Most People Eat or Drink Grass Everyday

Tagged with food, grass, rice, plants, sugar, whisky on December 19, 2023

The term “grass” actually means anything in the grass family (Poaceae). Many grasses are edible, and the names of some of them may surprise you.

Edible Grass

Rice, a grain, is consumed by more than half of the world’s population. Maize, called corn in the United States, is also a grain. More maize is produced than rice, but it isn’t limited to regular food products. Yes, popcorn is considered food.

Some ethanol is made with maize, along with corn oil, corn meal, corn starch, and corn syrup. Both sugar and high fructose corn syrup are used in products we don’t even expect to see them in. Many processed food products that used to contain sugar now contain high fructose corn syrup and vice versa.

Barley, oats, rye, and wheat are other grains used in various food and drink products. I drink barley grass and I eat oatmeal everyday now, because both can help me lower my blood pressure, reduce my bad cholesterol levels, keep my blood sugar in check, and make me feel full longer. The Philippines is a large importer of barley, mostly for use in alcoholic beverages, like beer and whisky. That’s probably why moderate whisky drinking is actually good for me.

I use whole wheat bread in my sandwiches, but I can’t stand the taste of rye. When I was young, my mother tried to get me to eat pumpernickel bread, made with rye, and I gagged on it. Grits are made from corn, and I’ve eaten it before, but I have a hard time eating more than a few spoonfuls. It doesn’t have much flavor.

Although millet and sorghum are other grains, I don’t believe I’ve ever consumed them in any form. I’m sure some animal fodder contains them, along with all the other grains and byproducts. Straw is the leftover byproduct of cereal plants, after the grain and chaff have been removed. It’s used in thatch roofing, as a binding agent for building bricks, and definitely used as animal fodder (along with hay).

Grasses That Aren’t Grains

Some grasses that aren’t grains are still food items, like sugarcane and bamboo shoots. I suppose you could eat anything that grows if you’ve gone without food long enough, but I doubt anyone would enjoy eating lawn and ornamental grass or invasive species like reeds and crabgrass.

Bamboo is used in the construction of all kinds of products, including chairs, tables, and flooring. Despite its appearance and similar uses, rattan isn’t related to bamboo, and it’s not a member of the grass family.

Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants in the world. Although it’s a member of the grass family, it behaves a lot like a weed.

Image by Carlo Sardena from Pixabay