Barley Health Benefits and Information
NEW - Watch Dr Kevin Passero, N.D. discuss why you should consider supplementing with barley grass supplements. He also discusses how to choose between all of the barley supplements on the market.
Watch Video For many centuries humans have used the barley plant's seeds and leaves as food and medicine. A source of B vitamins, vitamin E, and folic acid, barley seeds are also ground into flour for baking or processed for use as a cereal. Malt sugar, another common derivative of barley, is made and used as a natural laxative. Many people associate barley with making beer, but in other parts of the world it is a primary grain for food. In Asia, barley seeds are fermented and added to soybeans, salt, and seaweed for flavoring food.
For medical use barley is being researched for its ability to help alleviate diabetes, high cholesterol, and obesity. Some evidence suggests that barley seed products in the diet may improve blood sugar levels in individuals with diabetes, possibly because the fiber in barley seeds delays stomach emptying and slows down the absorption of carbohydrates from foods. Like oatmeal, barley seeds contain both soluble and insoluble types of fiber that may help to lower cholesterol. Studies have shown that individuals with barley in their diet experienced reductions in their total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL - the bad cholesterol), or triglyceride levels. Additionally, barley may assist in weight loss because it acts as an appetite suppressant making people feel like they have eaten more than they really have. Barley seeds may also protect against colon cancer.