This morning I had a wonderful drink of pineapple juice and wheatgrass. It was delicious even though I could tell my drink was healthy. Knowing that we’re consuming something healthy is one thing but actually knowing what those health benefits are is an entirely different thing though. I found myself asking: why is there wheat grass in my juice? Why are wheat grass shots such a popular health habit? Is it all just a façade of green goodness? Hmm…

Turns out there are some very real and very awesome benefits to drinking wheat grass (a young grass in the wheat family) juice. Here are just a few:

1. Wheatgrass Packs a Powerful Nutrient Punch

Calcium, magnesium, iron, amino acids, chlorophyll, and vitamins A, C, and E can all be found in your little wheat grass shot. Even further, wheatgrass has more vitamin C than oranges and twice as much vitamin A as carrots

2. Protein Building in a Glass

The 19 amino acids found in wheatgrass, the “building blocks of protein,” are essential for cell growth and regeneration. All 19 amino acids means wheat grass is a complete protein!

3. 70% Chlorophyll Makes a Difference

Here’s the deal: chlorophyll can slow down the aging process, stop bacteria growth, refine and renew tissue, and may even improve functions of the heart.

4. Greater Detoxification Powers

Wheatgrass has proven to be a more powerful detoxifier than other fruit and vegetable juices such as carrot juice.

5. Quick Energy Boost

Because of how the starch of the wheat berry is broken down into simple sugars, a shot of wheatgrass juice acts as a quick source of energy.

6. It Literally Contains EVERY Mineral Known

That’s over 90 different minerals! Vitamins and minerals are super for your health.

7. Lots o’ Magnesium

Wheatgrass contains a good amount of magnesium which can actually improve fertility and aid in digestion (bye-bye constipation!)

 

Despite it’s name, wheatgrass is totally gluten free, alkalizing, and boasts all of the above health benefits and many more! I definitely recommend adding some wheatgrass juice to your diet here and there, but make sure you enjoy it! Health benefits aren’t worthwhile if you’re choking your drink down, so try adding a shot of wheatgrass to a juice you already love. May I recommend fresh Pineapple juice with a shot of wheatgrass? Yum!

It’s new! It’s exciting! It’s full of healthy goods for you! It’s Squeeze Juicery!

I am so, so excited that Squeeze Juicery has opened on Main Street in Williamsville. After my first visit to the bright, clean juice bar, I’ve already decided that my favorite thing about Squeeze has to be that they can make your juice right on the spot OR you can grab one from the cooler and be out the door in mere seconds. I tried both.  A freshly pressed juice yesterday, and one from the cooler today. Thumbs up for both!

Yesterday I tried the “Shooting Star” which is basil, lime, cucumber, and apple cold-pressed right in front of your eyes and then poured over ice. Let’s go with the bad news first: it took a verrrrrrrrry long time. Here’s the thing though, cold-pressing the juice maintains even more of the super-powered enzymes and nutrients in the juice, so its worth the wait. I liked my juice a lot. It was a little more lime-y and less sweet than I expected but I love basil in juice. So refreshing. While I was there I also grabbed a juice from the cooler to have the following day. The shelf life on those juices are short, just 3 days, so you can’t really stock up a big supply, but it is great to go in and grab a juice for breakfast the following day or if you don’t have time to wait for a fresh pressed juice. For my juice from the cooler, I had the “Alive” drink which includes spinach, kale, celery, apple, parsley, lemon, and ginger. Does that sound like health in a bottle, or what?  Again, the juice wasn’t as sweet as anticipated which must be because I use LOTS of sweet apple when I make my own juices. Nonetheless, the juice was refreshing and tasty and very drinkable.

Squeeze also sells house-made hummus in a variety of unique flavors which I got to sample (Bonus!!)  while in the juicery. They were delicious. Right now Squeeze sells their hummus and some juices in their coolers plus they make juices, tonics, and smoothies at the counter.  Soon they will be serving up healthy wraps, including gluten free lettuce wraps in the next few weeks! The prices are comparable to other juice and smoothie bars around town but I’d argue that the cups are bigger here!  And when it comes to green juice, bigger is definitely better.

If you’re looking for a healthy snack, an energizing way to start your day, or are feeling ready to try the juicing craze, you have to check out Squeeze!