By Kim Bright-Cassano
Chlorophyll Power

Wheatgrass juice is perhaps the safest and most powerful natural healing aid.

Wheatgrass juice is perhaps the safest and most powerful natural healing aid. It has natural anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties and has the capacity to strengthen the whole body by bolstering the immune system. When grown properly, wheatgrass can pick up every mineral in the soil, and it contains all know vitamins, as well. Since one ounce of juice has the nutritional value of 1.5 lbs. of organic produce, taking wheatgrass juice naturally signals the brain to curb hunger.

The starch of wheatgrass juice, when converted to simple sugars, is a quick energy source. Because it is a juice, it is digested almost instantly, making it especially good for athletes. Many food allergies and intolerances are the result of digestive problems caused by enzyme deficiency. Enzymes must be present in order for food to be completely absorbed by the body. Fortunately, nature provides us foods, such as wheatgrass juice, which are high in digestive enzymes.

Wheatgrass juice also contains chlorophyll, an important blood builder. The molecular structure of chlorophyll closely resembles that of hemoglobin. The major difference is that the central atom of the chlorophyll molecule is magnesium, while hemoglobin contains iron. Research shows that wheatgrass juice, and the chlorophyll it contains, has many otherapeutic uses and no toxic effect.
Anemia Treatment

Chlorophyll aids in rebuilding the bloodstream. In various animal studies, red cell count returned to normal within four to five days of the administration of chlorophyll, even in animals known to be extremely anemic.
Anti-bacterial

Science has proven that chlorophyll arrests the growth and development of unfriendly bacteria by producing an unfavourable environment for microbes to grow.
Cancer Prevention

Dr. Chiu-nan Lai, at the University of Texas System Cancer Center, Houston, determined that chlorophyll is the active factor in wheat sprout extract that inhibits the metabolic activity of carcinogens.
Complementary Therapy

Dr. Theodore M. Rudolph says that daily use of chlorophyll, in conjunction with regular treatment, is a beneficial complementary therapy in the treatment of hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis), high blood pressure (hypertension), and arthritis. Chlorophyll's cleansing ability and capacity to combine with oxygen helps to remove foreign matter from the walls of the blood vessels.

Chlorophyll also stimulates peristalsis, improves the intestines, and is a mild diuretic. E. Bircher, a research scientist, says chlorophyll increases the function of the heart and benefits the vascular system, the intestines, the uterus, and the lungs.
Natural Deodorant

Dr. F. Howard Westcott reports that, when taken internally in adequate amounts, chlorophyll reduces or eliminates offensive body and breath odours.

Relief from Congestion

Going back to the immune system, I want to talk to you about boosting yours. Because of the daily onslaught of contaminants to which we expose ourselves, we need to focus on the intake of substances that will enhance and strengthen our body's defense system. If we ignore our immune system and do nothing to strengthen it, then it is effectively being weakened just by dealing with our daily exposure to contaminants in food, water, and the air. Ultimately, it will be weakened to the point where we will have to use antibiotics and other drugs, rather than naturally occurring probiotics (beneficial, friendly bacteria), to kill the bad invaders that manage to break through our defense line (the immune system).

Dr. G.H. Earp Thomas, a soil and plant scientist, found in his research that wheatgrass contains vital nutrients that serve to be factors in the building of a healthy inner environment. Wheatgrass juice contains such an abundance of these factors that he concluded that fresh wheatgrass juice was capable of sustaining human life for months at a time.

Dr. Thomas also found that an ounce of wheatgrass juice in a gallon of fluoridated water turns the fluorine into a harmless calcium-phosphate-fluoride compound. Wheat grass juice can be added to water, to soften the skin of the face and hands. Soothing in the bath, wheatgrass juice stops bleeding, eases itching, and helps sores and pimples to heal.

Dr. Ann Wigmore uses herbs, raw foods and wheatgrass juice at her clinic to handle the conditions discussed above.

Other research has shown wheatgrass to do the following:

* Stimulate digestion
* Deactivate carcinogens in the liver
* Repair and maintain liver health
* Prevent fat deposits in the liver
* Nourish cells
* Remove cellular waste
* Cleanse the blood
* Digest toxins in the cells
* Fight tumours without the use of toxic drugs
* Deactivate carcinogenic effects from charcoal-broiled foods and compounds from automobile exhaust

Why not improve your immune system with the condensed energy of the sun found in wheatgrass juice?

References:

1. Kulvinskas M.S., Victoras "Sprout for the Love of Every Body"

2. Manning, Betsy Russell "Wheatgrass Juice: Gift of Nature"

3. Licata, Vincent "Comfrey and Chlorophyll"

4. Wigmore, Ann "The Wheatgrass Book"

5. Wigmore, Ann "Rebuild Your Health With High Energy Enzyme Nourishment, Living Foods Lifestyle"

This article previously appeared in VISTA Magazine