Oat grass (Arrhenatherum) is a perennial species of grass that grows to a height of about 1.5 meters and it is common in North Africa and parts of Eurasia including France, Afghanistan, Portugal, Turkey and Spain. It is worth noting that a variant of oat grass called California oat grass grows in the Pacific Coast states of the US. The health benefits of oat grass are plentiful.

Here is some more information on this topic:

An Overview

Although wild Arrhenatherum is native to Scotland and parts of North Africa, it is now grown throughout the world. Presently, there are about 25 varieties of Arrhenatherum, including the Arrhenatherum elatius species. The beauty of this type of grass is it can grow and thrive in different soil types including clay, permeable silt, sandy loam and serpentine soil.

Health Benefits of Oat Grass

Improves Cognitive Performance

Arrhenatherum extracts could improve cognitive performance, according to a study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Participants in this study were elderly volunteers with below average cognitive performance scores. These participants were given 1600 and 2400 mg of Arrhenatherum extracts.

They were also required to take the Stroop color-word test to determine their cognitive performance. Surprisingly, results from this test showed that oat herb extracts improved the participants’ attention, ability to maintain focus while performing tasks as well as concentration in seniors with differing levels of cognitive capability.

Lessens the Impact of Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms

According to an article published by the University of Michigan Health System (UMHS), Arrhenatherum extracts can lessen the impact of nicotine withdrawal symptoms. In particular, the article states that a controlled clinical study in India found that taking at least 1ml of oat herb alcohol extract four times daily reduces the desire to smoke and the number of cigarettes smoked per day.

Lessens Anxiety

The aforementioned UMHS article states that Arrhenatherum extracts are effective in treating anxiety. This is largely because the oat plant falls under the category of nervine “nerve tonic”, herbs widely used by traditional medicine practitioners to treat people with anxiety.

Good for Diabetics

Oatmeal is a nutritionally dense, slow digesting, sugarless whole grain, and low glycemic carbohydrate food that suits the dietary needs of diabetic people. This is according to a scientific paper appearing in the Asian Journal of Plant Science and Research.

The oat plant also contains a soluble fiber called β-glucan that turns into a gel and increases the viscosity of a meal, thereby slowing down the digestion process. This leads to the prolonged absorption of carbohydrates into the bloodstream and consequently reduces the frequency of spikes in blood sugar. Of course, proper control of blood glucose and insulin levels is vital to prevent the health complications related to diabetes.

Increases Longevity

Oats contain essential fatty acids linked to overall good health and longevity, according to a publication in the Asian Journal of Plant Science and Research. Oat grass is also a good source of essential amino acids that help the body to function optimally.

In addition, you can get vitamins and essential minerals such as biotin, selenium, folic acid, zinc, thiamin, pantothenic acid, copper, iron and magnesium from oat herb extracts. All of these are essential in maintaining optimum general health and enhancing fast recovery from sickness.

Gluten Free Food

For people diagnosed with celiac disease, eating certain foods especially those with gluten is problematic because their immune systems literally attack and destroy tiny protrusions found in the small intestines called villi. As such, their bodies cannot absorb nutrients including sugars, proteins, and essential vitamins properly, meaning victims eventually become malnourished irrespective of the amount of food they eat.

To avoid this outcome, those with celiac disease must adhere to a strictly gluten-free diet. Fortunately, this grass is gluten-free making it a great source of nutrients for people with celiac disease.

Side Effects of Oat Grass

This species of grass is safe and can be consumed by most people including pregnant and breast-feeding women. Nevertheless, consumers should take note that it can cause digestive tract problems such as bloating. If you experience such problems, a WebMD article recommends reducing your daily dosage and increasing it gradually over time. However, if this strategy fails to work, you should consult a qualified physician or dietitian as soon as possible.

Incorporating Oat Grass into Your Diet

Oat grass products are available in powder form meaning consumers can sprinkle them onto their meals or use them to prepare health drinks. Commercially available green drink powders that contain extracts from the grass include Total Living Drink Greens. You can purchase these products online or from brick-and-mortar outlets that sell health supplements.

Conclusion

Oat grass contains chemical compounds that can help treat anxiety, improve a person’s general health and longevity, improve and help control diabetes, lessen the impact of nicotine withdrawal symptoms and improve cognitive performance. Since this species of grass is gluten-free, people with celiac disease can safely incorporate it into their diets.

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Alfalfa grass is a flowering plant that is very common and the alfalfa grass health benefits are plentiful. The following will uncover 5 surprising health benefits of alfalfa grass…

It is a perennial plant, which means that it grows and blooms over the spring and summer. During the fall and winter, the plants die back. In the spring, they return from the rootstock.

The basic benefit of alfalfa is that it is very nutritious when it is consumed. This plant is high in chlorophyll, micronutrients, and vitamins A, B1, B6, C, E, and K. It also contains calcium, iron, zinc, and potassium. Finally, it contains more protein than most plants.

What Are the Health Benefits of Alfalfa Grass?

Other than the nutritional value, alfalfa has several health benefits. These include:

Anti-Inflammatory Properties: An alfalfa study was published in the July 2009 issue of Journal of Biomedical Science. The study was performed on animals that were injected with compounds that contained inflammation. The animals that were not fed alfalfa sprouts had increased inflammation compared to those who were fed alfalfa sprouts.

Bolsters Immune System: A study was performed and published in the March 2009 issue of “Lupus”. During this study, animals were injected with alfalfa sprout ethyl acetate extract. The scientists doing this study wanted to see if alfalfa sprouts could be beneficial for people who suffer from autoimmune diseases, such as lupus.

The animals that were given alfalfa had lower T-cell counts at the end of the study.

Antioxidant Effects and Radiation Protection: A study was conducted in Turkey, and the results were published in the February 2008 issue of Photocheistry and Photobiology. According to the study, alfalfa can protect the cells from damage from x-rays, due to its antioxidant properties. The animals that were given alfalfa before having an x-ray had less free radicals and cell damage than those who were not given alfalfa.

Lower Cholesterol: High cholesterol can lead to stroke and heart disease. A study was performed and published in the May 1087 issue of Atherosclerosis. According to the study, patients with high cholesterol were given alfalfa for 8 weeks. At the end of the study, their LDL, also known as bad cholesterol, dropped by 30 percent.

After the study, the patients stopped eating alfalfa, and their cholesterol returned to the previous levels before the study was conducted. The study indicated that regular consumption of alfalfa could successfully reduce cholesterol.

Improves Certain Medical Conditions: Alfalfa has been used to treat a variety of medical conditions, including kidney, bladder, and prostate conditions. It can also increase urine flow. Patients with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, upset stomach, and asthma can benefit from alfalfa.

Side Effects of Alfalfa Grass

Alfalfa is relatively safe for adults. However, if you take large amounts of alfalfa for a long period of time, the seeds can cause a reaction that is similar to lupus. Also, alfalfa can make the skin more sensitive to the sun. It is important for light skinned people to wear sunblock when going outdoors.

Patients who are pregnant should avoid alfalfa. There is evidence that alfalfa can act like estrogen, which can have a negative effect on the pregnancy. Its estrogen effect can also be harmful for patients who suffer from breast cancer, uterine cancer, and ovarian cancer.

If you have diabetes, you should check your blood sugar levels often, as alfalfa can lower your blood sugar. You may think that you are eating right, and your blood sugar levels are fine, but the alfalfa can have an effect on it.

Patients who have had a kidney transplant should avoid consuming anything with alfalfa. There has been one reported case of a patient who had a transplant and rejected it due to their consumption of alfalfa. Because alfalfa boosts the immune system, it can make the anti-drugs that are given after the surgery, less effective.

How to Take Alfalfa Grass

The most common way to ingest alfalfa is to add alfalfa sprouts to a salad. You can also purchase alfalfa supplements and take them with your daily multivitamin.

Alfalfa Grass in Green Powder Drinks

If salad is not your favorite thing to eat, and you would rather not take a daily supplement, you can purchase green powder drinks that contain the right amount of alfalfa that is healthy for your diet. Green powder drinks such as Total Living Drink Greens contain numerous ingredients, including alfalfa grass, which are rich in vitamins and nutrients. Just having a drink or two a day can greatly improve your health.

Alfalfa grass grows all over the world, and is very plentiful. For years, many people did not know the many health benefits of alfalfa grass. As studies were conducted on this grass, more and more people began putting alfalfa sprouts in their salad, and even eating them on their own.

As the health food industry began seeing the importance of this grass, many companies began using alfalfa in their green drink powders.

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There are a profound amount of Wheat grass health benefits. Wheat grass is rich in nutrients and antioxidants, and its juice is a popular drink in juice bars. It is made with the young grass that is grown from wheat seeds and then turned into juice or into powder.

The fresh juice contains many essential vitamins and minerals, chlorophyll, antioxidants and amino acids. Its fans are so convinced about the health benefits of wheat grass that they drink it daily. It is also used as an alternative remedy for many health complaints.

The Many Health Benefits of Wheat Grass

Loaded with Vitamins and Minerals

The grass is rich in several important nutrients. It is high in chlorophyll and contains vitamins A, C and E, many vitamins in the B-group and minerals such as potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc and calcium.

Fiber & Protein

It is also a good source of dietary fiber. 17 amino acids (the building blocks of protein) are found in the grass. If it is combined with other vegan or vegetarian foods that are rich in certain types of amino acids, it can add protein to vegan and vegetarian diets or other diets that sometimes lack protein.

Immune Building

It is thought to be antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Its proponents say that the many nutrients can help to stimulate the immune system, to detoxify the body and to help the digestive system by getting rid of harmful bacteria.

Natural Detox

It is often used as a detoxifying drink. Many people use it to relieve coughs, colds and sore throats and to boost the immune system in general, especially during infections or during the cold and flu season.

Promotes Health Skin

It is beneficial to the skin and it is used in skin conditions such as eczema, skin infections and skin rashes. It is believed to help to improve wound healing and it can prevent some bacterial infections. It also comes in creams, gels and lotions that can be used directly on the skin.

Improves Circulation

Because of the high amount of chlorophyll (the substance that gives plants their green color) in the young grass, those who suffer from anemia sometimes use it to improve the red blood-cell count. It is also said to help in balancing blood sugar and in lowering cholesterol.

Natural Blood Cleanser

It is said to be a blood cleanser and it is often used as a detoxifying drink to remove toxins, such as heavy metals, from the blood and the liver.

Joint Support

It is also thought to relieve different types of joint pain and it is used in some alternative treatments for arthritis patients. However, more research is needed to find out how it can help in different health conditions.

What Are the Side Effects of Wheat Grass?

Wheat grass is not known to have any serious side effects and it is thought to be generally safe for adults. It may cause allergic reactions, such as hives, headaches or nausea, in some people. People who are allergic to wheat or to any types of grass should speak to their doctor before starting to use it. It is also not recommended to breastfeeding or pregnant women.

The juice is very concentrated. When you first start to drink the fresh juice, it is a good idea to start gradually so that the body gets used to the detoxifying effects. Start with small amounts to get used to its power, and you can then increase the daily dose over a few days or a few weeks.

How To Use Wheat Grass

Wheatgrass drinks are sold in most juice bars as small pure “shots” of freshly juiced grass. It is also possible to grow your own grass from wheat seeds at home and juice it. You can buy trays of fresh grass from health food stores or from many online suppliers for home juicing, and you only need to take a small shot-size amount daily.

Many proponents say that it is best to drink the fresh juice immediately after the juice is extracted, and drink it into an empty stomach.

It is available in powder form and as tablets, too. The powder can be added to smoothies or vegetable and fruit juices or sprinkled on salads and many other foods.

Wheat grass extracts are also found in popular green powder drinks such as Total Living Drink Greens and other brands. These drinks usually combine it with other super foods, such as spirulina or alfalfa, to make a nutrient-rich drink that can be used to boost nutrient intake or as a food supplement.

A daily dose of wheatgrass adds vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to your diet. It is also used to relieve certain health conditions, and more research is needed into the many health benefits of wheat grass to find out how it can help.

A regular intake of the fresh juice, powder or capsules can help to boost anyone’s energy levels and create an overall feeling of health and wellbeing.

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