Is Wheatgrass Ultra Processed?
Not Typically Ultra-Processed
It depends on the form. Fresh wheatgrass juice is Level 1 — just juiced young wheat plants. Wheatgrass powder is Level 1-2, involving dehydration and milling but no chemical additives. Both forms are minimally processed.
Key Findings
- •Fresh wheatgrass juice is Level 1 — a single mechanical extraction step
- •Wheatgrass powder is Level 1-2 — dehydration and milling are simple physical processes with no additives
- •Wheatgrass supplements in capsule form with fillers and flow agents are more processed at Level 2-3
Why Is Wheatgrass Level 1?
Wheatgrass is the young grass stage of the common wheat plant (Triticum aestivum), harvested at 7-10 days of growth before the plant produces grain. Fresh wheatgrass juice involves a single mechanical step: passing the grass through a juicer. Wheatgrass powder production adds dehydration (freeze-drying or low-temperature air drying) and milling into fine powder. Freeze-drying preserves more nutrients but is more energy-intensive. Neither form requires chemical additives, preservatives, or solvents. The distinction between wheatgrass and wheat is important: wheatgrass is harvested before the grain forms and is gluten-free at this growth stage because gluten proteins develop only in the wheat kernel.
Wheatgrass Processing Level Distribution
How 234 wheatgrass products break down by processing level:
Average ingredient count: 4.6 · Average nutrition score: 6.8/10
Wheatgrass Brand Comparison
Comparing the least to most processed wheatgrass products in our database:
| Product | Brand | Level | Score | Ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pines, Wheat Grass Powder | Pines | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
| Certified Organic Wheat Grass Green Superfood Pure Powder | Now | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
| Growagra, Organic Wheat Grass & Carrot Juice Shots | Growagra | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
| Pines, Wheat Grass Juice Powder | Pines | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
| Pines, Wheat Grass Powder | Pines | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
| Wheat Grass Powder | Wegmans | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
| Wheat Grass Green Superfood Pure Powder | Now | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
| Organic Wheatgrass Juice Whole Food Powder, Wheatgrass Juice | Nubeleaf | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
| Organic Wheatgrass Juice Powder, Wheatgrass | Navitas Organics | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
| Wheat Grass Green Superfood Juice Powder | Now | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
How to Read Wheatgrass Labels
- 1
Wheatgrass powder should list one ingredient: wheatgrass (or dried wheatgrass)
- 2
Fresh wheatgrass juice from a juice bar is Level 1 — nothing added
- 3
Wheatgrass capsules with added fillers (maltodextrin, silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate) are Level 2-3
- 4
Check for added sweeteners or flavors in wheatgrass juice blends — these increase processing level
Frequently Asked Questions
Is wheatgrass gluten-free?
Wheatgrass harvested at the young grass stage (before grain formation) does not contain gluten proteins. Gluten develops in the wheat kernel, which has not yet formed at the 7-10 day harvest point. This is a plant biology fact, not a processing distinction.
Is wheatgrass powder as good as fresh wheatgrass juice?
From a processing standpoint, fresh juice is Level 1 and powder is Level 1-2. The powder undergoes dehydration and milling — additional physical steps but no chemical processing. Nutrient retention depends on the drying method used (freeze-drying preserves more).
Is wheatgrass juice a superfood?
"Superfood" is a marketing term, not a processing classification. Wheatgrass juice is Level 1 — minimally processed young wheat grass that is juiced. Its processing level is comparable to any fresh vegetable juice.