7 Dangerous Side Effects Of Wheatgrass You Should Be Aware Off

wheatgrass side effects

Wheatgrass juice has amazing health benefits and medicinal uses but we should get to know the side effects too. Wheatgrass refers to the young freshly sprouted leaves of our common wheat plant whose botanical name is Triticum Aestivum.

When we grind the grass with water and strain, we get wheatgrass juice. The grass is either juiced fresh or the dried wheatgrass powder is mixed with water and drunk.

Is Wheatgrass Good For You?

Wheatgrass does have amazing health benefits. It is packed with nutrients and you can read about all the health benefits here. Wheatgrass juice is called “Godhumai Pul Juice” in Tamil, “Genhu Ke Jaware ka Ras” in Hindi, “Gavankur Juice” In Marathi and “Godhuma Gaddi” in Telugu and is quite popular here in India.

How Much Wheatgrass Juice Can You Drink A Day?

Although wheatgrass has amazing health benefits, there are few things we should keep in mind while consuming wheat grass juice to prevent side effects.

The first thing we should be careful is overdosing, usually the suggested dosage for wheatgrass juice is around 40 ml to 120 ml per day.

If you are taking wheatgrass powder, mix 1 tsp of wheatgrass powder in a cup of water and drink. If consuming wheatgrass capsules, the suggested dosage is 1 capsule with meals. I would strongly suggest to slowly increase the quantity so your body gets used to it.

Can You Have Too Much Wheat Grass Juice?

It is possible to overdose on wheatgrass juice. If you overdose on wheatgrass juice, you will experience certain side effects which I have given below.

Not only for wheatgrass but for any ingredient, it is a must that we follow the suggested dosage to prevent any side effects. This is especially important if we plan to take it for long duration’s of time.

Can We Eat Raw Wheatgrass?

We can consume raw wheat grass juice and in my personal experience there is no problem digesting it at all. But the important thing to remember while consuming wheatgrass juice is to try your best to make it at home.

Wheatgrass juice contamination is also one of the main reasons certain people experience side effects while consuming wheatgrass juice. Try your best to grow your own wheatgrass.

It is so easy, all you need are few old containers and wheat. Make the juice out of freshly cut washed wheatgrass and drink it immediately in the suggested dosage and you will not experience any side effects at all.

wheatgrass danders

 7 Side Effects Of Wheatgrass You Should Be Aware Off:

1. Wheatgrass Allergy:

Some people might be allergic to wheatgrass. Though it is one of the best natural super foods, please remember that it might not agree with everyone.

Many people are allergic to wheat than we realize, the allergy could be severe or moderate. Some of the common symptoms of moderate wheat allergy are small itchy red bumps in the skin, itchy mouth, nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, etc.

Severe allergy could lead to difficulty swallowing and breathing. Seek medical help if you experience any of these symptoms.

2. Lowers Blood Sugar Levels:

Though this is a very good thing and this is what makes consuming wheatgrass juice amazing for diabetic patients, we should remember that diabetic patients should monitor their blood sugar levels closely else it will reduce the blood sugar levels drastically.

So please keep a very close watch while consuming both diabetic medication and wheatgrass juice. Check the sugar levels more often when you are consuming both and adjust the medication accordingly.

3. Headaches:

Though I have not experienced it, some people experience headache while consuming wheatgrass juice. This could be due to many reasons, it could be due to overdosing or due to allergy or it could be due to the detoxification process.

If it is due to allergy, you will also experience other symptoms like rashes and stomach pain. If you do, stop drinking it immediately and seek medical help immediately.

If it is due to overdosing, try reducing the dosage and if it is due to detoxification process, it should get all right within a few days on it’s own.

4. Pregnant Women:

Pregnant women should be extra careful while consuming wheatgrass juice. Though wheatgrass juice is an amazing blood builder and is a wonderful antioxidant, since it is consumed raw there is a higher risk of bacterial or mold infection especially if it is store bought.

If you plan to drink wheatgrass juice during pregnancy, I would suggest consulting your doctor for the correct dosage and if you decide to take it, try to make your own juice and take only the suggested dosage.

5. Drug Interactions:

Wheatgrass could interact with certain medications, it can interfere with diabetic medications and anti coagulant medications. Like I mentioned before wheatgrass juice lowers blood sugar levels and might interfere with blood sugar medication.

If you are a diabetic and are planning on undergoing a surgery please mention it to your doctor without fail. Since wheatgrass is rich in vitamin K, consuming it while taking anti coagulant drugs will cause drug interactions so please practice caution.

6. Diarrhea Or Constipation:

This can vary from person to person but some people might experience diarrhea and some people might experience constipation if you overdose on wheatgrass juice. I usually experience severe diarrhea if I accidentally overdose on green juices.

To be on the safer side, start with a small dosage and work your way up over the weeks. This way your body will get used to wheatgrass and you will not suffer from any side effects at all.

7. Nausea  & Vomiting:

Some people experience nausea while consuming wheatgrass juice. If you experience nausea along with other side effects like skin rashes then it could be due to wheatgrass allergy, stop drinking it immediately and seek medical help.

But if you are feeling mildly nauseous, then it can be because of the grassy smell. I don’t mind the grassy smell but if you can’t tolerate it, mix wheatgrass juice with other juices like orange juice or apple juice and then consume.

Also if you are felling nauseous after consuming wheatgrass in empty stomach, try to drink it in between meals instead of empty stomach.

wheatgrass juice side effects


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