Young green plant of cereal grass

Cereal Grass is the young green plant which will grow to produce the cereal grain. All cereal grasses, including the green leaves of wheat ,barley, rye, and oats are nutritionally identical.

These young grasses are, in their chemical and nutritional composition, very different from the mature seed grains. Several growth stages are required for the development of nutritionally complete cereal grasses.

Suitable soil, moisture, and temperature conditions are essential for the young wheat plant to pass through these developmental stages.

The nutrients in the plant reach their peak values as they approach the brief, but critical, jointing stage.

The nutrient profile of cereal grass is similar to those of the most nutritious dark green leafy vegetables. The importance of green foods in the diet is now being validated scientifically.

Because dehydrated cereal compares favorably with other greens with respect to both nutrients and cost, it is an excellent and convenient source of green food nutrients.

The cereal grasses(wheat grass, barley grass, rye grass, oat grass) have been used as human food supplements since the 1930's.

Scientists originally studied these plants as sources of blood-building factors. When, in 1931, it was observed that the nutritional level of milk fell when cows did not consume young green leaves, systematic research began on the health benefits of cereal grasses.

As essential nutrients were isolated and identified, the cereal grasses were found to be excellent sources of beta-carotene, vitamin K, folic acid, calcium, iron, protein, and fiber, as well as good sources of of vitamin C and many of the B vitamins.

In addition, the cereal grasses were shown to contain unidentified factors which provide a variety of health, growth,and fertility benefits to animals and to humans.

Laboratory research on the health benefits of cereal grasses increased over the past two decades in the United States and Japan.

At the same time, the use of wheat grass as an alternative therapy for chronic diseases became popular.

These two movements, together with the increased availability of suitably prepared American-grown cereal grass, have been responsible for a renaissance in the use of cereal grasses as human foods.
Young green plant of cereal grass