Can humans eat Bermuda grass? What you need to know about safety and digestion

November 21, 2025 •

5 min read

Did you know that while cows have a four-chambered stomach designed to digest cellulose, the primary component of grass, humans lack the necessary enzymes to process it effectively? This physiological difference is key to understanding the critical question: Can humans eat Bermuda grass?

Quick Summary

Eating Bermuda grass is not advisable for humans because it lacks significant nutritional value, is difficult to digest, and poses several health risks, including contamination.

Key Points

Indigestible Cellulose: Humans cannot properly digest the high cellulose content in Bermuda grass, leading to minimal nutritional benefit and potential digestive upset.
Contamination Risks: Eating lawn grass exposes you to potential contaminants like pesticides, herbicides, and bacteria from animal waste.
Not Toxic, But Unsafe: While not poisonous, the health risks of eating Bermuda grass, including dental wear from silica, make it an unsafe dietary choice.
Difference from Wheatgrass: Bermuda grass is not a cultivated human food crop like wheatgrass; the latter is prepared and consumed under controlled, safe conditions.
Ayurvedic vs. Dietary Use: Traditional Ayurvedic applications for Bermuda grass differ from modern dietary consumption and require professional medical consultation due to limited human studies.
Safe Alternatives Exist: For nutritional benefits, it is best to stick to known edible greens like spinach, kale, and cultivated wheatgrass rather than lawn grass.

Can humans eat Bermuda grass?

Bermuda grass, known scientifically as Cynodon dactylon, is a common sight in lawns, fields, and pastures across the globe. Often praised for its durability and resilience, it serves as excellent forage for livestock like cattle, goats, and sheep. However, this does not mean it is suitable for human consumption. While Bermuda grass is not considered toxic to humans in small quantities, several factors make eating it unadvisable and potentially harmful. Humans lack the digestive system required to break down the tough cellulose in grass, meaning it offers virtually no nutritional benefit.

The human digestive system and cellulose

Unlike ruminant animals, which have specialized digestive systems to ferment and break down cellulose, humans cannot. Cellulose is a type of dietary fiber that passes through our digestive tract mostly undigested. While fiber is an important part of a healthy diet, the fibrous nature of grass, especially in high quantities, can cause significant digestive distress. Consuming large amounts of grass could lead to:

Stomach aches
Bloating
Gas
Constipation or other bowel issues

Other health risks of eating Bermuda grass

Beyond the issue of digestibility, eating Bermuda grass from your lawn or a wild area comes with a host of other risks:

Pesticide and herbicide contamination: Many lawns and fields are treated with chemical pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers to control pests and weeds. Ingesting these chemicals can be highly toxic to humans and lead to serious health problems. It is nearly impossible to guarantee that any lawn grass is free of these treatments.
Animal waste and pathogens: Outdoor grass is regularly exposed to animal waste from birds, pets, and other wildlife. This can introduce bacteria like E. coli or other pathogens that can cause severe illness.
Silica content: Grass blades contain silica, an abrasive mineral that can wear down tooth enamel over time. Chewing grass regularly would be detrimental to your dental health.
Allergen exposure: For many people, Bermuda grass pollen is a common allergen that causes symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes. While this is not related to eating the grass, some individuals may also experience contact dermatitis from handling it.
Potential for mold or fungi: In certain environmental conditions, especially after frost, Bermuda grass can become contaminated with molds or fungi that produce harmful mycotoxins. This is primarily a concern for livestock but highlights another potential risk.

Bermuda grass vs. other edible grasses

Some confusion arises because certain types of grass are consumed by humans, such as wheatgrass. It is crucial to distinguish between a specially cultivated food product like wheatgrass and the lawn grass you find in your backyard. The preparation methods, nutritional composition, and risks are vastly different.


Feature	Bermuda Grass	Wheatgrass (Cultivated)
Primary Use	Animal forage, turf grass.	Health supplement, juiced or powdered.
Nutritional Value (Humans)	Minimal; indigestible cellulose offers little value.	High in vitamins, minerals, and chlorophyll when juiced.
Risk Factors	Potential for contamination from chemicals and animal waste, dental wear, digestive upset.	Safer when organically grown; risks mainly related to proper handling and sanitation.
Digestibility	Very low for humans due to high cellulose and silica.	Juiced for easy absorption of nutrients; fiber is typically strained out.
Preparation	No safe or palatable preparation for dietary consumption is widely accepted.	Juiced, powdered, or used as a dietary supplement.

Can you drink Bermuda grass juice?

Some traditional health practices, particularly in Ayurvedic medicine, use Bermuda grass (known as Arugampul) for its medicinal properties. It is often prepared as a juice or tea, believed to help with digestion, boost immunity, and support detoxification. However, this is not a recommendation for a modern diet. The key distinction is the context: traditional herbal medicine, where specific preparations and dosages are used, versus casually consuming it for nutrition.

Experts stress that you should consult with a doctor before using any plant for medicinal purposes, especially since most studies on Bermuda grass have been in animals and require more robust human clinical trials. Given the risks of contamination and lack of modern evidence for safety and effectiveness, relying on traditional uses is not a sound dietary choice today. If you are interested in plant-based health benefits, safer and more palatable alternatives are available from reputable sources.

Conclusion: Just don't eat it

While a small nibble of Bermuda grass is unlikely to be poisonous, it is not a food source for humans and should be avoided. The risks associated with chemical contamination, pathogens from animal waste, digestive issues from indigestible cellulose, and dental damage from silica far outweigh any potential minimal benefits. Unlike cultivated food grasses, the Bermuda grass on your lawn is not meant for consumption. For nutritional benefits, stick to fruits, vegetables, and grains that your body is equipped to digest. If you are exploring herbal remedies, always consult a healthcare professional and use products from a controlled, reputable source. For further reading on the potential medicinal properties of Cynodon dactylon, you can explore resources like the Journal of Ethnopharmacology which have published studies on its extracts.

Alternative edible greens to consider

For those looking to incorporate more greens into their diet, here are some safe and delicious alternatives:

Spinach: A powerhouse of vitamins and minerals, perfect for salads, smoothies, or sautéed dishes.
Kale: This leafy green is packed with antioxidants and can be enjoyed raw or cooked.
Wheatgrass: A popular health food, typically consumed as a fresh juice shot for a boost of nutrients.
Microgreens: These young vegetable greens are harvested right after the cotyledon leaves have developed and are rich in flavor and nutrients.
Herbs: Many common garden herbs, such as parsley, basil, and mint, are safe and add great flavor to meals.

By choosing these options, you can safely enjoy the health benefits of green plants without the risks and complications of eating lawn grass.

What if a pet eats Bermuda grass?

While not toxic, excessive grass eating in pets might signal an underlying health issue or boredom. Always ensure your pets are not ingesting chemically-treated grass.

How to safely incorporate green nutrients into your diet

Focus on consuming nutrient-dense greens from reliable sources. This includes organic vegetables from grocery stores or those grown in a controlled, pesticide-free home garden. Juicing vegetables like kale and spinach is a great way to access concentrated nutrients without the issues associated with lawn grass.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, it is not safe to eat Bermuda grass from your lawn. Even if the grass itself isn't toxic, lawns are often treated with chemicals like pesticides and herbicides that are dangerous for human consumption.

For humans, Bermuda grass has virtually no nutritional value. We lack the digestive enzymes needed to break down the tough cellulose and extract nutrients, so it will pass through your system undigested.

A small, accidental ingestion of Bermuda grass is unlikely to cause serious harm, as it is not toxic. However, it can cause minor digestive upset like stomach aches or bloating due to its high fiber content.

While it is possible to juice Bermuda grass, it is not recommended. It doesn't offer the same high nutritional benefits as wheatgrass and poses risks of contamination from pesticides and animal waste unless grown specifically for consumption in controlled conditions.

In some traditional medical systems, like Ayurveda, Bermuda grass is used for its purported medicinal properties. These uses, however, involve specific preparations and differ significantly from dietary consumption.

Grazing animals like cows have specialized, multi-chambered stomachs that allow them to ferment and digest the high cellulose content of grass. Humans do not have this digestive adaptation.

For safe and effective nutritional intake, you can consume a variety of leafy greens and herbs, such as spinach, kale, lettuce, and parsley. Cultivated wheatgrass is also a safe option when prepared correctly.

Yes, chewing on grass can potentially harm your teeth. The blades of grass contain silica, an abrasive mineral that can gradually wear down your tooth enamel over time.

Yes, Bermuda grass pollen is a common allergen that can cause hay fever symptoms like a runny nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes. Some individuals may also experience skin irritation from contact with the grass.