Best Benefits of Barley that Enhance Almost Every Aspect of your Health

Barley belongs to the family of grains. Along with rice and wheat, it has secured its position as a most consumed grain in the world. Most people prefer oat or wheat over barley as they are unaware of the amazing properties of barley. Barley has been used in traditional rites and herbal medicines. Barley water is probably the most popular use barley has in the field of herbal medicine. Some people might be unaware, but barley has been used for ages in the production of beer. Barley is a store of essential proteins and vitamins. Along with all this, barley is great for those who wish to lose weight the right and healthy way. There are quite a number of health benefits of barley. Along with this, there are many benefits of barley for hair and skin.

Let me Highlight the Many Health Benefits of Barley for you:

Helps you lose weight:

The best thing about consuming barley is that it can help you lose weight as it contains a lot of essential amino acids and fiber. Along with that barley also helps maintain a steady blood pressure. A steady blood pressure prevents the extra deposition of fat that can take place otherwise.

Barley is low in calories. Another thing about barley that can help you in losing weight is that it can satisfy your hunger and keep you satiated for long. When you don’t feel hungry, you don’t eat unnecessarily. Thus, losing weight is one of the best benefits of barley.

Keeps the intestine and colon healthy:

Barley is the most plausible solution for those suffering from bowel problems like constipation. Barley enhances the health of the intestine.

Along with this, it also increases the bulk of the fecal matter due to being high in fiber. This way the transit time of feces decreases due to which the chances of contracting hemorrhoids and colon cancer decrease as well.

The dietary fiber in the barley works as fuel for maintaining the health of the large intestine. The gut-friendly bacteria in the large intestine that ferment the insoluble fibers, produce essential fatty acids which act as a fuel for the cells of the large intestine. They also produce propionic acid and acetic acid which act as fuel for the liver and muscle cells respectively. Intestine health is profoundly taken care by barley; this adds a major asset to the benefits of barley.

Treatment of symptoms of arthritis:

Inflammation of joints leads to arthritis. This leads to restricted movements and extreme pain in some cases.

Barley contains copper which apparently can be useful in reducing the symptoms of arthritis. Copper destroys free radicals which lead to cell regeneration. copper is important for the formation of collagen. Collagen is needed for the formation of tissues which helps in the flexible movement of the joints.

Great breakfast cereal:

Barley is considerably an amazing cereal for breakfast. A simple breakfast of barley is enough to keep you energetic throughout the day. Barley is packed with magnesium, copper, calcium, phosphorous and selenium. Other than these, it has abundant amounts of vitamins B and C.

Having a bowl of barley for breakfast will provide you with the nutrients that are necessary for the body and keep you satiated. This is probably the best benefit of barley. This way you have a greater control over your hunger and don’t need to keep eating.

Prevents cancer:

Barley is high in vitamin B-17 which, according to reports, has the potential to destroy cancer cells while leaving the healthy ones unharmed. Barely has copper which can help in warding off the free radicles.

Barley is mostly known to prevent colon cancer. The dietary fiber of barley increases the bulk of fecal matter and decrease the transit time of its passage. Thus, in this way, the colon stays healthy and colon cancer is prevented.

Helps in managing diabetes:

People who suffer from type 2 diabetes need to cut down on sugary eatables and increase the fiber in their diet. Including oat and barley has been recommended by most doctors. The high content of dietary fiber gives the energy to the body without increasing the glucose level of the blood.

According to some studies, people who stuck to eating barley (high in beta-glucagon soluble fiber) every day has lower levels of glucose.

Prevents the formation of gallstones

Consuming barley reduces the levels of triglycerides. Barley is rich in insoluble fiber. It is believed that insoluble fiber reduces the secretion of the bile juice which contributes to gallstone formation.

Know More: Home Remedies for Gallstones Prevention

Prevents anemia:

Barley can also be used to treat anemia. Anemia is the condition of hypoxia that arises due to decrease in the number of functional red blood cells. Barley has high iron and copper content. Iron is required for the formation of hemoglobin. With more hemoglobin, a number of red blood cells are produced.

The copper mineral is also required for the formation of red blood cells.

Repairs body tissue:

One of the widespread benefits of barley is that it can help in the repairing of tissues. Barley contains phosphorous which is a component of almost all cells. It makes up the genetic material and is needed in the formation and repair of bones. Along with that, phosphorous is also needed in the nervous system.

Source for Vitamin B:

Of the many benefits of barley is that it has an abundance of vitamin B. Vitamin B is mainly composed of niacin. Niacin is required in by the body for normal functioning. Niacin can help in reducing bad cholesterol, lipoproteins and free radicals, all of which when in excess can lead to serious health problems.

Prevents osteoporosis:

Barley is rich in phosphorous, magnesium and copper. Phosphorus and Magnesium are materials needed to form a bone. Osteoporosis is a condition when the bones start showing pores due to degeneration of the bone. When the body needs minerals, the bones automatically degenerate to fulfill the requirements of the body. However, when the loss of minerals from the bone is not corrected by intake of proper amounts of minerals, then the pores of the bone make it brittle leading to a case of osteoporosis.

This is mostly seen in older people, especially women. Since barley has all these minerals, it prevents the degeneration of the bone in the first place itself.

Keeps the heart healthy:

Barley contains many vital minerals and vitamins. Niacin or vitamin B is helpful in reducing bad cholesterol and free radicles. Bad cholesterol can lead to the formation of plaque in the capillaries leading to artery blockage. Barley also stabilizes the blood pressure. In this way, barley is needed in the proper functioning of the heart.

Barley is high in magnesium content. Magnesium is needed in the proper conduction of the nerve impulses and muscle movements.

Supports a healthy kidney:

Barley water can act as a diuretic. Since barley acts a diuretic, it leads to higher urination. This way the body flushes out more toxin and the formation of kidney stones is also prevented. This also helps in keeping the blood pressure stable. Barley water can be used to cure kidney stones. Magnesium from barley can be used to dissolve the calcium oxalate crystals which make up the kidney stones.

Along with all this, barely contains vitamins and minerals, which are responsible for keeping the kidney healthy.

Maintains an optimal health:

Along with magnesium and phosphorous, barley also contains selenium. This element is helpful in preventing colon cancer. Also, it is an important element in thyroid functioning. It acts as an antioxidant defense and builds up the immune responses of the body.

Selenium has also been known to help in the tissue repairing system of the body. All these contribute to the barley benefits for health.

Healthy bones and teeth:

Barley is a good source of magnesium and phosphorous. Barley also contains calcium.

Bones and teeth are made of these elements. Regular intake of barley paves way for healthier teeth and bones.

Benefits of barley for hair:

Restores hair color:

Barley has copper in it which can help in restoring the natural color of your hair. Copper is a component needed in the production of the pigment melanin. Melanin is the pigment responsible for the color of skin and hair.

Promotes hair growth;

Barley is rich in vitamin B and niacin. The nutrients and minerals provided by barley are quite helpful in promoting hair growth.

Prevents hair loss:

Most people suffer from hair loss due to anemia. When the blood flow to the scalp is low, the hair becomes weak and thus, break. Barley contains copper and iron which are needed for the production of red blood cells and hemoglobin. This way, when the quality of blood increase, automatically the hair health improves and this way hair loss is prevented.

Barley for skin:

Improves skin elasticity:

Barley contains selenium which is helpful in preserving skin elasticity. Selenium is useful in repairing damaged tissue and maintain these tissues. When the skin loses its elasticity, the skin forms wrinkles and creases.

A proper intake of selenium can keep the skin healthy and prevent the formation of wrinkles.

Has anti aging properties:

Barley has antioxidants which are helpful in eliminating the toxins from the body and skin. Thus, giving you a young and healthy looking skin.

Improves skin tone:

When the skin becomes unhealthy, it becomes dull and darker. Barely has selenium and many antioxidants which tighten the skin and eliminate the toxins from the body. This way the skin becomes healthier leading to a brighter and pleasant skin tone.

Has healing properties:

Barley is high in selenium and has traces of zinc. Selenium is good for repairing tissues and cells. Zinc has also been reported to improve the process of healing.

Barley for Healthy hair and skin:

Barley is a store of many vital nutrients, minerals, and vitamins. Consuming barley regularly provides the body with these important elements which are needed by the body to function properly. The proper functioning of the body means a healthy body and thus the skin hair and other organs of the body stay healthy as well.