Barley: Health Benefits, Uses, and Barley Water Advantages

Barley: Health Benefits, Uses, and Barley Water Advantages

Barley is one of the highly nutritious crops globally.It is a major crop in India. Moreover, it had its origin in Eurasia as well.Barley water has its roots across the world. In addition, there are several benefits of drinking barley water.

For example: Kykeon is a mix of water, barley and other natural ingredients that is a part of Greek culture. The Brits version of barley water is a blend of lemon pulp, boiling pearl barley, and honey. People of southeast Asia, mostly people consume unfiltered barley water and remove the soft-boiled grains. The Indian version of barley water , Sattu, is a famous drink in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. Let’s find out more about barley and its benefits:

Why is Barley popular?
Barley is rich in Vitamin B- Complex, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, Copper, Dietary fiber and several other antioxidants. It not only removes toxins from the body, but also enhances the overall health.
Types of Barley

Firstly, you need to choose what kind of barley you require to prepare the barley water or sharbat juice. This whole grain comes in three new ways:

• Pearl Barley
• Huelled Barley
• Unhulled Barley

It will be best if you consume Pear or Hulled barley for the barley water preparation. Moreover, Huelled barley removes the grain’s rough layers, on the other hand pearl barley refines the grains even more. Some of the bran is eradicated from the barley at the time of polishing. However, these two barley varieties have both advantages and disadvantages so it is crucial to weigh them carefully. The eradication of bran makes pearl barley less nutrient-dense but it cooks faster. Hulled barley takes time in cooking but is a healthier choice.

What is Barley Water?
Barley water is a healthy drink that is famous for its several health benefits. Moreover, for developing barley water you just need barley seeds in a warm water and can add honey as per your taste.

Nutritional Facts of Barley:

One cup of boiled barley includes:

Protein- 5 grams

Calories-170 grams

Fat- 0.5 grams

Carbohydrates- 37 grams

Sugar-0 grams

Fiber- 7 grams

How much Barley water should you consume?
Barley water should be consumed in a balanced proportion. Consuming 1-2 medium-sized glasses is recommended. It goes without saying that every person has different hydration needs. So,it’s wise to pay attention to your body’s signals. During the summer season it is recommended to drink more barley water as it keeps your body hydrated.

Advantages of Barley Water

Barley water is a simple drink but it has many potential benefits too such as weight management, controlling blood sugar and many more. Let's look into the barley water health benefits:

1. It controls Blood Sugar Levels
   Barley Water is highly beneficial for diabetic patients as it helps in managing blood glucose levels in the body.The presence of beta-glucans helps in slowing down the absorption of glucose after a meal.

2. It Lowers Cholesterol
   Barley water can help cut down the blood cholesterol levels and decrease the risk of developing heart diseases. Moreover, this in turn prevents its formation and increases its excretion.

3. Improves Kidney Health
   It helps in cleansing the kidneys and helps in treating issues such as cystitis, kidney stones and high creatinine levels. Moreover, it also helps the kidney to remove all toxins from the body.

4. It helps in preventing Atherosclerosis
   Atherosclerosis is the health issue in which the arterial walls thicken and obstruct the blood flow. Moreover, it increases the chances of forming cardiovascular disease.

5. Promotes Weight Loss
   The presence of fiber in Barley promotes weight loss. Moreover, when consumed before the meal, then it will slow down the digestion process.

6. Promotes Healthy Skin
   Barley water removes toxins from the body giving you glowing and clear skin. Azelaic acid is the compound which is present and it helps in treating mild to moderate acne. Antioxidants in barley water will help in reducing the signs of aging.

7. Enhances Immunity
   The plethora of nutrients and free radical fighting properties, daily consumption of barley water will boost your immunity. With the goodness of zinc, iron, vitamins and minerals which will help in improving your immunity and keep diseases at bay. Moreover, the presence of iron in barley improves blood volume and handles some issues such as anemia, hemoglobin.

8. Balances Body Heat
   Consume a glassful of chilled barley water daily and observe the difference in your health. It also helps in reducing internal body heat.

Final words

Barley is known as a superfood staple. Do include barley in your daily diet and in some of the other forms.You can add grains to salads, steamed vegetables along with barley water. It is very necessary to keep in mind that barley should be consumed in a balanced way. Drinking too much barley water is harmful to your body too. People who have gluten intolerance or wheat allergy should not consume barley water. Therefore, it is very necessary to consume it in moderation.