Considered as a weight loss super food, Barley is a whole grain that is readily available in the market at a very cheap rates. Barley packs some impressive health benefits ranging from a healthier heart to improved digestion. It also helps a lot in weight loss and in lowering the cholesterol levels. Talking about its nutritional content, it is highly abundant in iron, magnesium, protein, calcium, vitamin b-complex, amino acids, dietary fibers, and anti-oxidants. This grain has a chewy consistency and a slightly nutty flavor that complements many dishes.
You can also gain the health benefits of this versatile grain by preparing a healthy drink called barley water. You can even add this water in your salads, stews and steamed vegetables to give your tongue a different taste with the same nutrients.
Drinking barley water on a regular basis keeps a lot of health problems at bay and provides your body with essential nutrition. Here are some evidence-based benefits of barley water backed up by many scientific studies.
1. Reduces hunger and helps in weight loss
Barley water lessens hunger with the help of its high fiber content and makes you feel fuller for a long time which aids in weight loss in the long term. A soluble fiber popularly known as beta-Glucan is beneficial in this process. These soluble fibers form a gel-like substance in your belly which slows down the process of digestion and absorption of nutrients in your body and indirectly helps in weight loss.
2. Beta-Glucans helps in lowering cholesterol
The bile acids found in our body are produced by the liver with the help of cholesterol. In a lot of cases, the body starts storing the bad cholesterol or LDL cholesterol which can cause further problems in the body. The beta glycans present in the barley water reduces the efficiency of LDL cholesterol by binding them with the bile acids and removing them through feces from the body and thus decreases the level of bad cholesterol in the body.
3. Improves digestion
Barley water also helps in enhancing our intestinal health and once again the beta-glucans are responsible for this significant effect. It has been proven in many studies that people consuming a glass of barley water daily have improved bowel function and increased stool volume. The soluble fiber accelerates intestinal movement and reduces the risk of constipation while also providing food for friendly belly bacteria which helps in the process of digestion.
4. Prevents gallstones
Drinking a glass of barley water daily can help in weight loss as well as reduces the risk of you having any gallstones. Gallstones are solid stone type particles that form in your gallbladder and causes a lot of pain. But the soluble fibers in barley water can stop the formation of gallstones and thus prevent you from the surgery.
5. Reduces heart risks
Whole grains are always linked to better heart health. There is no surprise that regular consumption of barley water helps you in maintaining a healthy Heart. The other benefits of barley water such as reducing bad cholesterol, aiding in weight loss and bringing blood pressure levels to be normal, contributes to give a healthy heart.
Also, focus on the fact that Homemade barley water is way healthier than the packaged ones laden with sugar and preservatives that you buy from stores. You can quickly prepare barley water at home without any complicated procedure.
Do let us know in comments if you liked the above information and how it was beneficial for you!