Lots of people have heard of barley as a grain used as an ingredient in beer and some breads. But well before a barley plant makes it to the grain phase it’s a green grass that health-conscious folks put to use in smoothies or drinks. This is because barley grass is so loaded with minerals and vitamins that it’s known as a superfood, or supergreen.
Barley Grass Health Benefits
Barley grain has long been considered a very healthy plant, but it’s when it’s at the green grass point when the plant offers an astonishing number of vitamins and minerals. The grass is abundant in the B-complex vitamins, and also vitamins A, C, and E. The grass also is packed with amino acids, antioxidants, zinc, copper, and magnesium. So it’s hardly surprising that barley grass provides a variety of health and well-being benefits.
Barley Grass Supports the Immune System
The immune system is the body’s defensive system to fight bacteria, viruses, and other nasty substances. This young grass is rich in vitamin C — it has triple the amount of this vitamin than found in oranges. Vitamin C as all of us are aware is essential to good immune system functioning. Barley grass also has plenty of copper and selenium, compounds crucial for blood cell production and the elimination of stored toxins.
Barley Grass Enhances Digestive Health
Barley grass has a very high HCl, (organic sodium), content. HCl is a necessary element in the stomach’s development of the food-digesting chemical HCl (hydrochloric acid). Too little HCl results in toxin buildup and leaves indigestible food material. Because it’s a green plant, barley grass has a quite high chlorophyll content. Chlorophyll is a natural cleaner that battles the bad effects of consuming processed foods. Barley grass is a very good source of fiber that may help boost gut health by providing food to the health-providing bacteria that naturally inhabits your gut. This helps in digestion and keeps the intestines healthy.
Barley Grass Slows Aging
Saponarin is a flavonoid and a remarkably strong antioxidant. Saponarin is present only in barley grass. Antioxidants neutralize the adverse side effects of free radicals — the unstable molecules caused by processed foods and alcohol that affect the DNA present in all cells. An excess of free radicals contribute to the causes of aging. Along with saponarin, SOD (or superoxide dismutase) — the chemical that supplies protection from UV (ultraviolet) radiation — is a fundamental free radical killer that is essential to reducing the process of aging.
Helps Prevent Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a bone condition that reduces the generation of bone growth, resulting in a decline in bone density and strength. Barley grass contains copper and phosphorus, which are each essential for adequate bone development. More significantly, barley grass is quite high in bone-enhancing calcium. In fact, this grass offers in excess of seven times as much calcium as found in milk.
Protection From UV Radiation
Ultraviolet, or UV, radiation is the damaging radiation given off by the sun. Where just a little UV radiation is good for a person, an excessive amount of exposure can cause dry skin and wrinkles and prematurely age skin. UV radiation is also a cause of the skin cancer melanoma. This green grass is a very good source of superoxide dismutase, or SOD — an antioxidant having properties that safeguard cells from the adverse ramifications of UV radiation.
Barley Grass Nutritional Supplements
Barley grass doesn’t result in a particular delicious dinner dish — but really, what grass does? So nutrition-aware normally consume it in the form of a nutritional supplement.
You can purchase barley grass nutritional supplements as capsules, powder, or tablets. Buying the grass powder is usually the favored way to take the barley grass supplement considering that it’s very easy to measure the specific dose you prefer. The powder can be added in water, however, for a better-tasting drink, it’s much better to combine the powder in a juice or flavored drink of your choice.
What amount of this grass you use for each dose is entirely you. A daily dose of a two grams is common, however many people settle on just half of a gram (500 mg) up to 6 grams (6000 mg) or more. Severe side effects of barley grass are just about nonexistent (it’s just a variety of grass, after all), so there ought not be a concern of consuming an excessive amount. Just like any nutritional supplement that will be new to your body, it does seem smart though to start at a modest dose and work your way up to a greater level over a short period of time.
