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Nothing says springtime like shoots and buds poking up from the ground—and runny noses, scratchy eyes and sneezing fits! While superfoods can’t stop the explosion of pollen around us, they can help soften the blow by supporting our healthiest immune and detox systems. In this edition of YQA, we’re answering questions about your favorite green superfoods for spring cleaning!
1. Is Wheatgrass Powder gluten-free?
Yes! Gluten is a protein that develops in the mature seed heads, or ‘wheat berries,’ of the wheatgrass stalks. (Well, technically it’s glutenin and gliadin at this Juncture, but that’s beside the point.) The foods and flours made from wheat berries are the primary sources of gluten in our diets.
Wheatgrass powder, on the other hand, is made from wheatgrass shoots when they’re just a few inches tall—mere babes!—and well before any seed head development has occurred. These blades do not contain any glutenous compounds and are rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and special compounds, like cleansing chlorophyll.
2. How do I make a wheatgrass shot?
Enjoying a daily wheatgrass shot is quick, convenient, and affordable with wheatgrass powder. Simply add ¼ tsp. to 2 oz. of water, whisk it well, and drink up! If you prefer, you can add a squeeze of lemon or lime, some grated ginger, or a touch of maple syrup for extra flavor.
3. Do you test your Matcha Powder for radiation?
Radiation in foods can be caused by either radioactive pollution, or from the processing step called ‘irradiation.’ Let’s define both.
Radioactive pollution is caused by human activity, like mining. On a large-scale, it encompasses nuclear power disasters, like Fukushima. These disasters result in drastically elevated radioactive contamination in the surrounding area that can be measured in the regional flora and fauna.
Irradiation, on the other hand, is a processing step that exposes food to radiation in a controlled environment to kill microbes and extend the food’s shelf life. It’s a controversial treatment and is illegal to use on organic foods. As a result, none of our superfoods are irradiated, ever.
Some Japan-grown teas have occasionally tested positive for elevated levels of radiation since the Fukushima nuclear disaster, resulting in concern over the safety of sourcing tea from this country. However, it’s important to note that the positive test results were measured from specific growing regions that were relatively near the disaster site. As of 2014, even these regions were no longer showing elevated radiation levels as defined by Japan’s strict testing standards.
Happily, our premium Matcha Powder is made from organic matcha leaves grown far west of the sites of nuclear contamination in a region that has not tested positive for elevated radiation. For this reason, we do not test our matcha for radiation. However, as with all of our superfoods, our matcha is tested for heavy metals and other contaminants using third party, independent labs. We are absolutely confident in its quality and safety, and many of us enjoy a cup daily!
4. Where are the ingredients in your Superfood+ Greens Blend grown?
Good question! Dark leafy greens can have a hidden dark side of their own: heavy metal contamination. These nutritious plants are especially efficient at pulling minerals out of the soils in which they’re grown—including heavy metals. That’s why we invested a lot of time and resources into finding the cleanest greens we possibly could. Our kale is sourced from growing operations based in both the US and Mexico; our wheatgrass powder is US grown; and our moringa powder comes from Kenya. All ingredients are grown on certified organic farms and the finished product is tested for heavy metals, microbials, and nutrition using third-party, independent labs.
Do you have a superfood question for Kali? Send it to her at askus@navitasorganics.com!
See what other burning superfood questions customers are asking in our candid "Your Questions Answered" Blog Series here.
