Reasons To Include Cat Grass In Your Smoothies

Cats may be strict carnivores that will stalk your bird feeder before raiding your vegetable garden, but there are some greens they do crave. Turns out cat grass holds some amazing health benefits for humans too.

What is cat grass?

For starters, cat grass is not catnip. Despite their similar names, cat grass and catnip are two distinct plants. Cat grass is derived from a cereal grain resembling wheat or barley, similar to wheatgrass superfood powders.

Store-bought, cat grass is always fresh, while catnip is generally sold dried. The most significant distinction between the two is their impact on cats. In contrast to catnip, which can produce either calming or hyperactive effects in cats, cat grass does not have any psychoactive properties.

Benefits of cat grass for pets

Cat grass fulfils two crucial functions for pets. Firstly, it acts as a safe and fibrous snack, aiding their digestive systems by serving as a laxative. Secondly, it serves as a vomit-inducer, facilitating the expulsion of indigestible materials through coughing.

Apart from its nutritional value as a healthy salad mix for pets, cat grass also possesses a practical benefit. Its presence can deter animals from munching on houseplants and crops in the garden, providing a protective barrier for your vegetation.

Benefits of cat grass for humans

Wheatgrass is a ‘miracle food’ for humans as much as it is for cats.

Boost the immune system and vitamin intake

Cat grass contains healthy antioxidants which fight free radicals in the bloodstream. It contains vitamins good for the teeth, skin, and claws fingernails. Wheatgrass is often added to smoothies or taken in shot form by people who want to boost their immune system and vitamin intake.

Healthy heart health

Wheatgrass, in particular, has significant chlorophyll content. Chlorophyll is a green pigment found in plants. It is often called “green blood” because it is biologically similar to the red pigment hemoglobin in human blood. The only difference is that chlorophyll contains magnesium, whereas hemoglobin contains iron. Adding chlorophyll to your diet can help you maintain a healthy heart and blood vessels. Wheatgrass is also rich in antioxidants. These substances help your red blood cells survive longer. Some clinical studies also show that wheatgrass benefits people with hemolytic anemia — a blood disorder that prevents your body from making enough hemoglobin.

Detoxify your liver

The Chlorophyll in wheatgrass also regulates and protects your liver. Other nutrients in wheatgrass juice such as choline and trace minerals similarly purify the liver. Research in rats showed that choline prevented the accumulation of fats in the liver even if the rats were given a cholesterol-rich diet. Choline also reduces cholesterol and glycerol and protects liver cells from damage. Drinking wheatgrass juice may thus help prevent liver problems like fatty liver disease.

These are only three of the many evidence-based benefits cat grass offers the inhabitants of planet Earth.

Finding the right grass for you (and your pet)

Feline-friendly grass is a mixture of grasses typically grown from barley, oat, wheat, or rye seeds. The most common types of cat grass are wheatgrass, barley grass, oat grass, and ryegrass. Experiment with them all to see which type you and your kitty prefer. Trust me, there will most certainly be a preference.

Growing cat grass at home

Drinking fresh cat grass juice daily is great for your health and is easy and inexpensive to grow at home using fresh wheat seeds or DIY cat grass grow kits. 

Cat Grass Smoothie

Recipe by Stoned CitizenCourse: Breakfast JuiceCuisine: BeveragesDifficulty: Easy

Servings

1servings

Prep time

5minutes

Total time

5minutes

Cat grass chops up pretty well in a blender so you don’t need a fancy juicer to reap the benefits of wheatgrass when you drink this sweet and fresh green smoothie.

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Ingredients

• 1 cup wheatgrass / cat grass

• 1 cup fresh fruit of your choice

• 1 cup ice

• 1 apple or carrot

• 1 tsp lemon juice

• 1 tsp honey

Directions

• Add all the ingredients together and blend
• Apple and carrot go great with wheatgrass.
• If using raw apples, use 2 cups of raw apples plus one cup of apple or other fruit juice.
• Add a few sprigs of mint for added dimension.