Wheatgrass for Anemia

Purported to boost the immune system and help ward off disease, wheatgrass is a staple on many health-conscious menus. Although some of the claims surrounding the healing properties of wheatgrass lack scientific backing, this food does offer a wide spectrum of nutrients and phytochemicals that can help you stay healthy. Due to its iron content, wheatgrass may be helpful in treating iron deficiency anemia.

Description

Anemia occurs when your body has a shortage of red blood cells, making it difficult to transport oxygen effectively. Although multiple forms of anemia exist, the most common is iron deficiency anemia, occurring when your body lacks sufficient iron stores, PubMed Health explains. This type of anemia can result from insufficient iron intake through food, heavy menstrual periods, some medications, certain cancers or increased iron needs due to pregnancy or breastfeeding. Symptoms include weakness, problems concentrating, headaches, feelings of grumpiness, light-headedness, pale skin tone, brittle nails or shortness of breath.

Benefits

Wheatgrass & Weight Loss

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Wheatgrass is a natural source of iron, and may therefore be helpful for increasing your daily iron intake to treat anemia. Each 100 g serving of wheatgrass juice provides 0.61 mg of iron, which is approximately 8 percent of the daily requirement for most men and 3 percent for most women. Although these percentages are relatively low, drinking larger amounts of wheatgrass juice can contribute more iron to your diet. If you're a vegetarian or allergic to high-iron animal foods like shellfish or red meat, wheatgrass can be a useful alternative.

Considerations

Wheatgrass contains nonheme iron, a form of iron found only in plant foods. As the Office of Dietary Supplements explains, nonheme iron isn't absorbed as efficiently as the heme iron in meat and other animal products, and may thus be less effective in treating iron deficiency anemia. To increase your absorption of iron from wheatgrass, consume this food with a source of vitamin C -- such as oranges or strawberries -- or with a heme-iron-containing food like shellfish or red meat. In addition, the tannins in tea and phytates in legumes and grains can interfere with nonheme iron absorption, so avoid eating these foods at the same time you consume wheatgrass.

Warning

Does Iron Deficiency Cause Headaches?

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Wheatgrass alone may not be enough to supply your daily iron needs, especially if your anemia stems from an underlying health condition like cancer or Crohn's disease. In addition, wheatgrass may cause adverse symptoms if you suffer from celiac disease, wheat intolerance or an allergy to grasses. If you have symptoms of anemia, consult your physician before trying to treat your condition with wheatgrass or other dietary changes.