How do you take a shot of wheatgrass?

Introduction

Wheatgrass shots have become increasingly popular in recent years due to their many purported health benefits. Wheatgrass is the young grass of the common wheat plant, Triticum aestivum. It contains a high concentration of chlorophyll, amino acids, minerals, vitamins, and enzymes. Some of the health benefits associated with wheatgrass include improved immunity, weight loss, detoxification, and anti-aging properties.

Many juice bars and health food stores now offer fresh wheatgrass shots as an quick, nutritional boost. But if you want to experience the benefits of wheatgrass for yourself, growing and juicing your own wheatgrass at home is easy and affordable. Here is a step-by-step guide to taking a refreshing and healthy shot of wheatgrass at home.

Things You’ll Need

Before getting started, you’ll need to gather some basic supplies:

Wheatgrass seeds or trays of growing wheatgrass

Shallow tray or growing flat

Potting soil or compost

Water and spray bottle

Scissors or knife

Citrus juicer, blender, or wheatgrass juicer

Shot glass

You can find wheatgrass seeds and pre-grown trays of wheatgrass at many garden supply stores, health food stores, or online. The rest of the supplies are likely already in your kitchen. Now let’s get growing!

Growing the Wheatgrass

Wheatgrass needs to be grown indoors in soil for 7-15 days before it is ready for juicing. Here’s how to grow your own wheatgrass:

1. Soak the wheatgrass seeds in water overnight to initiate the germination process.

2. Fill the shallow tray or growing flat with a layer of potting soil or compost about 1-2 inches deep.

3. Sprinkle the soaked wheatgrass seeds evenly over the soil. Gently water the seeds so they are moist.

4. Cover the tray with plastic wrap or another tray and place it in a warm, sunny spot to germinate.

5. Once the seeds have germinated (usually 1-2 days), remove the plastic wrap and place the tray back in the sunlight.

6. Water the growing wheatgrass once a day to keep the soil moist but not soaked. Allow the blades to grow to about 6-8 inches tall before harvesting.

Harvesting and Prepping the Wheatgrass

After 7-15 days, your wheatgrass should be ready for juicing. Here’s how to harvest and prep it:

1. Use clean scissors or a knife to cut the wheatgrass just above the soil surface. Try to harvest as close to using it as possible for maximum nutrition.

2. Rinse the wheatgrass blades briefly under cold water to remove any debris. Be careful not to overwash as this can diminish nutrients.

3. Use a salad spinner or pat dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.

4. Chop the blades into smaller pieces, about 1-2 inches long. This will help them fit through your juicing machine.

5. You can juice the wheatgrass immediately or store the chopped blades in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Juicing the Wheatgrass

Now comes the fun part – juicing and enjoying your fresh wheatgrass!

With a wheatgrass juicer:

Wheatgrass juicers are small, manual machines designed specifically for juicing wheatgrass. Here’s how to use one:

1. Fill the wheatgrass juicing chute with your prepared wheatgrass blades.

2. Firmly pack in the blades using the tamper.

3. Turn the handle to squeeze the juice from the grass into a shot glass.

4. Add any additional wheatgrass and repeat juicing until you have about 1-2 oz of juice.

5. Drink the shot of wheatgrass juice immediately for maximum nutrients.

With a citrus juicer:

Any manual citrus juicer can also be used to juice wheatgrass. Follow the same steps above, firmly packing the chute and squeezing the handle to extract the juice. You may need to press or re-juice the pulp to extract all the liquid.

With a blender:

1. Add the chopped wheatgrass and about 1/4 cup water to a blender.

2. Blend on high speed for 1-2 minutes until thoroughly liquefied.

3. Strain the liquid through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth to remove the pulp.

4. Pour the strained wheatgrass juice into a shot glass.

No matter which method you use, drink your wheatgrass shot immediately after juicing for the most nutrients and the best taste. The chlorophyll starts to degrade quickly when exposed to air and light. Wheatgrass has a rather grassy, bitter flavor, so many people prefer to shoot it quickly followed by something sweet like fruit juice. But the intense flavor reminds you that you’re drinking an extremely potent source of vitamins and minerals.

Growing and Juicing Tips

– Choose organic wheatgrass seeds and soil whenever possible. This avoids chemicals found in conventional farming.

– Rinse all equipment thoroughly before and after use. Wheatgrass is highly susceptible to mold.

– Wheatgrass does best with 12-16 hours of sunlight daily. Supplement with grow lights if needed.

– Don’t harvest sooner than 7 days or later than 15 days for optimal nutrition.

– Only juice what you will consume in one sitting and refrigerate any extra chopped grass.

– If you don’t have a juicer, simply chew the grass thoroughly to extract the juices.

– Start with 1 oz shots and slowly increase your tolerance. Too much can cause nausea.

– Enjoy wheatgrass alone or mixed into fruit/veggie juices or smoothies.

Troubleshooting

Here are some common issues you may encounter and how to address them:

Moldy wheatgrass: This is caused by excess moisture. Be sure to drain trays well after watering and allow soil to dry between waterings. Cut off any moldy sections before juicing the rest.

Pale yellow blades: Usually a sign of too little sunlight. Supplement natural light with grow lamps.

Brown, wilting blades: Can indicate under or overwatering. Check that soil moisture is consistently optimal.

Bitter or off-tasting juice: Avoid harvesting too early or too late. Refrigerate juice and drink within 24 hours.

Low juice yield: Applying pressure when juicing is crucial. Pack chute tightly and press hard when squeezing handle.

Upset stomach: Start with small 1 oz servings and slowly increase to avoid nausea. Reduce intake if nausea occurs.

Benefits of Wheatgrass

Now that you know how to grow, harvest, and juice wheatgrass at home, let’s look at some of the many health benefits attributed to wheatgrass:

Chlorophyll: Wheatgrass is an excellent source of chlorophyll, which has antibacterial and detoxifying properties that promote healing. Chlorophyll also boosts red blood cell production.

Amino acids: Wheatgrass contains many essential and non-essential amino acids, the building blocks of proteins used by the body for optimal functioning.

Enzymes: Biologically active enzymes aid digestion and stimulate metabolism. Wheatgrass has an exceptionally high enzyme concentration.

Vitamins and minerals: Wheatgrass provides substantial amounts of vitamin A, C, and E, calcium, iron, magnesium, and selenium.

Antioxidants: Flavonoids and phytochemicals in wheatgrass neutralize oxidative stress from free radicals and protect cells.

Immunity: Nutrients in wheatgrass support healthy immunity by increasing white blood cell production.

Weight loss: Some studies link wheatgrass to increased metabolism and suppressed appetite, aiding weight loss.

Detoxification: The nutrients in wheatgrass help cleanse the liver and blood of toxins, metals, chemicals, and cholesterol.

Give wheatgrass juicing a try and you just may discover clearer skin, improved digestion, reduced inflammation, more energy, and better overall wellbeing. Growing and juicing wheatgrass at home is easy, fun, and lets you experience all of its ultra-fresh nutritional benefits.

Conclusion

Wheatgrass is an extremely nutritious, potent source of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids and chlorophyll. By growing and juicing your own wheatgrass at home, you can harness its full range of health benefits right from your kitchen. Follow the steps above to grow wheatgrass in trays, harvest the blades after 7-15 days, and juice them using a manual wheatgrass juicer, citrus juicer or blender. Start with 1-2 oz shots and work your way up as your body adjusts. Drink wheatgrass juice on an empty stomach immediately after juicing for maximum nutrient absorption. With its pleasant grassy flavor and vibrant green color, wheatgrass just may become your new favorite daily superfood drink.