Wheatgrass superfood claims 'a myth'

[MineralMan]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/health/news/article.cfm?c_id=204&objectid=10756871

"The marketing of wheatgrass as one of nature's "superfoods" is all hype, a New Zealand food magazine has claimed.

In the latest Taste magazine, health writer Shiree Schumacher says claims made by some New Zealand juice bars that one 30ml shot of wheatgrass is nutritionally equivalent to 1kg to 2kg of vegetables are "simply not true" and based on outdated research.

"If you're relying on wheatgrass as your sole source of greens, it's not only costing you money, you're also selling yourself short in the nutrition department."

Schumacher said wheatgrass sellers' marketing of the plant as a cure-all superfood "astonished" her. She rubbished claims wheatgrass' 70 per cent chlorophyll content meant its nutritional value and antioxidant properties outweighed those of some vegetables."

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More at link....

Later in the story, an MD who was connected with a wheatgrass company agreed that it was a myth. Honest bloke! Fair dinkum.

[HuckleB]

1. At least one person unrecced this. Why would someone unrec this?

Do they want people to believe something that simply is not true?

I don't understand.

[SidDithers]

8. Maybe this is why...

Available at your favourite online supplement retailers.

Sid

[druidity33]

2. Well, it's good for you..

it just not that good for you.

:shrug:

K&R

[rog]

3. Here's what I don't understand about the article.

They use comparisons like ...

Two kilograms of peas provided 260 times the amount of vitamin C of a 30 ml shot of wheatgrass, Schumacher said.

So they're saying that about 4 1/2 pounds of peas contains 260x more Vit C than about an ounce of WG juice. That's a rough comparison b/c (I think) we're comparing weight and volume, but let's say they're talking about an ounce in weight. 2 kilos = 70.55 ounces, so does that mean that peas only contain 3.7x the Vit. C, ounce for ounce. Is that right?

I guess we'd have to know how much an ounce of WG juice weighs, though.

Edited out some REALLY bad math here.

hmmm ...

.rog.

[SheilaT]

4. I have long since noticed that all claims for

some particular food to be a miracle food, or a super food, simply never are true.

[flamingdem]

5. Glad I didn't fall for this one, tastes like dreck! nt

[MineralMan]

6. It does taste crappy, doesn't it.

Lawnmower clippings, sort of.

[flamingdem]

9. lol, ew

imagine having shelled out a few bucks a pop just to find out you might have well as drunk lawn clippings!

Though well sure chlorophyll is good for you..

[Codeine]

7. I tried that stuff as a powder in the late 80s.

One taste was all I needed to convince me it was a bad idea.

[astral]

10. fresh-juiced wheatgrass is another matter.

Planted it. Grew it. Hand-juiced it. Drank it.

Major pain in the @$$ but no denying the benefit.

[astral]

11. kick(?)

[MineralMan]

12. What benefit, exactly?

Even though what you answer will be anecdotal, at least tell us what benefit you think you got from that wheat grass.

[astral]

13. Oh, high. Okay.

Well, I felt it made me feel more energetic and it helped to quell my hunger, although I never did a 'wheat grass juice fast' or anything like that. I do not compare freshly-juiced wheat grass juice to wheat grass juice powder, they would not be comparable as the fresh juice is fresh and alive and would have no vitamin or mineral depletion. I am not motivated to try doing all this now, but when I around a juice bar it is certainly worth the extra bang-for-the-buck to have a shot of wheat grass juice added to your veggie drink.

Yes, it *DOES* matter what we eat and drink. It can make a huge difference in our health. The powder and the pills can vary wildly in their nutritional content, just like any packaged / stored supplement. I don't know about the "NOW" brand, I suppose they are okay for some things, I got some liquid vitamin D from them that has a slightly off-taste, even though I'd bought it before and it was fine.

I'm not saying it's ALL good or it's ALL magic, but fresh living plant food is always a big plus, most of us don't do enough of it.

[vidalarosa]

14. tried it

Tried this stuff last month & I must say all the marketing hype gave way for the expensive price tag, the can barely hide the taste of grass. I got allergic after taking 8oz., so not a "superfood" so far.