Barley Grass

Barley Grass is commonly found in many health and juice bars. It is grass grown from barley, one of the most common grains grown throughout the world. It is one of the best functional foods available for regular intake. It is rich in numerous bioactive compounds and packed with nutrients.

Although Barley Grass can be easily grown, most people purchase Barley Grass in powdered form or as an ingredient in other health supplements. However, the powder of Barley Grass is quite suitable for adding to smoothies or consuming as a health drink. Barley Grass could be a healthy addition to a regular diet and may help prevent deficiency of micronutrients. In more significant amounts, Barley Grass could also be a good source of vegan protein. Barley Grass is rich in bioactive compounds like flavonoids, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), Vitamins (A, C, E, B1), dietary fibre, polysaccharides, alkaloids, and tryptophan, just to name a few.¹

Health Benefits of Barley Grass

Below are some of the well-known benefits of Barley Grass:

Good for Those Living with Diabetes

Barley Grass may be an excellent source of nutrients for those living with diabetes as it is abundant in insoluble fibres. Studies show that Barley Grass may help lower blood glucose levels and may be especially good for preventing postprandial glucose spikes in those living with diabetes.²
Good for Heart Health

Barley Grass is an excellent natural source of GABA, tryptophan, and other nutrients that are known to help reduce blood pressure and assist a person in better relaxation. Additionally, studies suggest that regular intake of Barley Grass also has a beneficial impact on plasma lipid profile. This means that prolonged use of Barley Grass may help prevent heart diseases and their complications.³^,⁴
Good for Weight Loss

Barley Grass does not have any potent fat-burning action, but it may help in weight loss in two ways. Firstly, Barley Grass is rich in dietary fibre, and therefore it promotes intestinal motility and has a positive effect on gut microbiota. Secondly, it may help prevent nutritional deficiencies in those on a low calorie or restrictive diet.¹
Sports Supplement

Barley Grass could be an excellent pre-workout or post workout supplement for sports people. It may be especially useful for vegans as Barley Grass may provide much-needed amino acids along with various micronutrients. Barley Grass may also help alleviate fatigue and shorten recovery times due to its antioxidant activity.¹
Promotes Sleep

Sleep disorders are emerging as significant contributors to the rise of various chronic diseases like diabetes, dementia, and even depression. Barley Grass has many compounds that help with neurological activity, like GABA and the amino acid tryptophan. Further, Barley Grass may also help due to its content of minerals like calcium and potassium. Barley Grass may also help when used before going to sleep.⁵
Reduces Cancer Risk

Invitro studies show that Barley Grass extract can inhibit the growth of various cancer cells. It is likely that this may be due to the rich content of various phytocompounds found in Barley Grass.⁶

Side Effects of Barley Grass

There are no known side effects of Barley Grass. However, since it contains numerous phytocompounds, there may be some risk of allergies. Although it is free from gluten, contamination risk is there. Additionally, it should be noted that some of its bioactive compounds may interact with medications.

Properties

Cancer Prevention⁶
Dementia Prevention¹^,⁵
Depression¹^,⁵
Diabetes / Blood Sugar²
Digestive Function¹
Heart Support / Health³^,⁴
High/Good Levels of B Vitamins¹
High/Good Levels of Calcium¹
High/Good Levels of Flavonoids¹
High/Good Levels of Phytochemicals / Phytocompounds¹
High/Good Levels of Potassium¹
High/Good Levels of Protein¹
High/Good Levels of Vitamin A¹
High/Good Levels of Vitamin C¹
High/Good Levels of Vitamin E¹
Insomnia & Sleep Support⁵
Relaxant⁵
Weight Loss / Management¹

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