When you think “health shot,” what probably comes to mind is a swampy green liquid. Not exactly the most appetizing way to kickstart your morning routine—enter the wheatgrass shot. Yet since the ancient Egyptians to post-spin class Jamba Juice trips in the ’90s, Sex and the City, and to today’s pilates princesses, the young blades of wheatgrass have been called upon for a range of health benefits.
A typical shot is a small portion—around one to two ounces—of the juice, made from young shoots of the wheat plant (Triticum aestivum). And what exactly does a wheatgrass shot purport to do? From aiding digestion to reducing fatigue, enhancing mental performance, and beautifying benefits: A wheatgrass shot is really meant to be that girl. Below, here’s everything you need to know about wheatgrass shots, its benefits, and if and how you should incorporate it into your routine.
What are the benefits of wheatgrass shots?
In the ’30s, the wheatgrass plant was marketed as “the world’s first multivitamin.” Though I’d be adverse to calling any food a “super food,” wheatgrass juice has been found by numerous studies and research to be packed with essential nutrients. Of the 17 amino acids wheatgrass carries, eight are considered essential: That means your body cannot produce them, and you must get them from food sources. It also contains high levels of vitamins including A, B12, B5, and E, minerals such as selenium, zinc, and iron, and chlorophyll. The latter is what gives it its deep green pigment.
“These nutrients work together to boost energy levels, reduce tiredness and fatigue, support physical and mental performance, aid digestion, strengthen the immune system, promote healthy hair, skin, and vision, and contribute to red blood cell development,” says Dr. Britt Cordi, PhD, who holds an MSC in molecular biology and conservation and is the founder of Britt’s Superfoods. “For women balancing work, family, and personal well-being, wheatgrass shots offer a convenient and effective way to nourish the body and maintain energy levels naturally.”
Boosts energy and fights fatigue
The B vitamins in wheatgrass help to kickstart your body’s process to turn the food you take in into energy. According to one study, drinking wheatgrass juice on an empty stomach means it enters the bloodstream within 20 minutes and can provide energy that sustains through the day. It’s also said to encourage oxygenation in your body, contributing to endurance, strength, and energy levels—long-distance runners are apparently fans for this reason.
So when I’d pop the shot first thing in the morning, I did feel a surge of energy that kept me spritely through the day, usually past when I’d have been reaching for a second coffee. If I’d been out the night before and less inclined to head to aerobics to lift teeny tiny weights to a beat, a wheatgrass shot seemed to get the wheels greased, whether placebo effect or not.
Aiding digestion and reducing inflammation
The high fiber content and enzymes in your shot of wheatgrass help your body to break down food and then absorb its nutrients—it can then reduce bloating and gas, too. From my own experience, I did notice less bloating after meals and more regular bathroom breaks.
