wheat grass... any science to this fad?

My gf has recently begun trying wheat grass as way to maintain health. She gets it in a drink form from one of the "health food" or "health juice" stores which have popped up here and there.Given the cost we decided that it might be of interest to find out if it is doing anything for real. The claims we have heard or read is that a shot glass of wg is equal to 1kg of vegetables, in addition to vitamins, it helps cleans the body of toxins, etc etc. One unusual claim was that it contains a lot of clorophyll and since that is so close to hemoglobin it helps the body replenish red blood cells easier.Just wondering if anyone has scientific or serious anecdotal info about this stuff.

I was trying to be as neutral as possible. I don't how the body goes about assembling red blood cells and for all I know having "chunks" that are similar, might help... even if it seems doubtful. She says it is opaque dark green. They clip the grass right there and shred/pulp/squeeze it into a shot glass. Totally dark green. It is possible to get that same amount of material mixed with other juices and so be less green.Lets say it has lots of chlorophyll, would that help the body make heme?

---

holmes
"What you need is sustained outrage...there's far too much unthinking respect given to authority." (M.Ivins)

Thanks everyone (esp bren) for debunking the wheatgrass thing. That'll save some money and not to mention save her from having to drink it (she says it tastes bad).Brenna has hyped tea and fiber as being generally healthy, is there a good recommendable diet for someone looking to be eat for health.Yeah yeah yeah, I know all the general recs, but I'm interested in specific foods (and number of foods) that some may have as part of their regular diet to stay healthy.

---

holmes
"What you need is sustained outrage...there's far too much unthinking respect given to authority." (M.Ivins)

A number of healthy veggies (or are they all veggies?) have been mentioned as being healthy. What I would like to know now, is what ways they can be prepared/eaten in order to gain the benefits.For example blueberries were mentioned. Would that include blueberry pies, or does the process remove whatever health benefits the natural blueberry might contain?Another specific one I'd like to know more about is the Chili pepper. It sounds like that can be quite healthy, yet I really don't like them much. I think the most I like is dried chili peppers for flavoring (though not eaten directly), or within oriental chili sauces used for dipping (where they are eaten but I have no idea what process they went through). Can those provide benefits, or is raw or lightly cooked the only way?

---

holmes
"What you need is sustained outrage...there's far too much unthinking respect given to authority." (M.Ivins)

As I don't like stews, what is another good way to prepare a chili to eat which maintains its healthy qualities?

---

holmes
"Some day the piecing together of dissociated knowledge will open up such terrifying vistas of reality, and of our frightful position therein, that we shall either go mad from the revelation or flee from the light into the peace and safety of a new dark age." (Lovecraft)

From schraf's link and some other things I've looked into, it seems that the capsaicin which is supposed to provide the cancer benefits is found within the seeds. Is this true and if so, doesn't removing the seeds destroy all benefits?

---

holmes
"Some day the piecing together of dissociated knowledge will open up such terrifying vistas of reality, and of our frightful position therein, that we shall either go mad from the revelation or flee from the light into the peace and safety of a new dark age." (Lovecraft)

They generally look disgusting to me, feel slimy or watery in texture, and don't sit well in my digestive tract. I don't really like soups either as they tend to make me feel not too well.I am not saying I think this is an objective quality of stews. This is just how they don't "go down" well with me. I have had a sketchy digestive tract as well as a sensitivity to certain textures for a long time.

---

holmes
"Some day the piecing together of dissociated knowledge will open up such terrifying vistas of reality, and of our frightful position therein, that we shall either go mad from the revelation or flee from the light into the peace and safety of a new dark age." (Lovecraft)

I have a dysfunctional digestive tract. I do agree that when really sick clear soup or jello is the best thing to take until I can get back to solids. Once eating solids soups can cause cramps. The texture issue is different than the issue above. For some reason certain textures in my mouth make me react in disgust. I think my main issue is homogeneity of texture. For example I don't like it when there is something semi-tough with something liquidy (like stews), suddenly it all seems like slime around something rotten. Or sometimes having something crunchy (like onions) in something soft (like pizza) is disturbing as it is almost like having a mouthful of insects.I have also had issues with taste, which have roamed back and forth over the years. I'll like something and suddenly out of nowhere the taste is revolting. Or something I've never liked the smell or taste of suddenly smells delicious and I find I can eat it.Yes, I have eating problems.

---

holmes
"Some day the piecing together of dissociated knowledge will open up such terrifying vistas of reality, and of our frightful position therein, that we shall either go mad from the revelation or flee from the light into the peace and safety of a new dark age." (Lovecraft)