Wheatgrass? Is It Wheat?

[Robix]

Sounds so great, but is it a poison for us since technically its the sprouted grass, but not actually wheat. Sorry to be so naive, but I really couldn't figure this one out, and couldn't find info on it in my celiac handbook.

Here is what I found about wheatgrass on my organic grocer's web site:

Energizer:

The vitality obtained from Wheatgrass juice is remarkable. Two ounces of fresh wheatgrass juice is equivalent to the nutritional value of roughly 4 pounds of organic green vegetables in vitamin and mineral content. On an empty stomach, it is assimilated into the blood in about 20 minutes. The vitality lasts throughout the day.

Nutritional:

Wheatgrass juice is a complete food that can be taken orally with no toxic side affects. It contains most of the vitamins and minerals needed for human maintenance. It is also a complete protein with about 30 enzymes and is approximately 70% crude chlorophyll.

Blood Builder:

Both chlorophyll (as in wheatgrass juice) and haemoglobin (red blood cells) are molecularly similar. The only actual difference is that the central element in chlorophyll is magnesium and in haemoglobin it is iron. Chlorophyll has the ability to break down poisonous carbon dioxide and release free oxygen. This inhibits and reduces the action of anaerobic bacteria (a disease-producing micro-organism). Wheatgrass juice has been shown to build red blood cells quickly after ingestion. It normalizes high blood pressure and stimulates healthy tissue-cell growth.

Body Cleansing:

The many detergent factors of wheatgrass juice can drain the lymph system, carrying away many toxins from all body cells. When an imbalance or injury exists (examples: sore tendons or joints, degenerative disease, etc…) there is a natural build-up of mucous in the lymph particular to that area. This mucous is encapsulated, helping to ensure the proper flow of lymphatic fluid. Wheatgrass juice helps to breakdown the mucous and allows it to drain. This helps to relieve pressure and allow healing.

Body Healing:

According to survival of the 21st century, “In therapeutic amounts, it will detoxify the body by increasing the elimination of hardened mucous, crystallized acids and solidified, decaying fecal matter. Wheatgrass juice’s high enzyme content helps dissolve tumours. It is the fastest, surest way to eliminate internal waste."

Sounds fantastic, but is it poison to me?

[jenvan]

Robix-

I definitely recommend staying away from products with any of the "grasses"....wheat grass, oat grass, what have you. It is next to impossible to be assured of processing procedures and that gluten containing portions of the plant didn't end up with the "grass" portion. Steer clear of products containing them to be safe.

[Fiddle-Faddle]

It might be a total coincidence, but I drank wheatgrass drinks (which were delicious, by the way )every day for a week and then, BOOM! my first celiac symptom--an itchy, painful, truly hideous DH-type rash--appeared.

[Felidae]

Yes, the problem is a contamination issue too. There can be other wheat seeds in there. I personally would stay away from wheatgrass.

[Rachel--24]

I got a very bad reaction after taking Primal Defense. I think it had oat grass and barly grass or something like that. I dont know if it was the grasses that got me sick or something else in it but I never tried it again and I returned it to the store it came from.

[megsylvan2]

I had wondered this same thing myself. Since it is so popular now as a health food, it is difficult to google and find a valid scientific resource. Most of the search results are product pushers or health food advocates.

Althought not a very scientific source, one product site contains the following information:

"Wheat Grass is the young wheat plant, grown under optimum conditions, carefully harvested at it's nutritional maximum, dehydrated, and bottled for your convenience." And continues elsewhere with, "When our wheat seeds are planted in the fall..."

And this is from the Wikipedia: "Wheatgrass is a young plant of the genus Agropyron, a relative of wheat. "

This is from PersonalMD.com: "If I'm allergic to wheat, will I have a reaction to wheatgrass?

It's very unlikely that if you are allergic to wheat, that you will have a reaction to wheatgrass. Wheat allergies are usually a reaction to the gluten found in the wheat berry. Wheatgrass is a vegetable, cut before the wheat plant forms the grain and the gluten found in the wheat berry. Therefore, wheatgrass contains no gluten."

Being highly sensitive to wheat, I'm not sure that I trust that. But I just may try it sometime as the only way I'll know for sure whether or not I can eat it.

[Clark Bent as Stupor-Man]

I was told by a nutrionist at a local vitamins/food market that it doesn't contain gluten, but I don't plan on trying it anytime soon...

[elonwy]

Here's my issue:

From the CSA website:

"WHEAT grass Leaves of WHEAT. There is no research available on the gluten content."

From a Wheat grass website ( the only people claiming wheat grass has no gluten is people selling it)

"Most wheat allergies are due to the gluten found in the wheatberry, but wheatgrass is cut before the plant forms a grain (berry) and therefore has no gluten."

My problem is with the word MOST and the fact that this plant does eventually make gluten. So what if they let it grow a little too long. Are they checking? No one has stated that they TEST for gluten just that is can't have gluten because it hasnt made a seed yet. I understand the science, I just distrust the methods.

And a science website: Open Original Shared Link

"Wild Triga is unique in that it is a perennial grain crop, unlike all of our other grains which are annuals. Seeds are used as a grain for human consumption. Grain can be ground into flour to make baked product or cooked whole like rice. The grain has a sweet mild nutty flavor. Grain has higher levels of protein (20.8%), fat (3.21%) and ash (2.64%) than wheat. The protein is nutritionally limiting in lysine as is wheat, but Wild Triga has higher levels than wheat of all other essential amino acids. In samples of intermediate wheatgrass grain (Wild Triga) tested by USDA, no functional gluten was found. However no tests have been conducted to determine if individuals with wheat or gluten allergies can tolerate Wild Triga grain. Intermediate wheatgrass is closely related to wheat and may cause similar problems."

I do not trust it, and value my health too much to risk it. I'll take a multi and drink some V8. I'll be good.

Elonwy

[lul]

From the CWS

As you probably know, wheat allergies are usually a reaction to the gluten found in the wheat berry. Wheat Grass is a vegetable, cut before the wheat plant forms the grain (berry), and it is during the transition from vegetable to grain that gluten begins to form.

We have done multiple tests on our whole leaf products and never had a detectable amount of gluten in our whole leaf wheat grass or barley grass. The highest gluten count we have seen on our wheat grass or barley grass juice powders was 11 parts per million, which is below the FDA level of 20 parts per million for labeling as

[ravenwoodglass]

From the CWS

As you probably know, wheat allergies are usually a reaction to the gluten found in the wheat berry. Wheat Grass is a vegetable, cut before the wheat plant forms the grain (berry), and it is during the transition from vegetable to grain that gluten begins to form.

We have done multiple tests on our whole leaf products and never had a detectable amount of gluten in our whole leaf wheat grass or barley grass. The highest gluten count we have seen on our wheat grass or barley grass juice powders was 11 parts per million, which is below the FDA level of 20 parts per million for labeling as

[Sapphireandgarlic]

I can't consume any wheat grass or any of the grasses with out vomiting for days can't even keep down water.

[Rhotitar]

Don't touch the stuff anything that has wheat grass, barley grass, oats, or hemp can't trust the product. 

[ravenwoodglass]

3 hours ago, Rhotitar said:

Don't touch the stuff anything that has wheat grass, barley grass, oats, or hemp can't trust the product. 

Why not hemp? It is gluten free and a good source of protein. I fully agree about staying away from the others. Some of us do tolerate gluten free oats but it is best not to try them until fully healed.

[Ennis-TX]

2 hours ago, ravenwoodglass said:

Why not hemp? It is gluten free and a good source of protein. I fully agree about staying away from the others. Some of us do tolerate gluten free oats but it is best not to try them until fully healed.

Hemp is normally highly contaminated. Literally grown in rotation and WITH wheat, it is commonly even hauled in the same trucks. Manitoba, hemp pro, Nutiva hemp is always contaminated...I know I have been checking and like 5 out of the last 8 containers I have tested in the past 2 years have been contaminated (I still buy it by chance when on sale and test, last Manitoba came back lab tested for 6ppm though)  ONLY safe hemp is GERBS Allergen Friendly Foods and Jarrow Hemp Powder. They test it already and when I have double checked they came back fine.

[ravenwoodglass]

20 hours ago, Ennis_TX said:

Hemp is normally highly contaminated. Literally grown in rotation and WITH wheat, it is commonly even hauled in the same trucks. Manitoba, hemp pro, Nutiva hemp is always contaminated...I know I have been checking and like 5 out of the last 8 containers I have tested in the past 2 years have been contaminated (I still buy it by chance when on sale and test, last Manitoba came back lab tested for 6ppm though)  ONLY safe hemp is GERBS Allergen Friendly Foods and Jarrow Hemp Powder. They test it already and when I have double checked they came back fine.

Thanks for the info. It is good to know about the CC issues. I used to drink a hemp milk and never had an issue with it. Don't know what brand it was but found it helpful for added protein. never tried the seeds or powders.