• 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!

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!

Recently while rifling through my freezer for smoothie ingredients, my hand brushed the giant Ziploc bag where my wheatgrass pulp resides, and that’s when it came to me: wheatgrass smoothies!

I have been dying to use all the wheatgrass pulp I have accumulated over the summer, so I jumped at the chance to use it in yet another unique way.

Wheatgrass smoothies, yes!

I love smoothies and I love wheatgrass, so it’s shocking to think that I am just now making wheatgrass smoothies. Heck, I’ll put anything in a smoothie – fruits, vegetables, everything but the kitchen sink.

But up until now I hadn’t even thought of using my mass amounts of frozen wheatgrass pulp in one of my daily smoothies.

Why they’re the perfect combination

The beauty of a smoothie is that you can pack in as many fruits or vegetables as the blender will allow, making them one of the easiest ways to meet daily nutrient requirements.

And it’s perfect for those who find vegetables hard to swallow. I know a few vegetable haters myself, and I have managed to sneak some into their lives thanks to smoothies. The beauty of wheatgrass is that it is one of the most nutrient rich foods that Mother Nature has blessed us with, and using it in a smoothie takes it to a whole new level. Wheatgrass completes it!

A quick note on why wheatgrass rocks

I will never grow tired of professing my love for this grass’ ability to blend so well with other ingredients. It’s very rapidly becoming my number one favorite anything-ingredient, and I am having a blast exploring it!

But, I’ve been so focused on using up all my wheatgrass pulp that I haven’t been juicing it all that much. That’s resulted in a wheatgrass pulp shortage around here, which is why I’ve decided to upgrade my sprouting system.

Up until now I had been growing a very small supply. But with my newfound love for wheatgrass pulp, my setup can no longer feed my needs.

On 877myjuicer.com, there are so many options for people looking to sprout their own wheatgrass, from small setups that fit easily on the countertop, like The FreshLife Automatic Sprouter, to something more suitable to my demands such as the Sproutman Wheatgrass Grower. The Sproutman grows three racks of wheatgrass in one shot, which makes this girl very excited!

I think it’s fairly safe to say that I am in love with wheatgrass. But even if your love doesn’t run as deep as mine, I promise that you will love it in a smoothie!

Wheatgrass Smoothie

• ½ cup frozen wheatgrass pulp
• ½ cup frozen peaches
• ¼ cup coconut milk
• ½ cup orange juice
• ½ cup water

In blender mix all ingredients until smooth.

The versatile wheatgrass…

There are so many ways to enjoy wheatgrass – fresh, dried, frozen or baked, and yes, that’s right, I said baked. Wheatgrass, although very versatile, can seem kind of one-note, unless of course you are willing to throw away the rule book and think outside of the box.

When I think of wheatgrass, I certainly think of it as a restorative shot, as most people do too. But wheatgrass can be so much more if you let it. I liken wheatgrass to my favorite greens, like spinach or kale, and therefore I feel it’s appropriately placed in some of my favorite recipes. What can I say – it’s the chef in me.

Thinking outside the box with wheatgrass

I’ve made a basil pesto with wheatgrass, and it was absolutely delicious. Seeing first hand just how versatile wheatgrass can be ignited a fire in me, and this fire only wants to cook with it!

This past weekend I felt like baking, which was a bit out of the ordinary as I generally have more of a salty tooth. But this weekend my sweet tooth was begging to be tamed. So I decided on zucchini bread. And with a bag of frozen wheatgrass pulp staring me right in the face, the chef brain in my head started to spin her wheels; “why not use the pulp in the bread?”, and I learned a long time ago to listen when she speaks. However, when she starts telling me to do evil things, I’ll consult my priest.

Although I have cooked with pulp before, I am continually surprised at how well it blends in recipes, yielding completely to the desired flavor. Pulp is quickly becoming my new “it” ingredient. A friend of mine recently commented that soon I would be making smoothies with it, to which I replied “I just might, I just might…”

Zucchini and Wheatgrass Bread

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Sift together:

• 1 ½ cups sifted all purpose flour
• 1 ½ tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp cinnamon

Add:

• ¾ cup sugar
• 2 beaten eggs
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 1 tsp vanilla
• ½ tsp salt

Blend in a few swift strokes:

• ¾ cup grated zucchini
• ¾ cup wheatgrass pulp

Bake in a greased pan about 1 hour. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, and then turn out onto a rack for further cooling.

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!