Health Benefits Of Barley - Anti Cancer

Commonly known as ‘jau’ in India, barley is a member of the grass family and a major cereal grain. This wholegrain resembles wheat berries but is somewhat lighter in color. It is extremely versatile with its rich nut like flavor and an appealing chewy consistency. It is used as fodder for animals as well as in soups and stews. On being fermented, barley is used as an ingredient in beer and certain distilled beverages. Barley grains, being rich in maltose, are made into malt and used as syrup sweetener.

Barley Benefits

The uses of barley are many. For the convenience of reading, here we have divided the benefits into the categories of health, skin and hair.

Skin Benefits of Barley:

When it comes to skincare, barley is extremely beneficial as it is packed with vitamin C, antioxidants and minerals. It has proven to reduce inflammation and create a barrier to protect the skin from outside pollutants. The skincare benefits of barley are as follows.

1. Maintains Skin Elasticity:

Barley contains selenium which preserves skin elasticity and protects it against free radical damage. Selenium improves the functioning of your heart, pancreas and immune system. Deficiency of this mineral can cause skin, colon, prostate, liver, stomach and breast cancers.

2. Improves Skin Tone:

By enhancing skin elasticity, barley facilitates skin tightening, making your skin more supple and well-toned and giving it a younger appearance.

3. Anti-ageing Properties:

The antioxidants in barley help in decelerating the signs of ageing. Barley water flushes out toxins from the body, thus giving you a clean wrinkle free skin texture.

4. Healing Properties:

Barley is a rich source of zinc which speeds up the healing properties of the body. Barley greens, when taken orally or applied as a paste can heal facial lesions within 5-6 months.

[ Read: Benefits of Water Chestnut ]

Hair Benefits of Barley:

Healthy hair is a part of a healthy body. Deficiency of nutrients or prolonged illness can adversely affect your hair, leading to hair problems such as thinning, alopecia, hair loss, premature greying, dandruff etc. Thus, the hair follicles also need nutrients to maintain their health and growth of the hair. Barley contains all the vital nutrients including proteins, carbohydrates, dietary fiber as well as vitamins and antioxidants that are vital for hair health and offers the following hair care benefits.

5. Restores Hair Colour:

Consumption of green barley grass helps in restoring your hair colour. Moreover, barley contains the mineral copper that is involved in the formation of melanin, a pigment which provides colour to your hair.
<h36. Promotes Hair Growth:

Barley is rich in micronutrients thiamin and niacin that help in hair growth. It also contains Procyanidin B-3 which is isolated from barley and identified as a hair growth stimulant.

7. Combats Hair Loss:

Anaemia is one of the most common causes of hair loss. Barley contains the minerals iron and copper which enhance the production of red blood cells, thus warding off anaemia and consequently stimulating hair growth.

[ Read: Benefits of Water Spinach ]

Health Benefits of Barley:

Being a great source of nutrients, antioxidants and minerals, barley is loaded with amazing health benefits which are given below.

8. Lowers Cholesterol Levels:

Barley is rich in both soluble and insoluble fibers. The soluble fiber dissolves and binds with fatty acids, thus lowering total cholesterol levels as well as low-density lipoprotein (LDL), also known as bad cholesterol. The insoluble fiber, on the other hand, yields propionic acid that helps in keeping the blood cholesterol levels low. Low cholesterol levels significantly reduce the risk of stroke and heart attacks.

9. Aids in Weight Loss:

Consuming barley makes you feel fuller for a longer period and hence suppresses appetite. Moreover, the fiber in barley facilitates the removal of fat substances from the body. Thus, barley can aid in weight loss.

10. Protection Against Cancer:

Barley contains a phytonutrient called plant lignans. One such lignan called enterolactone helps to prevent breast cancer as well as coronary diseases. The dietary fiber provides the good bacteria in the large intestines that help in proper functioning, thus protecting against colon cancer.

11. Checks Diabetes:

Eating barley is particularly beneficial for diabetic patients as it stabilizes the blood glucose levels. This is because the beta-glucan fiber found in this whole grain has the ability to slow down the body’s absorption of carbohydrates from foods, leading to a reduction in glucose and insulin levels.

12. Beneficial in Anemia:

Barley contains the mineral copper which helps in the formation of hemoglobin needed for the production of red blood cells. Thus, it helps in abating anemia.

13. Aids in Digestion:

Barley juice is extremely beneficial for the digestive system. It aids in digestion by enabling the digestive juices to work overtime, thus reducing the bloated feeling in the stomach. It helps to shed calories by preventing the build-up of fat and increasing the rate of metabolism.

14. Prevents Gallstones:

Being rich in insoluble fiber, barley helps in reducing bile acids secretion, thus increasing insulin sensitivity and reducing the levels of triglycerides. Hence, barley can help women to avoid gallstones effectively.

15. Improves Immunity:

Barley contains twice the amount of vitamin C than that in oranges which supports your immune system by reducing the chances of cold and flu. Iron enhances the blood volume, thus preventing anemia and fatigue. It facilitates proper kidney functioning and development of body cells. The manganese enables you to feel good and energetic which in turn benefits the nervous system and immune system.

16. Prevents Osteoporosis:

Barley grass contains phosphorus and copper which are good for the overall health of bones. Phosphorus is effective in curing bone and tooth ailments. Barley grass juice has eleven times more calcium than milk. Manganese is needed for normal bone production and also in iron deficiency. Thus, barley can be a natural remedy for osteoporosis.

17. Prevents Atherosclerosis:

The thickening of artery walls due to coagulation of fatty materials such as cholesterol is known as atherosclerosis. Niacin or B vitamin complex contained in this food grain reduces the overall cholesterol and lipoprotein levels, thereby lowering the cardiovascular risk factors. Having barley is particularly beneficial for postmenopausal women having high blood pressure, high cholesterol or cardiovascular diseases.

18. Protects the Body Organs:

Barley protects important organs like heart, pancreas and liver by keeping the dangerous diseases like heart diseases, colon and breast cancers and prostate problems at bay. The phosphorus in this grain helps to keep the bones and teeth healthy and aids in the functioning of kidneys and heart muscles.

19. Antidote Properties:

According to the research studies, barley possesses antidote properties due to which it can prevent the spread of poison in the body.

[ Read: Salt Benefits ]

20. Healthy Bowel Functioning:

It also helps to maintain healthy bowel functions due to its rich fiber content. This helps in preventing constipation.

21. Diuretic Property:

It is a powerful diuretic and keeps the urinary tract healthy by preventing Urinary Tract Infection (UTI).

22. Cools Down the Body:

It is the perfect summer drink as it brings down the heat content from the body. This is why it is generally given to people with high temperatures.

23. Benefits Pregnancy:

Barley water has specific benefits for pregnant women. I have listed them here.

• It helps prevent yeast and UTI during pregnancy.
• It helps ease the common problems like morning sickness and nausea.
• It regulates blood sugar levels and thus helps in prevention of gestational diabetes.
• It also prevents edema (swollen ankle and feet) by improving circulation and preventing high BP.
• It prevents constipation and haemorrhoids.

Nutritional Value of Barley:

Barley can be a tasty and healthy addition to your diet, thanks to its favorable nutritional profile comprising of an array of nutrients such as carbohydrates, soluble and insoluble fibers, sodium, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids besides being cholesterol free. 

Fiber: It is an excellent source of fiber and contains both soluble and insoluble fiber. One cup of cooked barley provides around 13.6 grams of dietary fiber out of which 10.8 grams is insoluble or roughage and the rest is soluble. 

• Cholesterol and Fat: Like other plant foods, barley is cholesterol-free and low in fat. One cup or 200 grams of cooked barley provides around 270 calories, 59.4 grams carbohydrates, 2.2 gram fat and 0 mg cholesterol.

• Vitamins: Barley is a great source of several vitamins, particularly, vitamin B1 (thiamin) and vitamin B3 (niacin). One cup of cooked barley provides around 0.16 mg of thiamin which is 10.6 percent of the recommended daily value or DV and 2.84 mg of niacin which is 14.2 percent of the DV. B vitamins are needed for a healthy nervous system and proper liver function as well as for maintaining healthy skin, hair and eyes. Other vitamins in barley are choline, pantothenic acid, riboflavin and vitamins A, K, B6 and B12.

• Minerals: Barley contains minerals like selenium, iron, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus and copper. One cup of cooked barley provides 230 mg of phosphorus which is equivalent to 23 percent of the DV. This mineral is vital as it is a component of the genetic material of all cells, RNA and DNA. One cup of cooked barley contains around 36.4 mcg of selenium which is 52 percent of the DV and 0.64 mcg of copper which is 32 percent of the DV. Selenium along with vitamin E protects the cell membranes from deterioration and aids normal thyroid function. Copper and iron play an important role in bone and cartilage development.

• Antioxidants: Barley also contains antioxidants which play an important role in maintaining good health by slowing down the rate of oxidative damage by free radicals that are formed when body cells use oxygen.

• Phytochemicals: Phytochemicals are natural plant-based chemicals that decrease the risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Being a plant source, barley is said to contain these phytochemicals.

• Low Glycemic Index: The glycemic index measures the extent to which 100 grams of food will raise blood sugar in comparison to the rise in blood glucose on ingestion of pure sugar. The glycemic index of boiled pearled barley is 35, which is lowest among all the common cereal grains. Thus, it is considered an appropriate carbohydrate choice for diabetics or dieters who are recommended a low glycemic meal plan.

Actress Ms. Maritoni Fernandez is a cancer survivor who tried Barley as an alternitive.

This can be bought at Watsons Personal Care Store
You can also contact the direct dealer/dirtibutor of Barley to avail at a cheaper price.
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