Wheatgrass juice is a liquid made by grinding or otherwise juicing wheatgrass. The liquid itself is almost always bright green in color and usually completely free of any solids from the grass. It is typically consumed directly after juicing the wheatgrass, although it is possible to buy bottled wheatgrass concentrate. Most people who drink wheatgrass juice consume it in small shots or mixed with another kind of juice.
Many people who enjoy wheatgrass juice keep trays of growing wheatgrass indoors for convenient juicing. The grass is generally cut from the tray, not pulled out, and then fed in bunches into a specialized juicer. These machines are different from other juicers and work primarily by grinding up the grass. This produces the green liquid known as wheatgrass juice, as well as a waste product of used grass that is collected separately.
Fresh juice is often sold in health food stores and juice bars. Many people claim that this substance has special health benefits, such as the ability to prevent cancer and remove toxic substances from the body. Often, wheatgrass is offered as an optional supplement that can be added to other drinks such as a smoothie. As wheatgrass has its own flavor, which not everyone enjoys, this is usually seen as a way to minimize discomfort from drinking the substance.
While many people drink wheatgrass juice throughout the day, it is often recommended that wheatgrass be consumed on an empty stomach and in small quantities. The exact amount of wheatgrass that is optimal to consume is largely a matter of opinion. Some people who do not often drink wheatgrass juice may become nauseous or otherwise ill after drinking wheatgrass. This is generally said to occur due to consuming too much juice at once, or from the drinker's bad eating habits. It is important to add wheatgrass to a diet slowly in order to minimize side effects.
Due to the supposed health benefits of wheatgrass, as well as the amount of grass it takes to make the juice, this product can be very expensive — a single shot of wheatgrass juice can be more expensive than an entire beverage at a juice bar. Some people believe that the benefits of wheatgrass do not outweigh the cost, as other, less expensive vegetables have similar nutritional content. Due to the exaggerated costs, most people elect to eat and drink less expensive but equally healthy products.
