The Nutrient Benefits of Wheatgrass (And Why It’s in My Supplement)
Written by Gordon Maudsley
Key Takeaways
- Wheatgrass is one of the most nutrient-dense plants available; up to 70% chlorophyll, 17 amino acids and a broad range of vitamins and minerals.
- Research supports its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, with one of the strongest human trials being a randomised controlled study on digestive health.
- It may support immune function, energy, digestion and general wellness; all areas that matter if you’re trying to rebuild or maintain your health.
- Our wheatgrass is certified organic, grown without pesticides or herbicides and included in our Total Wellness blend.
I’ll admit something: when I was developing Just Good Stuff, wheatgrass wasn’t the first ingredient I got excited about.
It felt almost too familiar. Every juice bar in the country has a wheatgrass shot on the menu. It’s been a wellness staple for decades. I wondered whether it was more hype than substance.
Then I actually looked at the research. And what struck me wasn’t any single dramatic study. It was the consistency. The sheer breadth of what’s packed into those young green shoots. Wheatgrass kept showing up across antioxidant research, digestive health studies, immune support literature. Not as a miracle cure, but as something genuinely, quietly impressive.
That’s why it’s in Total Wellness. Here’s what the evidence actually says.
What actually is wheatgrass?
Wheatgrass is exactly what it sounds like: the young, freshly sprouted grass of the common wheat plant (Triticum aestivum), harvested at a very early stage; typically around 7 to 10 days after germination.
At that point it’s not wheat as most people think of it. There’s no grain, no flour, no bread. Just the shoots. And those shoots contain a remarkable concentration of nutrients that the mature wheat plant doesn’t hold in anywhere near the same form.
It’s been used medicinally for thousands of years; in Ayurveda for digestive complaints, in folk medicine for infections and inflammation. In the West it gained popularity in the 1930s when nutritional researcher Ann Wigmore began documenting its therapeutic properties. Since then, the research base has grown considerably, even if it’s still catching up to the claims sometimes made about it.
What’s in wheatgrass?
This is where wheatgrass earns its reputation. It’s described as containing one of the broadest nutritional profiles of any plant-based supplement:
| Nutrient | Found in Wheatgrass | Why it matters |
| Chlorophyll | Up to 70% of composition | Powerful antioxidant; supports oxygen levels and cellular health |
| Vitamin C | Yes. Significant levels | Contributes to immune function and collagen production |
| Vitamin A | Yes. High levels | Supports vision, skin and immune defence |
| Vitamin E | Yes | Antioxidant; supports cell protection |
| B Vitamins | B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, B12 | Energy metabolism and nervous system function |
| Iron | Yes, Notable levels | Supports red blood cell production and oxygen transport |
| Magnesium | Yes | Supports muscle function, energy and sleep |
| Amino acids | 17 total, 8 essential | Protein building blocks, essential as the body can’t make them |
| Enzymes | Amylase, lipase, protease, others | Support digestion and nutrient absorption |
That breadth is the point. Wheatgrass isn’t delivering one standout nutrient: it’s delivering dozens working together. The way they interact in a whole-food form, rather than as isolated compounds, is part of why research into wheatgrass is so interesting.
What does wheatgrass do for your body?
1. It’s a powerful antioxidant
The most consistent finding across wheatgrass research is its antioxidant activity: its ability to neutralise free radicals and reduce oxidative stress.
A 2025 study published by Springer Nature (Discover Food) concluded that its rich phenolic and flavonoid content made it a “natural, cost-effective alternative” for reducing oxidative damage.
A comprehensive narrative review published on PubMed in 2025 described wheatgrass juice as having “demonstrated efficacy in reducing oxidative stress” alongside its other functional food properties.
Why does oxidative stress matter? In simple terms, it’s the cellular wear-and-tear that accumulates over time from everything your body processes: illness, stress, poor diet, pollution. Antioxidants help counteract it. Chlorophyll, which makes up the majority of wheatgrass by composition, is a particularly strong contributor.
2. It supports digestive health
This is the area with the most compelling human clinical evidence.
A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in the Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology found that wheatgrass juice produced significant reductions in disease activity and rectal bleeding in patients with active distal ulcerative colitis.
That’s not an animal study or a test-tube experiment. That’s a controlled human trial. Ninety per cent of patients in the wheatgrass group improved. None got worse.
I’m not claiming wheatgrass treats gut disease. But the evidence for it supporting a healthy digestive system is among the most credible in its research base.
3. It may support immune function
A study published in PMC was the first one to identify an immunostimulatory component in wheatgrass with a defined mechanism.
The nutrients in wheatgrass, particularly Vitamins A, C and E, also contribute independently to immune function. Vitamin C’s role in supporting the normal function of the immune system is an EFSA-approved claim. Wheatgrass is a meaningful source of all three.
When I was building my own health back after illness, immune support was one of the things I was most focused on. Not quick fixes, but consistent nutritional foundations. Wheatgrass fits that picture.
4. It may contribute to energy and vitality
This is a harder area to pin down scientifically, but it’s one of the most commonly reported experiences by people who use wheatgrass regularly.
Part of it lies in its iron content, which supports red blood cell production and oxygen transport around the body; both of which matter for physical energy. The B vitamins in wheatgrass are also involved in energy metabolism at a cellular level.
I won’t overclaim this. The energy effects of wheatgrass aren’t as well-evidenced as the antioxidant or digestive data. But the nutritional profile makes it entirely plausible, and the anecdotal consistency is striking.
Is wheatgrass better than just eating more vegetables?
Fair question. The short answer is; it’s not a replacement for vegetables and it’s not trying to be.
What wheatgrass offers is concentration. The nutrient density of wheatgrass powder per gram is substantially higher than most green vegetables in their whole form. You’re not replacing a plate of food; you’re adding a dense, functional boost of nutrients in a very small amount.
One frequently cited comparison is that an ounce of wheatgrass juice offers a comparable nutritional profile to multiple pounds of raw vegetables.
In the Total Wellness blend, wheatgrass sits alongside other organic greens like kale, spinach, barley grass, spirulina and chlorella. Each brings its own distinct nutritional profile. The combination is the point. Not any single ingredient doing everything, but several doing different things well.
Are there any side effects of wheatgrass?
For most people, wheatgrass is well tolerated in supplement powder form. A few things worth knowing:
- Nausea is the most commonly reported side effect, particularly with fresh wheatgrass juice (due to the strong taste). In powder form as part of a blend, this is far less common.
- Wheatgrass belongs to the wheat plant family, so pure wheatgrass is generally considered gluten-free. That said, if you have coeliac disease or severe gluten sensitivity, look for certified gluten-free products and consult your GP.
- As with all supplements, if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or managing a medical condition or taking prescription medication, please speak with your GP before use.
Where to find wheatgrass in Just Good Stuff
Organic Wheatgrass is one of the key ingredients in our Total Wellness blend, designed to support broad everyday wellbeing: energy, balance, gut health and sustained nutritional support.
Total Wellness contains wheatgrass alongside Organic Barley Grass, Organic Spirulina, Organic Kale, Organic Spinach, Organic Chlorella, Organic Matcha, Organic Inulin, Organic Blueberry, Organic Acerola and more; all certified organic, all additive-free, all in one blend.
100% certified organic. 100% vegan. Made in the UK by a BRC/ISO accredited facility. No fillers, no preservatives, no hidden nasties.
Just good stuff.
Written by Gordon Maudsley
