were derivitives from wheat or barley fluid ?

Bunk Science ?

Grow the wheat or barley yourself,
juice it, follow Dr Ann Wigmore's instructions for human consumtion and live a L O N G L I F E !!!!

No Bunk here

HJ Erickson, St.Paul/ Mpls
September 04, 2010 11:36am

This is only indirectly about the wheatgrass, but about what a drug company will research, sell, and make money on, in response to Tom H's comment that if there were any good uses for wheatgrass, the government and drug companies would have already cornered that market. I think that the opposite is usually true.

For example, there is a well-done study that shows that riboflavin is a more effective migraine prophylactic (with absolutely no side effects) than Topamax (which has many side effects). The evidence is pretty good. However Topamax is much more frequently prescribed by most doctors, and most have never heard of the riboflavin benefits. Why? Because all the B vitamins are already dirt cheap and available without a prescription over the counter. There's not nearly the same amount of money to be made in selling vitamins compared to a regulated prescription drug. So who is going to spend the money to advertise to MDs and the public that a vitamin might fix them?

Similarly, when Prilosec's patent runs out, you get Nexium (omeprazole vs ESomeprazole); when Celexa's patent runs out, you get Lexapro (citalopram vs EScitalopram)--the same chemical make-up with a (literal) organic chemistry "twist". The bigger money is made selling the name brand prescription drugs.

I would love to see some RCTs done on wheatgrass! I'm going to try it for general health, and if I feel better, that's enough for me to keep using it (low cost, no known harm), but would love 2 c evidence!

Charlene, Virginia, US
September 09, 2010 3:14pm