Wheatgrass: tips on cooking and drinking

Currently, wheat germ sprouts are increasingly being consumed not only by supporters of vegetarian food, but also by those who take care of their health. Many doctors strongly recommend this product for the prevention and treatment of various diseases.

In itself, a grain of wheat consists of three components. The first is the germ that is in the very center. It is rich in fats and various vitamins. The second is a shell, which, as you can guess, is located outside. It is quite dense and is formed from the fibers from which bran are prepared, presented in many grocery stores. Finally, the third is the core, a starch layer between the first and second components, rich in carbon. Sprouted grain is significantly different from the usual. The fact is that during the germination process, the proportions of various substances change: the amount of protein increases, and carbohydrates - on the contrary, decreases. As a result, the seedlings are rich in numerous useful elements. There is evidence that the concentration of such substances in seedlings is ten times higher than in ordinary grains.

The caloric value of 100 grams of wheat germ is 198 kilocalories. At the same time, 34% of the total weight falls on carbohydrates, 26% on proteins, 10% on fats, and 17% on fiber. The embryos become a repository of as many as eighteen amino acids and various vitamins: A, groups B, E and D. As nutrients are broken down during germination, they are much easier and faster perceived by the body. By the way, vitamin E is able to excrete cholesterol. Sprouts are rich in folic acid, magnesium, calcium, iron, phosphorus, fiber, and other trace elements.

Due to its rich composition, wheat germ cleanses the body of toxins, balances metabolic processes, strengthens the immune system, best influences the intestinal condition, fights wounds and infections, and even improves vision. Positive changes are noticeable in the condition of the skin, nails and hair. As a preventive measure, the kernels are used to protect against cancer and tumors.

Unfortunately, wheat germ also contains gluten, which suggests that it should not be used by people with intolerance to this substance. In addition, it is worth being careful of children under the age of twelve, those undergoing surgery, and those suffering from chronic gastrointestinal diseases, including an ulcer.

Wheat for germination is most convenient to buy in health food stores or for gardeners. It is better to avoid the one that is sold in ordinary grocery, because most often the grains are thermally treated, which means they are incapable of germination. Each seed must be clean and healthy, specimens with cracks, microtraumas or incomprehensible black dots are immediately discarded. The same applies to mold and moisture.

Experts recommend to pay attention to those varieties whose shelf life does not exceed one year. In this way, it will be possible to guarantee effective germination and high nutrient content.

Although this product is sold in pharmacies and in health food stores, it is very easy to germinate wheat for food by yourself. A large and deep plate made of glass or enamel, gauze, clean, non-cold water, a sieve and a tray are prepared for the procedure.

The place where everything will happen should be illuminated with indirect light, and the temperature should correspond to 24 degrees of heat. First, the kernels are thoroughly washed under the tap until all the garbage is removed. It is also worth pouring water over them for a few minutes and see which ones will be on the surface.Floated seeds are considered empty, so they are discarded. Prepared wheat is placed in a plate and covered with clean water. In this state, she will remain until the expiration of eight hours. After the specified period, the used water is removed, the kernels are washed and cleaned again in a plate.

This time they are wrapped with wet gauze folded several times. As a rule, at the proper temperature in ten hours the first white shoots will appear. When a white seedling with a length of up to one millimeter is peeked out of all the grains, you can finish the procedure by washing the material for the last time. If two days have passed, and the sprouts have not appeared, then everything will have to be thrown out. Wheat germ can be stored only in the refrigerator for no more than two days.

It is important to mention that the length of the sprout of three millimeters suggests that its healing properties have decreased significantly, so they should be eaten early. Excessive stay under gauze is also characterized by a change in color from white to green and the appearance of a sweetish aftertaste.

Germinated wheat is easily made at home, so it can be eaten regularly for either treatment or weight loss or prevention. It should immediately be mentioned that it is not necessary to eat it raw. The product can be a component of smoothies and juices, salads, soups and even cereals. However, there are a few rules on how to eat wheat correctly.

• First, to avoid problems with the stomach, a new product should be gradually introduced into the diet. In the first days it is recommended to eat no more than two teaspoons, then the amount can be increased to a maximum of 80 grams. This should be slow, because between the minimum and maximum dose should be sustained ninety days.
• Secondly, it is better to eat sprouts before lunch, as the body digests it for a rather long time. By the way, in the case when sprouts with grains are selected to lose weight, they should be eaten raw, in the morning and in an amount of about three tablespoons. This supplement is low-calorie and nutritious, so it allows you to quickly eat and do not overeat in the future.
• Thirdly, it would be good to remember that heat treatment destroys a significant amount of useful substances.
• Fourthly, if it was decided to combine wheat with dairy products, then you will first have to try a small portion and see if the body absorbs this combination.
• Fifthly, it is important to remember that the first days of taking the drug can provoke quite negative side effects, such as diarrhea and dizziness. But after a couple of days they will disappear, so you should not worry. Results from the use of germinated wheat appear somewhere after fourteen days, but the optimal period of use is two months.

Sprouts can be used for different dishes. For example, cook oatmeal with them. To do this, oatmeal poured with hot milk is mixed with honey, nuts, dried fruit and a spoon of ground germinated grains. A great idea would be to cook the jelly - just put the sprouts in a saucepan, cover with water and cook for three minutes.After the drink is brewed for thirty minutes, and before use - to be filtered through cheesecloth. As well as the ground sprouts, being combined with sea kale, fried with onions and salt, turn into a basis for vegetarian flatbreads. Roughly cooked cutlets, just have to add egg and zucchini instead of sea kale.

Of course, wheat germ is often used to make salads. In the first case, it combines with avocado and raisins, and in the second - with cucumbers, apples and garlic. Cookies are made from ground sprouts when the mixture is combined with nuts and dried fruits, and from whole ones - soup with potatoes, carrots and onions.

You can not ignore such drinks as wheat milk and kvass. Milk is prepared by whipping seedlings with water in a ratio of one to four with the addition of nuts and raisins. Kvass is obtained by infusing half a glass of ground beans in one and a half liters of water for twenty-four hours. Finally, wheat can be consumed simply by mixing with fruit and seasoning with yogurt. In addition, seedlings are added to homemade bread and granola.

The best solution is to make freshly squeezed juice from this product, which is especially recommended for people suffering from constant stress. Unfortunately, the taste leaves much to be desired, so it is worth combining it with some sweet fruit notes. For example, you can add wheat juice to coconut, pineapple and spinach smoothies. The simplest solution would be to grind the seedlings together with green apples and water.

To strengthen the immune system, one-fourth cup of kernels is ground in a blender, and then combined with two spoons of honey. It is best to eat such pasta for breakfast. If you grind the dried grains in a coffee grinder, then the resulting powder will be able to spice porridge, fruit salads and other dishes. The same applies to wheat, processed in a meat grinder. The most useful will be a mixture of wheat, vegetables and herbs. In the meat grinder, seedlings, carrots, celery roots, dandelion, parsley and other crops are processed. Everything is charged with honey and mixes well.

See the following video for the benefits of wheat germ.