For the Birds Parrot Rescue & Sanctuary 

If you’re wondering what wheatgrass is, it’s actually a chlorophyll-rich herb that’s acquired from the cotyledons of the wheat plant (Triticum aestivum). 

 

Wheatgrass provides a complete spectrum of B vitamins, it has higher vitamin A content than carrots and higher portions of vitamin C than oranges. It provides a balanced ratio of essential minerals like calcium, phosphorus magnesium, sodium and potassium along with a healthy blend of antioxidants, enzymes and phytonutrients and substantial amounts of polypeptides and simpler and shorter chains of amino acids.

 

Aside from its nutritional value, wheatgrass is used for medicinal purposes too.  When taken internally, raw wheatgrass is believed to help treat ulcerative colitis, constipation, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems.

 

Other benefits include helping to neutralize toxins and eliminate heavy metals and pollutants from the body while lessening over-acidity in the blood and helping restore the body’s pH balance, and stimulating the thyroid gland.

 

Wheatgrass may lower blood sugar levels so don't feed to birds with diabetes. Wheatgrass might lower blood sugar and might interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop feeding wheatgrass at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.