The Potential Benefits of Wheatgrass for Diabetes

Wheatgrass is often hailed as a “superfood” due to its rich concentration of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

While it has numerous potential health benefits, some studies suggest it may be particularly helpful for managing blood sugar in people with diabetes.

Wheatgrass comes from a wheat plant called Triticum aestivum, according to Cleveland Clinic. The vibrant green grass is packed with nutrients and can be eaten raw, juiced, or dried and powdered.

According to a research review, wheatgrass contains vitamins A, C, E, and B complex vitamins like thiamine and niacin. It’s also rich in essential minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, and zinc.

Wheatgrass provides all the essential amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein needed to build and repair body tissues, as well as enzymes that aid digestion and nutrient absorption.

Finally, wheatgrass contains antioxidants like chlorophyll and flavonoids — powerful compounds that help protect the body from damaging free radicals. Another research review includes diabetes among the list of chronic diseases that are aggravated by free radicals.

Research on wheatgrass and its effects on people with diabetes is extremely limited.

A small study involving people with type 2 diabetes found that taking 50 milliliters of wheatgrass juice diluted with water before meals for 30 days significantly lowered both fasting and post-meal blood sugar levels.

Participants reported a reduction in common diabetes symptoms like excessive hunger (polyphagia) and thirst (polydipsia).

The rest of the evidence appears to be based on animal studies, which don’t reliably tell us anything about the human body.

A review of multiple studies highlights wheatgrass’s anti-diabetes properties, suggesting that the antioxidants in wheatgrass may improve how your body uses insulin and processes sugar. However, it refers only to studies including diabetic rats.

The previously mentioned review cites an animal study that linked wheatgrass’s phenolic and flavonoid components with lowered blood glucose levels.

According to Cleveland Clinic, wheatgrass is generally considered safe. Possible side effects include nausea, constipation, and loss of appetite.

If you have diabetes, consult your doctor or a registered dietitian before adding wheatgrass to your current treatment plan.