Oat Grass

Our Next Superfood?

foods

Oat grass joins other powerhouse grasses such as wheatgrass and alfalfa. They have been called one of nature’s finest medicines.

Let’s take an in-depth look at oat grass, AKA blue oat grass! While oats in their grass form may be most commonly used for horses, there are plenty of nutritional uses for humans as well. In fact, oat grass may just be another super food! So, let’s take a closer look…

Oat grass is part of the cereal grass family and joins other powerhouse grasses such as wheatgrass and barley grass. These green grasses (either juiced or freeze dried and powdered) have been called some of nature’s finest medicines. They contain chlorophyll, enzymes, vitamins, and nutrients that are essential for a healthy body. Like the other cereal grasses, oat grass contains beta-carotene, vitamins K and C, folic acid, calcium, iron, protein, fiber, and B vitamins; it also has up to 30% protein and is illuminated with rich chlorophyll – nature’s blood cleanser. 

Oat grass has a relaxing and stimulating action that both nourishes and strengthens the nervous system and has been shown to be helpful for women’s health issues, arthritis, rheumatism, stress, depression, debility, exhaustion, nerve tremors, epilepsy, convalescence, palpitations, nervous headache, nervous stomach, nervous breakdown, cholesterol levels, herpes, and menopause symptoms.

It is also used for thyroid and estrogen deficiency, for degenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis, and for colds — especially if recurrent or persistent. Oat grass is extremely rich in antioxidants, including polyphenols and one powerful antioxidant called tricin, a flavone compound that exerts smooth muscle relaxing properties, making it beneficial in gastro-intestinal cramping. Green oats are also high in beta-glucan, which helps stimulate immune functions.

Other oat grass benefits include:

Improved Brain Function

A study of elderly volunteers with below average cognitive performance scores published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine showed that oat herb extracts improved the cognitive abilities, resulting in improved attention and ability to maintain focus while performing tasks.

Help Relieve Stress

Taking oat extract may be helpful in reducing stress and anxiety and also help with better sleep. In addition, oat grass may help relieve depression and improve your mood. Maybe not too surprisingly, these benefits mean that oat extract can be recommended for smokers to ease withdrawal symptoms and reduce cigarette cravings.

While it may be tempting to eat oats in some of the more common forms such as oatmeal or baked goods, the best way to get all the nutritious, whole food benefits of oats is to take it in its grass form — usually as a powder, or juiced. You can add the powder to fresh fruit juice, and the taste will be much more pleasant. Now that you know some of the benefits of oat grass, it may just become part of your go-to health morning routine!

 

Resources:
http://flowingfree.org/best-herbs-to-help-you-quit-smoking/