For centuries, civilizations have understood the value of the cereal grasses, including wheat, barley, and alfalfa.  Now, early in the early twenty-first century, scientists are rediscovering the benefits of these green superfoods.

On the other hand, many of us that are interested in improving our health are also searching for the most effective way to reap the benefits that such foods offer.  This article discusses what you need to know when you research products and other alternatives.  Some of what you read may surprise you.

All cereal grasses are nutritionally identical.
In his book Cereal Grass, What's In It For You, Ronald L. Seibold makes the statement that the nutritional value of cereal grasses is determined more by where it is grown and its stage of growth than whether it is wheat, barley, or any other species.  While the taste of young cereal plants varies, the nutritional content does not.  This statement is based on thousands of analyses run on all the cereal grasses.  Wheat grass and barley grass grown in the same field and harvested at the same growth stage are more similar nutritionally than two barley crops grown in different fields. 

Grasses grown in a field are not the equivalent of indoor tray-grown plants.
It is currently very popular to purchase trays and sprout cereal grasses from home.  This grass is normally grown in the dark with just water, and is ready to be cut and juiced within 5-7 days.  This plant is a good source of chlorophyll, and is a good detoxifying agent.  However, these plants should not be confused with more mature plants that have been planted in rich soil.  Such plants develop good root systems, and are much more nutritionally potent.

Dehydrated cereal grasses are convenient, nutritious, and safe.
People that choose not to grow their own cereal grasses can purchase dehydrated products that are nutritional powerhouses.  Studies show that dehydrated cereal grasses contain more nutritional value than almost any green vegetable.  In fact, the only one that comes close is spinach!  

Another big advantage that cereal grasses have over other vegetables is that they can easily be grown organically.  When choosing a dehydrated cereal grass product, special care should be taken to ensure that the grass was grown without pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides.

Processing is the most important factor to consider.
Because we have already established that the nutritional content of all cereal grasses is roughly the same, it does not matter whether you choose to eat wheat, rye, barley, or alfalfa grasses.  The only real difference between these grasses will be the taste (wheat is generally considered to taste very poorly, though none of them taste very well.)

When considering which product to purchase, a consumer should examine the process of the creation of the product.  Factors to consider include the growing location, whether the grass is grown organically, when the grass is harvested, and how it is processed into the final product.

Wheat is a popular cereal grass largely because it is the most abundant.  More acreage of wheat exists than any other crop.  However, its nutritional content will vary greatly based on where it is grown.  The same is true for barley or any other grass.  The premium cereal grass products pay special attention to the soil conditions, and use organic farming methods.

The actual processing of the grass into the final product also widely varies.  Some of the more inexpensive and inferior products cut the grass, let it dry, and then chop it up into a fine powder.  A better and more expensive process is to actually juice the grass, and then use a method that dries it into a powder.  This is important, because juicing removes the fiber, leaving just a potent nutritional substance.  

This processing should preserve the nutritional content of the grass.  To do this, the grass should not be heated, and the drying process should capture the live enzymes.  This is easier said than done, but well designed processing can preserve almost all of the nutrition that originally existed in the grass itself.  

Summary
In the end, one could choose to benefit from wheat, barley, rye, alfalfa, or any of the other cereal grasses.  However, while growing grass using the indoor kits is beneficial, it does not compare to naturally grown grasses in nutritionally rich soil.

Premium green food products are designed with special attention given to every step of the manufacturing process.  Such products provide maximum nutritional benefit in a safe and beneficial form.

Currently, Barleygreen® is the premium green food product that we recommend.  Click here to learn more.