Barley is a cereal grain that belongs to the grass family. It is a fodder for the animals and also used for making strews and soups. It is fermented and used for making beer and other distilled beverages. It is a rich source of maltose. Barley is very beneficial for your health as well as the skin and the hair.
Skin Benefits of Barley:
Anti-ageing properties:
Being rich in antioxidants, barley slows down the signs of aging. Drinking barley water helps in flushing out all toxins from the body and provides you a wrinkle free and clear skin.
Healing properties:
Zinc present in barley helps it in healing the body. If you take barley greens orally or apply a paste of it on your face, you can get rid of facial lesions within 5 or 6 months.
Improves skin tone:
Because of the ability of barley to maintain the elasticity of the skin, the skin is kept tight supple, well toned and young looking.
Maintains skin elasticity
Presence of selenium in barley helps in retaining the elasticity of the skin and also prevents damage by free radicals. Selenium is also good for the proper and improved functioning of the pancreas, heart and the immune system. If your body is deficient in selenium, you may suffer from cancers of the stomach, liver, breast, colon, prostate and the skin.
Hair Benefits of Barley:
Combats hair loss:
One of the reasons for hair loss is anemia. Barley is rich in iron and copper, which help in the increased production of red blood cells, thus preventing anemia. This in turn prevents hair loss.
Promotes hair growth:
Micronutrients like thiamin and niacin is found in good quantities in barley, which aid in improved growth of the hair. Barley is also rich in Procyanidin B-3, which stimulates the growth of hair.
Restore hair color:
You can get back your original hair color by consuming green barley regularly. Barley is rich in copper, which helps in the production of melanin, the pigment that gives color to your hair.
Health and Medicinal Benefits of Barley:
Antidote properties:
The antidote properties of barley prevent the poison from spreading in the body.
Aids in digestion:
Consuming barley juice is good for the digestive system. It helps in digestion by stimulating digestive enzymes and making them work more effectively. This reduces the bloated feeling you get in the stomach. It also increases the rate of metabolism and prevents accumulation of fat in the body, thus helping you get rid of calories.
Benefits pregnancy:
It is excellent for pregnant ladies. It helps in preventing morning sickness and nausea and also maintains normal levels of blood sugar, thus preventing gestational diabetes. It is also beneficial for improving the blood circulation and prevents high blood pressure. Having barley prevents constipation too.
Checks diabetes:
The fiber beta-glucan in barley slows down the absorption of carbohydrates by the body and lowers the levels of glucose and insulin. So, if you are a diabetic patient, have barley regularly. This helps in balancing the levels of blood sugar and controlling diabetes.
Helps in weight loss:
When you consume barley, it fills your stomach and keeps away hunger. As a result you will eat less. The fiber present in barley removes fat substances form the body. So barley is very effective in losing weight.
Improves immunity:
Barley has about two times the amount of Vitamin C than in oranges and this makes it very effective in providing you a strong immune system. So, consuming barley helps you to prevent flu, cold and cough. Iron in barley increases the volume of blood and prevents anemia and fatigue. It also ensures that your kidney functions properly and the body cells develop normally. Manganese in barley provides you more energy and is beneficial for your nervous system and immune system.
Lowers cholesterol levels:
Soluble and insoluble fibers are found in high quantities in barley. Soluble fibers bind with fatty acids and helps in lowering the levels of cholesterol as well as LDL, the bad cholesterol. Insoluble fiber helps in lowering the blood cholesterol levels. With low cholesterol levels the risk of heart attacks and strokes is also reduced.
Protection against cancer:
Enterolactone, a plant lignin found in barley, helps in preventing coronary diseases and breast cancer. The dietary fiber in barley ensures proper functioning of the large intestine by producing good bacteria. This protects you from colon cancer.
Prevents gallstones:
Barley contains insoluble fiber, which helps in reducing the secretion of bile acids, thus lowering the levels of triglycerides. So, it helps in preventing gallstones in women.
Prevents osteoporosis:
Phosphorous and copper present in barley provide you healthy bones. Phosphorous is beneficial in curing tooth and bone problems. Barley juice contains calcium which is eleven times more than that found in milk. Manganese is also necessary for bone production. So, barley can prevent osteoporosis.
Prevents atherosclerosis:
Atherosclerosis is caused by the accumulation of cholesterol on the artery walls, as a result of which the artery walls become thick. Barley contains niacin, which lowers the levels of cholesterol and lipoprotein, thus reducing the risk of cardiovascular problems. Postmenopausal women who suffer from high cholesterol, blood pressure and diseases of the cardiovascular system benefit a lot by having barley regularly.
Protects the body organs:
Barley is good for protecting the important body organs like liver, heart, kidneys, pancreas and so on. Having barley regularly can keep you away from heart diseases, prostate problems and cancers of the breast and the colon. Phosphorous in barley helps in keeping your bones and teeth in good condition and also ensures proper functioning of the heart muscles and the kidneys. Barley also cools down your body and therefore is a good drink during the summer months.
