I'm not really a health freak, I have some bad habits and don't always eat as healthily as I should but I like to try things like Wheatgrass as they contain so many nutrients. I decided to try Wheatgrass powder after a period of time where I felt very tired and just under- nourished.

The price of Wheatgrass powder varies wildly and I bought a foil pack of 250g for £6.99 from an ebay store but I've also seen packs of half that size for twice as much so you do need to shop around. As well as powder it can be purchased in tablet form and fresh. If you buy fresh (or grow your own) you need a special juicer so that wasn't an option for me, too much messing around and I'm pretty impatient and if you buy tablets it has less goodness than the powder, as the powder has slightly less than fresh. So I chose powder because it was easy to buy and use and middle of the road for nutrients.

What are the benefits of wheatgrass?
Well, there are supposedly numerous. It is 70% chlorophyll which is said to improve the immune system greatly, one pound of wheatgrass has the same nutritional value as 23 pounds of other vegetables, it's high in fibre, contains 17 amino acids, supports the production of red blood cells, counteracts acids and toxins in the body, contains 92 minerals and is high in vitamins. In fact wheatgrass has more vitamin C than oranges and twice the vitamin A of carrots and is especially rich in vitamins E, K and B complex. It supports the blood, bones, glands, organs, muscles and teeth and is a complete food. Apparently it also aids weight loss by suppressing the appetite and helps the body get rid of toxins such as cigarette smoke.

Some therapists use it to fight cancer alongside orthodox methods but I have no idea if it works for this. Also it can be applied externally to heal wounds and treat skin conditions. So as you can see the claims are enough for any of us to rush out and buy some!!

So what does it look and smell like?
In its powdered form it is bright green and as powdery as flour. Upon opening the packet you are greeted with a cloud of emerald green dust that smells like a mixture of herbs and grass. It isn't an unpleasant smell just very planty (is that even a word?).

What do I do with it?
Put 1 to 2 teaspoons in a glass and mix in a small amount of water. It needs stirring quite a bit to get rid of all the powder and will leave you with something that resembles swamp water. Then you just drink it down.

What does it taste like?
This is where it gets interesting! The swamp water tastes like grass, it's not unpleasant in the taste but it is in the texture. As it's powder mixed with water it is very chalky in texture and that is the nasty bit! This is why you only mix it with a small amount of water, a shot glass is perfect, so you can down it in one and follow it with another drink. The actual grassy taste isn't any worse than herbal tea but the powdery texture is pretty awful!

What do I think?
I started taking it a few weeks ago and have to say I don't feel as tired now, I wake up feeling fresh in the morning which is something I struggled with before. I think my eyes look brighter which may just be better quality of sleep or all the nutrients. It's good for bowel function and speeds up the digestive system in a natural, gentle way. I'm growing my hair at the moment and since starting this powder there has been a noticable increase in growth. I also find it suppresses my appetite so I eat alot less than I did before without noticing. It's had a really good effect on me and I've never found anything else that made me less tired.

Downsides?
Just the powdery texture but then it is powder! I don't much like the actual drinking of it for this reason but for the benefits I'm getting from it I can throw it back like a shot and quickly wash the taste away with a glass of water. There are no other downsides at all and if you wanted to take it but without the powdery drink either opt for the fresh or the tablets.

I highly recommend Wheatgrass powder, or indeed juice or tablets, the nutrients that have been found to be in wheatgrass are amazing and it really does perk you up and give you more energy. In this day and age where everything contains chemicals and we are surrounded by pollutants I think a "super food" like wheatgrass is more essential than ever. One of my friends insists on calling me a hippy for being interested in products such as this but I can really notice a difference in my energy levels so I don't care!

If you're a smoothie fan you can mix this up and add it to your smoothie so you can barely taste it, just so long as your smoothie isn't fruit juice based or the acid interferes with the wheatgrass' nutrients. Try it and see how you feel!

Thanks for reading.