Wheatgrass: A natural superfood for health, immunity

In recent times, cultivation of wheatgrass for juice has become very common at household and community level due to its health benefits.

Though it has been used to treat various diseases since ancient times but off late its juice has become very popular as a health tonic.

Wheatgrass is grown at household or community levels by number of ways. PAU has developed standardised production and drying technology of wheatgrass which will help people to grow it easily at household or community level along with improvement in its bioactive and antioxidant properties.

“The wheatgrass shall be grown using cocopeat in plastic trays/earthen pots of suitable size with holes below for drainage of excess water. Cocopeat is a multi-purpose growing medium made out of coconut husk. It is 100 per cent organic, eco-friendly and has high water holding capacity. Cocopeat bricks should be soaked in water for one and half hour before filling the trays to 5 cm depth. The seeds of any recommended wheat variety should be soaked for 12 hours prior to sowing. Broadcast these seeds in cocopeat trays @ 50 g/sq ft, cover with thin layer of cocopeat and sprinkle water to moist the cocopeat,” said Dr AS Sidhu from the PAU’s School of Organic Farming.

Steps for growing wheatgrass

Watering should be done, as and when required, to keep it moist. Wheatgrass should be harvested at height of about 15 cm with a clean sharp knife right above the surface of media. In case of non-availability of cocopeat, soil from a healthy field may be used, added Renuka Aggarwal from PAU.

Wheat grass can also be dried in hot air oven. The dried wheat grass strand can be ground to make powder. The university has also developed a technology for the preparation of wheatgrass powder that can be used in the preparation of value added products namely bread, biscuits and spice mix. Therefore, growing wheat grass in cocopeat and using it in fresh/dried/ in value added products can be a healthy option to reduce the stress in the body, added Manisha Thakur from PAU further.

How to prepare wheatgrass juice at home

-Take freshly cut wheatgrass and wash it thoroughly.

-Crush it using mortar and pestle or an electric mixer with water in a 1:2 ratio.

Strain the juice using a clean cloth or strainer

Juice from dried wheatgrass

-Soak dried grass strands in water for one hour

-Extract the juice using a pestle and mortar or electric mixer

-Strain the juice and dilute it 1:2 ratio before consumption.