With many new diagnoses, the term “doctor’s orders” normally include a change of diet, and an increase of fruits and vegetable consumption alongside a decrease in refined carbohydrates and sugars. Studies, statistics and testimonies of those that have introduced greens into their diet speak loudly to the resulting physical and mental health improvements.

Harvard Medical School tracked the health of more than 22,000 physicians and found that those who ate at least 2 ½ serving of vegetables daily reduced their risk of heart disease by almost 25%. At UC Berkeley, researchers found that a high intake of fruits and vegetables also reduced the risk of cancer on an average of 50%. And a vegan diet rich in fruits has reportedly reduced the diabetes indicators and shown an increase in immune protection against arthritis.

More reported benefits of eating green

Women and men have reported that through eating greens their hair feels stronger, thicker and more lustrous. Researchers believe it’s the result of taking in important vitamins like calcium, magnesium and biotin which are brimming in most green varieties. People have also reported feeling a sense of clarity that can be compared to “clearing the fog” with an increased intake of green smoothies and juices. Almost every mineral, vitamin and phytonutrient found in deep greens can aid in mental and physical processes.

Adding green smoothies and juices to our diets can begin to produce these lasting effect within weeks; the benefits range from more energy to mental clarity, from better digestion to clearer skin!

But beware of green smoothies and juices found in our local grocery stores. They are often packed with sodium and preservatives. By creating our own concoctions we know and control exactly what is going down the hatch.

The most common greens and one’s I use regularly in my creations are:

• Lettuce
• Frisee
• Parsley
• Spinach
• Kale
• Swiss Chard
• Watercress
• Wheatgrass (here’s a whole bunch of posts on just wheatgrass!)

And because these greens have very few carbohydrates and lots of fiber, they take our bodies a long time to digest – making them a dieters dream!

This green smoothie, which can also be a delicious juice with the omission of the Greek yogurt, is one of my favorites. Don’t be put off by the amount of greens – the pear and mint offer a deliciously sweet finish to this blood sugar-leveling treat!

Cool As A Cucumber Smoothie

• 1cup watercress
• 1 celery stalk
• 1 cucumber, peeled
• 2 pears, cored
• 2 tablespoons mint
• 1 cup greek yogurt (omit if juicing)

In a blender combine all the ingredients and blend until smooth!

Need a pick-me-up? Try this power-packed wowzer of a juice full of greens and citrus. Wheatgrass offers a much needed dose of energy at just the right times. Click here for more posts all about wheatgrass, and then try this afternoon energy booster:

• 1 handful of freshly picked wheatgrass
• 1 handful of organic spinach
• 1 spear of pineapple

Juice it up and feel the jolt! Click here for our nutritional profile on pineapple.

The spinach in this recipe offers some of the essential nutrients our bodies need to keep running, and if you’ve been reading this blog with any regularity, you know that at 877MyJuicer our credo is the greener the better!

Nutritional benefits of spinach

Spinach, no bones about it, is one of the most nutrient dense foods around. Filled with vitamins and minerals from K to A, from manganese to magnesium and from iron to calcium—spinach is a vital addition to any diet.

Antioxidant Power: Spinach ‘brings it’ when it comes to antioxidants. The power nutrients of the antioxidant world are Vitamin C, Vitamin E, beta-carotene, and manganese. Spinach is an excellent source for all of these nutrients, from 29% daily value of Vitamin C to 84% the daily value of manganese.

Spinach also offers zinc and selenium at 9% daily value and 4% daily value, respectively. These two minerals are known power houses of antioxidant goodness.

Anti-Cancer and Anti-Inflammatory: A recent study on the relationship between prostate cancer and vegetable consumption concluded that “only spinach showed evidence of significant protection against the occurrence of aggressive prostate cancer” (aggressive being considered stage 3 or stage 4).

The study looked at spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, mustard greens, turnips greens, kale, collards, and brussels sprouts. Spinach is a must-have addition in the male diet. Other cancers such as stomach and breast cancer have also been shown to be positively affected by the consumption of spinach.

Strong Bones: A cup of raw spinach provides about 200% of the daily value of Vitamin K. Vitamin K is an essential nutrient for bone density and overall health. Spinach also contains calcium and magnesium which are also bona fide supports for our skeletal system.

Dieter’s Delight: Spinach has only 41 calories per raw cup. Those watching their weight can eat spinach all day and not worry about blowing their calorie count. But more importantly, the nutrient richness of spinach will ensure that as you diet, you are properly nourishing your body.

Fun spinach lore

Spinach is part of the chenopod family, which also include beets, chard, and the grain quinoa.

Persian (today’s Iran) in origin, spinach traveled to China and onto Europe via Spanish explorers. It was referred to as “the Spanish vegetable” by Britons.

The famous Catherine de Medici of 16^th century Florence, Italy, was known to adore spinach. So much so, she not only included it in every meal, but imported her own cooks to have it prepared to her preference. To this day, dishes prepared on a bed of spinach are called “a la Florentine” in honor of this regal woman.

Some would say spinach was popularized in the United States by Popeye. Though it was unfortunate that he ate it out of a can in our eyes, since canning the vegetables reduces its nutritional ‘oomph.’ Eating spinach raw or lightly cooked helps this green goddess of a veggie retain its super powers.

Selection and Storage

Spinach should look alive and vibrant with deep green leaves and stems. The leaves should look tender. Fresh looking spinach leaves have higher concentrations of vitamin C.

Avoid any spinach that is yellowed, bruised, or wilted. If the spinach looks a bit slimy, compost it as it has begun to decay.

Store unwashed spinach in a plastic bag that has as much air squeezed out of it as possible. Fresh spinach usually keeps for up to 5 days.  Don’t bother keeping cooked spinach; it doesn’t store well.

Wash spinach before juicing or cooking. Trim any roots and separate. Wash by placing into a bowl of lukewarm water and swish the veggie around. Repeat until the leaves are clean. You can pat dry the spinach with a towel or use a salad spinner to remove excess water.

There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t see some anti-aging claim splashed across my television screen. These days people are on a quest to douse themselves in the Fountain of Youth, chasing promises of serums and potions claiming to have captured that magical formula that can turn back the hands of time.

And although I do believe that creams and potions can help the cause, I think the “glow” associated with youthful looking skin comes from within – and what we put within!

It’s about putting the right stuff in your body – like wheatgrass

Wheatgrass is one of the best things that anyone can put into their body; not only for healthier, more youthful skin, but for a vivacious feeling of energy. So what is it in wheatgrass that makes it such a powerful anti-aging combatant?

The answer is simply that wheatgrass contains chlorophyll (not bora-phyll, as Billy Madison has insisted), amino acids, minerals, vitamins, and enzymes that all aid in the body’s processes.

Chlorophyll is very similar in structure to hemoglobin, the substance in human blood that makes it red and facilitates the delivery of oxygen to human cells. People who swear by wheatgrass juice as a daily tonic insist that the high concentration of chlorophyll provides the greatest anti-aging benefit.

Further, wheatgrass drinkers also report increased energy, better digestion, better sleep, and improved circulation.

Recent studies on probiotic bacteria, which play a major role in healthy digestion and the prevention of disease and cellular aging, have shown that colon health is much more important to whole body health and youthful cells than was previously thought. You can read a whole article I wrote on probiotics by clicking here!

Wheatgrass juice is rich in vitamin B12 because those very same probiotic microorganisms live on the wheatgrass too! It’s a scientific blow to the magical cream distributors, and 1-point for the argument that enzymes and minerals found in the foods we put in our bodies have a bigger impact on our overall health, and therefore the aging process we all inevitably undergo.

OK. How do I get wheatgrass in my body? Does it come in cream-form that I spread on my face?

Sadly, no. But there are a variety of ways to include wheatgrass into your diet. Of course you can take your wheatgrass straight with or without a chaser in its most popular consumption method as a shot.

Pickup our most popular wheatgrass juicer, the Lexen Healthy Juicer, by clicking here. It’s electric and it rocks! It also comes with a 100% money-back guarantee and it qualifies for free shipping!

You’ll also need a wheatgrass grow kit – snatch up an easy and affordable grow kit by clicking here. It’s simple, easy to use, and best of all, in just a few days, you’ll be taking shots of wheatgrass and turning back those hands of time yourself!

When I was kid, I was so accident prone that my nickname was “Oops”. I have no doubt that my mother had the family doctor on speed dial. If I wasn’t playing the car game with keys in a live socket, I was trying to keep up with my rambunctious cousins by jumping from the top stair to the bottom.

So you can imagine that the scrapes, cuts and bruises were the status quo around these parts for many years.

I still see glimmers of Oops now and again, be it the result of a stubbed toe, a tiny knife cut or a scrape here or there, and since I am still haunted by the memory of Solarcaine, I try to find other ways to treat these minor injuries.

And you know by now that my love for wheatgrass knows no bounds, so you won’t be surprised to know that I use wheatgrass in my healing process! Yes, I really do love wheatgrass that much!

Wheatgrass as an anti-inflammatory agent

The properties associated with wheatgrass increase the ability of the body to soothe inflammation and heal surface wounds. And although I was never blessed with the coordination that activities like organized sports demand, wheatgrass has proven itself to be very effective in treating sports injuries including pulled hamstrings, sprained ankles, muscle cramps, blisters, abrasions, wounds and bruises.

Despite my unfamiliarity with the athletics, I am familiar with blood, and wheatgrass is an excellent homeostatic agent – meaning it stops the bleeding. Bleeding noses, open wounds, cuts, scratches and abrasions usually respond very quickly to the introduction of wheatgrass and it’s properties, and that’s the response an “Oops” like me needs.

Why wheatgrass works as a healer

Wheatgrass is said to activate growth factors which are responsible for sending messages to cells that stimulate proteins required for the healing process. But just exactly how do perform at-home medicine with wheatgrass?

Well, for one, there are wheatgrass balms popping up everywhere on the market for those deep tissue issues that plague people of the athletic variety. They can be found in most health food stores.

But for minor cuts and scrapes, soaking a bandage in wheatgrass before application acts like a natural Polysporin. And the best part of treating an open wound with wheatgrass is that it doesn’t burn in the slightest!

Well, it’s September. I can feel the chill in the morning air and the sun is setting far earlier than it used to. It’s sad, but summer was fun wasn’t it?

Together we have discovered new ways to think about this blade of goodness called wheatgrass, once considered nothing more than an acrid shot. I have used it to help me get back on a healthy track by taking it in its traditional form, and I’ve found new ways to use it in my many cooking endeavors.

Wheatgrass has single-handedly re-ignited my love for smoothies, and it’s become my newest cooking ingredient obsession. Oh, yes, summer was fun indeed.

I thought that since summer is coming to a close (at least in my geographical location), that a roundup of some of the most valuable lessons I have learned this summer in regards to juicing, smoothies, and wheatgrass was in order. Let’s take a look back, shall we?

• Wheatgrass pulp is as amazing, if not MORE amazing than wheatgrass itself. It makes an excellent pesto when blended with basil, garlic and pine nuts, or a delightful bread with zucchini and flour.
• Freezing wheatgrass pulp and putting it into a smoothie takes it the next level.
• Growing your own wheatgrass at home is easy for both the lightweight wheatgrass consumer, and the highly addicted like me.
• And once you’ve sprouted your own grass, juicing it doesn’t have to be costly or create countertop clutter.

Gifted with a Lexen Happy Juicer and more lessons learned

Number four on the list is the newest lesson I’ve learned. Recently I was gifted with a Lexen Healthy Juicer, which retails for just $44.95 on 877myjuicer.com. I was initially inclined to believe that a proper juicer needed to be a heavy weight and most certainly electric, but I have since changed my tune.

What I like about this pint-sized juicer is its ability to juice not only wheatgrass but also most leafy greens, and pretty much anything small enough to fit through the feeder. I say this because I tried and successfully juiced oranges, berries, pears and apples, with a promise that it wouldn’t stop there. And if you are worried about the tiny bit of elbow grease required for a manual juicer, don’t be – it really isn’t that bad.

Well the summer of wheatgrass has been a blast; and I am confident that fall will bring even more exploration with the wonder that is wheatgrass!

Groovin’ on the Wheatgrass Super Food Channel is a great way to increase your energy and vitality.  As with anything labeled ‘super’, it’s important to know what the benefits and considerations are.  You can click here to find out the super-duper benefits of wheatgrass.

Wheatgrass Considerations

The  considerations are simply ways you can better use wheatgrass to get the most benefit for your body.

Drink First. Wheatgrass juice should be taken alone or with other juices only.  Combining wheatgrass juice with other solid foods may cause nausea.  Always take the juice/juice combo on an empty stomach.  First thing in the morning is best.  Don’t eat solid foods for about an hour after consuming the juice.

Detoxification. It’s what wheatgrass does best as a super food.  Because it removes bad fats, heavy metals, carcinogens, and metabolic waste from the human body, there can be uncomfortable side effects.  Expect that you might have a headache, a bit of nausea or G.I. upset.  Once the toxins are removed, the side-effects should no longer occur, while energy and vitality levels will increase.

Wheatgrass and Mold. There are a few varieties of mold that can grow on wheat grass.  The most common is what looks like ‘blue fuzz’ which is a non-pathogenic mold.  It isn’t harmful to the body and does not penetrate the plant.  Simply cut this blue fuzz off and rinse the grass off before juicing.

Care should be taken if the wheatgrass has a white or brown coloring to it.  Both of these are types of mold are harmful to both the plant and the body.  These molds effectively spoil wheatgrass, just like any other food.

Enjoy a one-shot of wheatgrass in any of your smoothie or juice recipes.  Take care to notice how it is affecting you and go with the flow until you feel as if you are on top of the world!

Wheatgrass Juice Recipes

Hula Grass

• 2 cups fresh pineapple (peeled)
• 1 orange  (peeled)
• 1 papaya  (peeled and seeded)
• 2-3 inch round of wheatgrass or 1 oz shot

Citrus-Berry Wheatgrass

• 2 oranges
• 1 banana
• ½ cup fresh blueberries
• 2-inch round wheatgrass
• 1-2 cups ice cubes

Juice the orange and the wheatgrass and then place the juice and other ingredients in a blend till smoothie-like

Click here for additional wheatgrass recipes

Don’t see the one recipe you love? Share your wehatgrass recipes with us in the comments below!

Wheatgrass is a great way to powerpack your morning with energy in anticipation of all your daily superhero activities.  Known as a ‘superfood,’ wheatgrass juice offers amazing nutritional benefits to your diet. Also regarded as a booster for general health and well-being, wheatgrass juice is one easy way to ramp up your game.

Including Wheatgrass Daily

Wheatgrass is a great addition to your nutritional life, O.K. But exactly how does one do that?

Below are the pros and cons of adding fresh, frozen, or freeze-dried wheatgrass to your health regime:

Frozen wheatgrass

Often termed as “fresh-frozen,” this type of wheatgrass is grown on the producer’s farm either in trays or in the ground.  It’s then harvested, juiced, flash-frozen, and delivered to you.

• Convenient Yet Nutritious:  Frozen may be the best way to preserve wheatgrass juice nutrition and enzymes while at the same time not compromising your schedule.
• Easy to Use: Frozen wheatgrass juice comes premeasured in .5 to 1 oz shots.  Simply pull it out of the freezer and let thaw for a minute.  Add to water, juice, or a smoothie.  Always add 3x the amount of water (or juice) to 1oz of wheatgrass juice.  Avoid heating frozen wheatgrass juice on the stove or in the microwave as it will destroy the nutrients.

The downside:

• Expensive: The downside of frozen wheatgrass juice is typically the price tag.  Delivered to your door, the price per ounce can vary from $1.50 to over $2.00.  If you’re drinking a shot a day at $2.00, then you’re looking at an additional $60 a month to add to your budget.

Fresh wheatgrass

The idea of growing wheatgrass may seem daunting, but in the end it may be worth it for you to become a DIY wheatgrass grower.

• Easy to Start: there are easy-to-use Wheatgrass Starter Kits that provide all the basics for growing wheatgrass at home. The time between the sprouting and growth stage, when you can juice the grass, is about 10 days.
• Overall Savings: The price tag including the starter kit and manual mastication juicer is $85 (may not include S&H).  In the end, you save by being able to put what you would normally spend on buying juice away.  Do the math and compare to the cost (both money-wise and nutrition-wise) of both frozen and fresh wheatgrass.
• Immediate Nutrition: Growing your own wheatgrass gives you all the ‘right now’ benefits of wheatgrass juice nutrition.  You can’t get any fresher than clipping it from your own wheatgrass garden, juicing, and drinking.
• Versatile: If you have the space, you can transplant wheatgrass from your trays and plant it into the ground, creating your own home-grown wheatgrass garden.

The downside:

• Time-Consuming: Unless you’re a gardener or enjoy puttering around in the kitchen, growing your own wheatgrass may not be for you. Growing, harvesting, and juicing takes time, energy, and effort.

Freeze-dried wheatgrass

• Nutrition—Hmmmm:  With wheatgrass in freeze-dried (powdered) or pill form,there is a general consensus that the nutrition has been compromised (i.e. fresh is mo’ bettah).  The jury is still out on this one, so anyone drinking or eating freeze-dried wheatgrass juice please weigh in the comments below!
• Convenient: Needless to say, freeze-dried or pill form is absolutely the most convenient way to take wheatgrass.  If you’re traveling or just need to carry it in your purse or pocket, it’s  much easier to be mobile with these forms.
• Middling Price tag: Freeze-dried wheatgrass typically comes in a 1 oz package that has about 56 servings.  At $29.99 per package, you’re saving from the cost of frozen, but still spending more than if you were to grow your own.

Ultimately, home-grown or flash-frozen offers the best and most viable nutrition.  But that’s only if you can decide which option both your wallet and your schedule can handle.

Weigh-in: How do you take your wheatgrass, and why? Tell us in the comments below!

I have been on a wheatgrass kick as of late, ignited by a challenge I set for myself after a friend’s wedding and a vacation in very short succession. The challenge was to commit to doing a 1oz shot of wheatgrass four times a week for two weeks!

I’ve come to understand that it takes at least a solid two weeks to start seeing some health benefits and results from any new activity, including exercise and healthier eating and living.

Why wheatgrass as an energizer?

Summer has a way of derailing regiments of any kind. The combination of  hot weather and over-indulgence leaves a noticeable and hard-to-shake sluggish feeling. When I saw the numbers on the scale beginning to rise, I became astoundingly motivated to get back to normal, and I’ve decided wheatgrass will hopefully help me to restore order.

Having been a part of the wheatgrass tribe, I knew what to expect (I’m familiar with the “BAM grass” taste that pretty accurately describes the flavor or wheatgrass). But fear not if you don’t like the flavor of grass (most people don’t) – I’ll have you know that the flavor doesn’t linger in your mouth for very long.

Two weeks of wheatgrass

The first week was rough. I had started exercising and eating healthy again, so I was tired and craving bad things. The wheatgrass gave me what felt like an uphill climb in regards to my mood and energy levels. But, sometime during the second week, it was as if a huge cloud lifted, and all at once I was feeling great! I was energetic and cheerful again (albeit a little cranky from the soreness thanks to my renewed vigor for exercise).

The bummer of a wheatgrass diet: expenses

After two weeks of wheatgrass, I was feeling great, but my wallet was not as jovial. Visiting my local juice bar four times a week for my wheatgrass shots was getting a little too pricey, so in order to sustain this level of wheatgrass consumption I was going to need another solution.

The wheatgrass starter kit: affordable and easy to use

Enter the Wheatgrass Starter Kit, complete with everything one would need to start growing wheatgrass at home. After about ten days your grass is going to need a serious trim, and that’s when it’s time to juice!

To juice your wheatgrass you can opt for a manual mastication style juicer, which serves only to juice wheatgrass, or you can opt for a multipurpose juicer, that also juices your favorite fruits and vegetables. The choice really is up to you and your budget.

Regardless of whether you have just begun a new healthy regime, or are looking to add some je ne sais quoi to your healthy lifestyle routine, you need to consider wheatgrass!

Wheatgrass juice has the most nutritionally dense form of chlorophyll.  At 70% living greens, wheatgrass qualifies as a super food. Click here for more on the nutritional benefits of Wheatgrass juice.

When you’re finished with this page, click here to read about the power of one shot of wheatgrass juice.

Wheatgrass has a distinctive taste. Some acquire it and some still cringe at the thought. The beauty of this versatile juice is how it can be added to juices and smoothies to make it more palatable. Wheatgrass juice will not destroy the taste of the blend or juice, but add to it.

Great Green Grass

• 3-5 stalks of celery
• 2 cucumbers
• A handful of spinach leaves
• A handful of parsley
• 1 shot of wheatgrass juice
• water for blend

Juice all of the vegetables and herbs. Add the wheatgrass juice and water to taste.  Drink it as an alternative to your usual green drink.

Apple-Lemon-Grass

• 3 organic apples (medium)
• 1 lemon, peeled
• 1 shot of wheatgrass juice
• water to taste

Juice the apples and lemon.  Add in the shot of wheatgrass juice.  Add water to adjust the taste as desired. A fantastic afternoon pick-me-up.

Carrot Grass

• 3-5 carrots
• 1 shot of wheatgrass juice
• Water to taste

Juice carrots.  Add a shot of wheatgrass juice.  Use water to adjust the taste as desired. Get your beta-carotene shot here.

Smoothie Citrus Grass

• 2 oranges, peeled
• 1 frozen banana, peeled
• 1 lime, peeled
• 1 shot of wheatgrass juice
• 6-10 ice cubes

Juice oranges and lime. Place all ingredients into blender and give it a whir. Add water to dilute as necessary or to adjust taste.  A great way to start your morning!

Cleansing Grass

• 3-5 carrots
• ½  beet
• 2 -4 celery sticks
• 1 lemon
• 1-2 shots of wheatgrass juice
• Handful of parsley and/or mint

First thing in the morning! Juice all ingredients and drink immediately.  The cleansing grass recipe is strong and serves two.  Adjust portions as necessary. A great way to begin your cleanse.

Add a shot of wheatgrass juice to any juice or smoothie to enhance the natural benefits of juicing and blending.  Filled with vitamins and minerals, wheatgrass juice is a power pack to your day.