Today, many experts recommend resorting to natural remedies and ingredients for the prevention of various diseases, as well as for caring for your body. This article contains basic information about the characteristics of the chemical composition and properties of germinated wheat, its effect on the body, as well as its use in cosmetology and medicine.

What is germinated wheat

Although the use of this useful product has become quite frequent, many people still do not understand the difference between wheat germ and its germ. To understand this issue, you only need to understand the germination procedure.

Did you know? Thanks to wheat, food provides almost 5 billion of the world's population. Scientists have managed to unearth amphorae with this grain crop in the Tigris Valley, which are over 9,000 years old.

Such grains are obtained by placing them in water for a certain time. First, seedlings appear on the seeds (about 24 hours after soaking), and after another 1-2 days - green long shoots. It is believed that daily grains with white small processes are most useful for human health. Their beneficial properties have been confirmed through numerous scientific experiments.

Today, each person has the opportunity to purchase ready-made sprouted wheat in a store, but experts do not advise doing this. The fact is that natural sprouts, cooked at home, can not be stored for more than 4-5 days. Chemistry-treated seeds are sold in stores to extend their shelf life. In addition, with long-term storage of wheat, its beneficial properties disappear, especially if the humidity in the room is improperly observed, as well as the temperature regime.

Chemical composition and calorie content

Experts recommend eating wheat seedlings for food, as well as cosmetic or medicinal additives due to their natural composition.

The product includes a number of active substances, including:

• cellulose;
• mineral elements (magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium and calcium);
• vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, folic and ascorbic acids);
• a variety of antioxidants;
• proteins of plant origin, which, in turn, contain a large amount of essential amino acids;
• enzymes.

As for the nutritional value of this cereal product, it can be displayed as follows (per 100 g of product):

• proteins - 8 g;
• fats - 1 g;
• ash - 1 g;
• carbohydrates - 43 g;
• dietary fiber - 1 g.

In this case, the total calorie content of the product is approximately 198 kcal per 100 g of grains. It is worth noting that sprouted wheat also contains gluten, which so many people around the world refuse today. This protein is responsible for stickiness and elasticity, therefore, without it, wheat flour would not have such properties.

Did you know? The total length of the root hairs of one spikelet of wheat is 10,000 km. Four stems are enough to cover our planet around the circumference.

Useful properties for the body

Due to the high content of vitamins and other useful substances, germinated grains are considered a medicinal product that positively affects the state of the body's internal systems if used regularly.

• If you highlight the general characteristics of the seed of wheat, then you should focus on such aspects:
• improved metabolism and digestion;
• stabilization of performance and activity;
• increase immunity;
• normalization of weight;
• regulation of microflora of the gastrointestinal tract;
• improvement of the condition of nails, skin, hair;
• general detoxification of the body.

In addition, after 2 weeks of eating germinated wheat grains, you will be able to notice that your overall health has also improved significantly. Negative phenomena such as insomnia, anxiety, depression and constant fatigue will go away. Many scientists argue that it is the sprouts of this cereal that are one of the keys to longevity.

For women

Today it has been proven that wheat sprouts help effectively lose weight, since they contain a large amount of fiber, enveloping the intestines and thus creating a feeling of prolonged saturation. In addition, in this way all toxins and toxins are removed from the body. This, in turn, affects the condition of the skin of women and prevents its premature aging.

For men

As for men, it is also advisable for them to regularly eat wheat germ (or as part of medicinal decoctions). When ingested, they are beneficial, a positive effect on the activity and health of the reproductive system, as well as eliminating impotence. In addition, these seeds can also be used as prophylaxis of prostatitis.

For children

Children are also recommended to use wheat germ for food, as they help strengthen the body’s overall tone and increase immunity (babies often get sick due to constant close contact with peers). Product also helps speed recovery after serious illnesses like flu, bronchitis. And calcium, contained in wheat in large quantities, will help strengthen the bones of a growing child.

For pregnant and lactating

The sprouts contain a wide range of vitamins, as well as useful minerals, which a pregnant woman needs so much. Due to the fact that they are correctly balanced in the composition of germinated cereal, there are no problems with their assimilation. In addition, the product contains a large amount of vitamin E (the so-called female vitamin), which is responsible for the normal development of the fetus and the prevention of genetic defects, as well as for the health of nails and the beauty of hair, which is especially necessary for a woman after childbirth.

For the elderly

Sprouted wheat is no less useful for the elderly. With regular use of funds based on it, blood pressure normalizes, which is quite often high among pensioners. In addition, the seeds help to remove bad cholesterol from the blood, which will prevent the possible occurrence of blood clots.

How to eat

You should not expect that you will feel an improvement in your condition after the first use of this cereal crop. In this matter, the main assistants are patience, time and regularity. Subject to these 3 conditions, the first results can be seen after 2-3 weeks. So that the result is not long in coming, it is better to take 70 g of product per day. In this case, we are not talking about any time restrictions: with the permission of the doctor, you can make the use of germinated wheat your own way of life and eat this daily.

Sprouted wheat

It is best that the grains of the plant are eaten in the morning, when the digestive tract is maximally tuned to work. In addition, their use before bedtime is not recommended, because it entails an increase in the activity of the body and, accordingly, insomnia.

Do not immediately introduce large portions of wheat seeds into the diet, as this can provoke indigestion and abdominal pain from a habit. To avoid such symptoms, you must start with 1 tsp. wheat, gradually increasing the rate to 65–70 g per day (it’s also not worth eating more).

It is necessary to chew grains well so that they are digested. If there are some problems with the teeth, you can grind the seedlings using a blender. You can also use seeds as additives in various dishes, such as salads or cereals. The only nuance is that it is better not to heat them, since this significantly reduces the content of useful elements in the product.

Wheat sprouts

If we talk about living green sprouts, they are also quite useful and are often used both as additives to salads, and as a juice or smoothie. Recently, powders and frozen foods called vitgrass have been quite popular.

Green sprouts should not be consumed continuously. The average course of administration is 14-50 days and is determined by the attending physician. After this, you must definitely give the body a little rest for 30-40 days and continue to use sprouts. The daily norm is 30 ml of juice or 7 g of powder from the finished product. More sprouts can cause side effects.

Application

Due to its beneficial properties, sprouted wheat is widely used both for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. Below are described the main areas in which you can use the sprouts of this grain crop, based on its effect on the body.

In medicine

For many years, physicians have investigated and continue to investigate the issue of improving the patient's condition by introducing germ or green wheat germ into the diet. Today it was possible to establish that this product exhibits high efficacy in case of diabetes, gastritis or pancreatitis.

With diabetes

By adding a small amount of sprouted wheat to salads, cereals and soups, you can reduce the glycemic index of products. Due to this, the general level of glucose in the blood also normalizes. On average, 15 g of ground germ powder of the cereal is enough for one serving of food.

With pancreatitis

Patients with pancreatitis should eat ground germinated grains (50 g), adding 1 tbsp each. sour cream and honey. Such a mixture should be consumed half an hour before meals in the morning. The course of treatment is 30 days. During this time, the work of the intestines and stomach is stabilized.

With gastritis

For the treatment of stomach diseases, home-made bread is very well suited using flour from wheat germ grains crushed in a blender. To knead the dough, it is necessary to pour 400 g of the obtained powder into 150 ml of boiled water (namely hot), after which add salt to the composition and knead the dough so that it is homogeneous. When the workpiece has cooled, you can add to it 20 g of yeast, suitable in milk. Now the dough is again kneaded with the addition of another 100-150 g of ground germinated wheat. The dough rises three times, after which bread is formed, greased with oil and placed in an oven preheated to + 200 ° C for 30 minutes. Sick bread can only be given on the second day, when it becomes a little stiff.

In cosmetology

In cosmetology, mainly wheat germ oil is used., since the application of hard textures of crushed powder could seriously injure the skin. Liquid is formed when using a cold press. Thus, up to 200 ml of oil can be obtained from 4 kg of seeds. It can be used as an independent cosmetic product (to moisturize the skin or improve the appearance of the ends of the hair), and as part of various masks. Some of them are presented below.

Acne mask

To prepare this mixture, you need to combine 1 tbsp. wheat germ oil with 20 ml of boiled water (it must first be cooled). After that, 0.5 parts of apple cider vinegar is added to the composition. Instead, you can also use lemon juice in the same proportions. All ingredients are thoroughly mixed and rubbed into the skin for 5-10 minutes. When you wash off the mask with warm water, do not forget to additionally apply a nourishing cream.

Mask for rejuvenation

If you want to give your skin a more elastic and moisturized look, you should use this anti-aging mask. To prepare it, mix 1 teaspoon of wheat germ and grape seed oil with pulp of mango chopped in a blender. Then add 7 g of pink clay to the mixture. Thoroughly mix the composition and apply it on the skin of the face, neck and décolleté. The mask must be kept for half an hour, after which it remains only to rinse it off with warm water.

In cooking

People have used wheat germ for food for decades, but the product does not lose its popularity at all. This is due to its interesting taste and great benefits to the body. You can eat sprouts as a separate meal or add to your favorite dishes.

Often sprouted grains are added to porridge, but previously they can be steamed for 30 minutes in boiling water. Although it is better to use a thermally untreated product. Often the seeds are crushed with a blender or in a meat grinder and the resulting powder is added to salads and soups or used as a breading for fish and meat. Often, salty flat cakes are prepared from such flour, which are distinguished by a pleasant taste and low calorie content. You can also mix the resulting powder with honey, chopped nuts and fruits, and then use the resulting composition as a hearty and healthy snack.

Recipe number 1 - salad with orange and wheat seedlings.

Cooking this dish will not take much time and implies the following algorithm:

1. Wash and peel the apple and orange, and then cut them into small cubes.
2. Peel the salad and chop it by hand, after removing the solid part of the stem below (it will take about 200 g).
3. Dice 100 g of tofu cheese.
4. Mix all the ingredients in a salad bowl, add 10 ml of olive oil and sprinkle a dish of 30 g chopped hazelnuts at the end.

Recipe number 2 - Kvass based on wheat germ, which is a natural probiotic.

It must be prepared as follows:

1. Soak 2 tbsp. wheat grains in 1 liter of pure water for 24 hours.
2. After that, rinse them thoroughly under running water.
3. Repeat soaking.
4. After the first sprouts and roots appear, pour the mixture into a blender and grind, adding 100 ml of water.
5. Transfer the resulting mixture into a 3-liter glass jar and cover with gauze, previously pouring 2 liters of water inside.
6. The mixture should ferment for about 2 days, after which the liquid is filtered in a new jar through a sieve.
7. The container can only be tightly covered and put in a refrigerator for storage, where the drink can be stored for no more than 4 weeks. Drink this kvass should be chilled.

Thus, this dietary product will become a hearty supplement to your favorite dishes, as well as saturate the body with nutrients.

How to choose wheat for germination

Experts recommend purchasing seeds of this cereal by weight. So you can control the freshness of the grains and avoid the appearance of unnecessary deposits at home on the shelves. Before buying, be sure to ask the seller if the seeds have undergone any treatment and how many days they have. If the answer to the first question is in the affirmative, then the wheat will not be able to germinate, so it is not worth buying.

Sometimes you can even determine the quality of the product visually: if the seeds are cut, then they were precisely chemically treated. It is best to choose soft grains for germination, for example, arnaut. Although some prefer solid views.

Important! Germinating seeds with a margin for the future is not worth it, because they can not be stored for a long time. It’s best to stick to 100 g per person.

How to germinate

There are various ways to germinate this valuable cereal crop at home.

One of the simplest and most popular methods is described below:

1. First you need to carefully sort through the grains, removing all dirt and possible debris.
2. After that, clean and whole wheat should be poured into a small container or bowl, add water, and mix thoroughly.Within a few minutes, empty grains will float to the surface, which must be drained, since they cannot germinate.
3. Rinse the wheat 2-3 times to remove the husk and dust that might be present in the package to the maximum.
4. Now you need to lay out all the remaining grains on a wide flat plate. Their layer should not be thicker than 1.5–2 cm, otherwise there will be no air access to individual seeds.
5. Next, you need to add a small amount of water to the plate, but make sure that there is not too much of it.
6. From above, cover the dish with a thin cloth or gauze, leave for a day in a warm place (best if the air temperature is + 21 ° C).
7. After a day, small white seedlings should appear in a plate. Their length will not exceed 1.5 mm. If you need long green sprouts, you should thoroughly rinse the seeds and repeat the procedure.
8. Before use, you need to rinse the germinated wheat under a stream of running water so that all dirt and unnecessary substances are removed from the surface of the grains.

How to store the product

There are a number of simple rules on how to store sprouted wheat at home:

1. It is important to choose high-quality grains, since specimens with mold or cracks will not be able to lie and be used for food for a long time.
2. As for intact specimens, they should immediately be transferred to a dry container after germination (you can also use a regular glass jar).
3. It should be noted that the container with sprouts should not be tightly clogged with a lid, otherwise the grains will suffocate. A small gap for air must be left.
4. Sprouts should not remain at room temperature for more than 4–5 days. After that, they will already begin to deteriorate and dry out.
5. As for the seeds, you can store them only 13-16 hours, after which you should only discard the unused amount of wheat. Such temporary fluctuations are affected by humidity in the room, temperature, and, of course, the type of cereal itself.

Important! According to doctors, germinated wheat is categorically not to be consumed by patients after surgery.

Harm and contraindications

Sprouted wheat can harm the body in case of allergies and individual intolerance to individual components. In addition, the use of sprouts is strictly not recommended for children under 12 years of age. If the patient has an ulcer or other serious problems in the gastrointestinal tract, the intake of sprouted grains should also be limited. Even in people whose stomach and intestines are completely healthy, symptoms like excessive flatulence or diarrhea can occur in the early days of consuming this product.

Do not consume germinated wheat without the knowledge of doctors, because the patient may not be aware of all his hidden diseases. So, often the regular use of this product provokes intoxication of the endocrine system and damage to the mucous membranes due to the presence of lectins in its composition (a special type of protein). You can accidentally disrupt your own metabolism, which will entail quite serious consequences.

Young sprouts of this grain crop are indeed very useful and are widely used both in medicine and in cooking in the recipes of many drinks, salads or even baking. The only problem is that this product is not suitable for everyone and therefore should be used only after consulting a doctor to avoid unpleasant consequences.