Benefits Of Barley

Benefits Of Barley

Not many people know the significance of barley and it is considered as just another cereal. However, those who are aware of its nutritional aspects consume it in many forms. One of the popular forms in which barley is consumed is as barley water. It is a popular soft drink, which combines distilled barley along with sweeteners and fruit juices. Intake of barley in any form has many benefits for the body. Some of these benefits include:

1. Provides fiber to the body.
Barley provides rich amounts of fiber to the body. Fiber adds bulk to our food and slows down its movement during the process of digestion. It thus helps in the better digestion of food and helps in maintaining intestinal health. The inclusion of barley is just like adding a natural and healthy laxative to the food.

2. Helps in reducing cholesterol.
Fiber present in barley also helps to reduce cholesterol and thus prevents the heart from many diseases. Barley fiber contains rich amounts of beta glucan and niacin and also produces propionic acid within the body. Both these compounds help in lowering cholesterol.

3. Helps in preventing cancer.
Barley is rich in a phytochemical called Lignans that provides protection against several heart diseases. Lignans get converted into enterolactone, which prevents the occurrence of breast cancer.

4. Provides folate to the body.
Barley is rich in folate, which is commonly called as folic acid. It is a water-soluble vitamin and belongs to the B category of vitamins. This vitamin plays a significant role in the processing of amino acid homocysteine. Folic acid is also essential for the proper growth and development of the fetus. Thus, pregnant women are suggested to increase their intake of barley.

5. Aids in maintain bone health.
Barley contains good amounts of phosphorus and thus helps in maintaining bone health. Phosphorus promotes the processing of calcium and vitamin K in such a way that our body gets sufficient amount of these minerals for maintaining our bones.

6. Improves the flexibility of blood vessels.
Barley is a good source of the daily copper requirement of the body. Sufficient intake of copper improves the flexibility of blood vessels, thus allowing fhe free flow of blood through them.

7. Helps in reducing diabetes
Magnesium present in barley water reacts with several different enzymes. Magnesium is also responsible for the glucose levels in the blood. Regular intake of barley helps to reduce the risk of the occurrence of diabetes.

8. Prevents the formation of gallstones
Fiber present in barley is insoluble in nature and prevents the formation of gallstones especially among women.

There are several ways of including barley in your regular diet. Consume it in soups, make hot barley cereal or add barley flakes to muffins. Inclusion of barley in your regular diet plan will provide you the best of health.

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