Barley grass is one of the cereal grasses with high contents of vitamins and minerals, amino acids, enzymes, and chlorophyll. Barley grass is actually the leaf portion of the barley plant that looks like grass because of its long and narrow structure. Barley grass functions similarly to wheat grass because of its nutritional components. It is also one of the earliest plants that men cultivated and used as food which can be traced back to 7000 BC. History also revealed evidences that Barley grass had been widely used in the field of medicine as treatment for several ailments including boils, and disorders of the skin, blood, liver, and gastrointestinal tract. It was also used by gladiators to strengthen their stamina.
The nutritional contents of Barley grass is extremely high at its young state and deteriorates as the plant grows older. Today, in some parts of Asia, Barley Grass is a basic food source. Due to the health benefits of Barley grass, it is considered a very special vegetable that contains all the essential nutrients the body needs from birth until we grow old. Barley grass’s basic preparation is barley grass powder from which the Barley grass juice is derived. Barley grass powder is prepared from the dried young leaves of the barley plant. Barley grass powder and barley grass juice are commonly used as the basic ingredients of some food supplements. They are also added to foods and beverages to increase dietary intake of vitamins and minerals. People with vitamin and mineral deficiencies use Barley grass to correct their health condition.
Nutritional Contents of Barley Grass
- Both essential and non-essential amino acids
- Antioxidants in large quantities
- Enzymes in large quantities
- Large quantities of Vitamins B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), B9 (folic acid), and B12 (cyanocobalamin)
- Large quantities of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
- Large quantities of Calcium
- Large quantities of Iron
- Large quantities of Sodium
- Copper
- Magnesium
- Manganese
- Potassium
- Phosphorus
- Zinc
- Chlorophyll
Health Benefits of Barley Grass
- Barley grass is has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties beneficial to patients suffering from acute pain and other chronic inflammatory disorders like arthritis.
- The chlorophyll content of Barley grass is helpful in stimulating tissue growth and the formation of red blood cells. It is very important in the delivery of oxygen in the different parts of the body.
- Barley grass has the ability to remove excess carbon dioxide in the body that helps in preventing diseases related to high carbon dioxide levels and reduces pungent fecal, urinary, and body odours.
- Relieves stomach upset and symptoms of stomach and intestinal disorders
- Relieves the symptoms of asthma
- The antioxidant contents of barley grass is helpful in giving the skin a more youthful glow, prevents wrinkles and other physical signs of aging
- Helps in alleviating stress and fatigue
- Barley grass lowers the levels of LDLs (Low Density Lipoproteins) that is linked in the development of common cardiovascular problems like high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, and coronary artery disease.
