Wheatgrass is an excellent source of many different vitamins and minerals. It is especially high in vitamins A, C and E, as well as iron, magnesium, calcium and amino acids.
Of its 17 amino acids, eight are considered essential, meaning your body cannot produce them and you must obtain them from food sources (
Like all green plants, wheatgrass also consists of chlorophyll, a type of green plant pigment associated with many health benefits (
It also contains several important antioxidants, including glutathione and vitamins C and E (
Antioxidants are compounds that fight free radicals to prevent cell damage and reduce oxidative stress.
Some studies have found that antioxidants may help protect against certain conditions, such as heart disease, cancer, arthritis and neurodegenerative diseases (
In one study, wheatgrass decreased oxidative stress and improved cholesterol levels in rabbits fed a high-fat diet.
Additionally, supplementing with wheatgrass increased levels of the antioxidants glutathione and vitamin C (
Another test-tube study that evaluated the antioxidant activity of wheatgrass found it reduced oxidative damage to cells (
SUMMARYWheatgrass is high in chlorophyll and many vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Test-tube and animal studies have found that its antioxidant content may prevent oxidative stress and cell damage.
Cholesterol is a waxy substance found throughout the body. While you need some cholesterol to make hormones and produce bile, too much cholesterol in your blood can block blood flow and increase your risk of heart disease.
Several animal studies have found that wheatgrass may help lower cholesterol levels.
In one study, rats with high cholesterol were given wheatgrass juice. They experienced decreased levels of total cholesterol, “bad” LDL cholesterol and triglycerides.
Interestingly, the effects of wheatgrass were similar to those of atorvastatin, a prescription drug commonly used to treat high blood cholesterol (
Another study looked at its effects in rabbits fed a high-fat diet. After 10 weeks, supplementing with wheatgrass helped lower total cholesterol and increase “good” HDL cholesterol, compared to a control group (
According to one test-tube study, wheatgrass extract decreased the spread of mouth cancer cells by 41% (
In another test-tube study, wheatgrass induced cell death and reduced the number of leukemia cells by up to 65% within three days of treatment (
Some research indicates that wheatgrass juice may also help, when combined with traditional cancer treatment, minimize adverse effects.
One study found that wheatgrass juice decreased the risk of impaired bone marrow function, a common complication of chemotherapy, in 60 people with breast cancer (
However, More studies are needed to understand how it may impact cancer development in people.
Many people have started adding wheatgrass juice to their diet as a quick and convenient way to boost weight loss.
Wheatgrass contains thylakoids, which are tiny compartments found in plants that contain chlorophyll and absorb sunlight for photosynthesis.
While there is no evidence that wheatgrass itself could increase weight loss, several studies have found that supplementing with thylakoids could enhance satiety and increase weight loss.
In one small study, supplementing a high-carb meal with thylakoids intensified feelings of satiety, compared to a placebo (
Similarly, a study in rats showed that supplementing with thylakoids increased satiety by slowing down the emptying of the stomach and increasing the release of hormones that decrease hunger (
Another study found that giving thylakoids to rats on a high-fat diet resulted in decreased food intake and body weight, compared to a control group (
However, keep in mind that thylakoids can also be found in many other food sources, including green vegetables and leafy greens like spinach, kale and lettuce.
What’s more, these studies used concentrations of thylakoids that were much greater than the concentrations typically found in wheatgrass.
There is also no research on the effects of wheatgrass on weight loss specifically. Further studies are needed to look at its effects on weight loss in humans.