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.
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.
6. 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.
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.
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 PregnancyBarley 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.
