THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF WHEATGRASS
Kevin Boon of REAL Sustainability interviewed Dr Britt Cordi of Britt’s Superfoods. Britt is a conservationist and CEO of Britt’s Superfoods, a thriving business she has grown over the last 12 years. The company produces and sells organic wheatgrass juice and other superfood juices to thousands of customers all over Europe, UK and the US.
Wheatgrass is a nutrient-rich crop where it is grown and harvested when it is only 10 cm high, which means it does not contain gluten or wheat. Most of Britt’s Superfoods juices are grown 100 percent organically. Wheatgrass is rich in vitamins, minerals, amino acids and enzymes. Consuming a small amount can provide a lot of these nutrients. It has been shown to have many physical and mental health benefits.
WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF WHEATGRASS?
The wheatgrass juice has high levels of vitamins A, B5, B12 and E as well as other important nutrients. It is really great for supporting the immune system, boosting energy levels, reducing “bad” cholesterol, helping digestion and skin health. In fact, one little sachet of wheatgrass juice, containing 1 oz (30 ml) is equivalent to 1.5 lbs of broccoli in nutritional value. So, wheatgrass juice packs a nutritional punch.
WHAT FIRST INSPIRED YOU TO START A WHEATGRASS BUSINESS?
Britt explained how, when she was a child, she had very severe eczema causing her skin to be highly sensitive. When she was about 18, she started juicing wheatgrass for her own use and discovered it really helped her skin. She hasn’t had any problems with eczema since then. Ever since, she has grown wheatgrass for herself and her family. The idea of the company came about 12 years ago when Britt wanted to send juice to her parents in Denmark and the idea of shipping fresh wheatgrass juice to other people was formed. Her ambition now is to empower people to maintain and improve their health.
You give many talks about well-being. What are the most important things that people can do for their health?
As the saying goes “we are what we eat”. Having optimal levels of nutrients in our diet is extremely important for physical and mental health. Magnesium, for example, is the central molecule in chlorophyll, the green colour in plants, and is responsible for over 300 reactions in the body. The darker the green colour of plants the more magnesium they contain. Wheatgrass provides a booster dose of magnesium. It is important for everything from concentration and speed of thought to good sleep and recovery of muscle after sport. B vitamins are linked to energy levels and Vitamin A and E are effective anti-oxidants that support our immune system.
How important is sustainability to your business and what commitments have you made, for example becoming zero carbon or cutting out single use plastics?
Being sustainable is very important to Britt. Her background is nature conservation; she has a PhD in environmental conservation and cell biology. She has been working in conservation for most of her professional life.
Most of Britt’s Superfoods juices are grown organically. They are shipped to many countries and the right packaging is therefore important to ensure the product stays frozen and therefore fresh. The challenge has been to find a packaging material that provides insulation at the same time as being environmentally-friendly. Research has led Britt to recently launch packaging which is made out of recycled plastic bottles.
The company has Soil Association accreditation, which requires everything to be organic from the seed to the way it is grown. But it also has standards relating to, for example, fair wages.
In the context of the climate crisis, Britt talked about how the company is promoting a plant-based diet which has a lower carbon footprint than meat eating. Britt offsets the impact of shipping through her involvement in nature conservation. The company donates money to positive causes in the area of conservation.
Where do you see Britt’s Superfoods in five years time?
Britt’s bold vision is to develop a business that helps tens of thousands of people to improve their health. She is motivated by the feedback from her customers and their stories of how wheatgrass juice has resolved health conditions. For more information check out the Britts Superfoods website.
NB Information relating to content and benefits of wheatgrass are provided by Britt’s Superfoods.
