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How Barley Promotes a Healthy Lifestyle
Nutrient Content
Vitamins
Excellent Source of:
- Niacin- 46%
- Vitamin B6 – 26%
- Thiamin – 25%
Good Source of:
- Riboflavin – 13%
- Folate – 12%
Also a Source of:
- Vitamin K – 6%
- Pantothenic Acid – 6%
Minerals
Excellent Source of:
- Manganese – 132%
- Selenium – 108%
- Phosphorus – 44%
- Copper – 42%
- Magnesium – 40%
- Zinc – 28%
- Iron – 28%
Good Source of:
- Potassium – 16%
Also a Source of:
- Calcium – 6%
Other
Excellent Source of:
- Fiber – 125%
- Protein – 40%
Also a Source of:
- Antioxidants – anthocynanins, flavonoids, α-carotene, β-carotene
- Tocopherols
*All nutritional Info From (1)
How Barley Prevents Chronic Disease
As a whole grain, barley primarily promotes gut and digestive health. However, evidence shows barley can also prevent severe cardiovascular disease and cancer.
How Barley Helps Prevent Cardiovascular Disease
- Soluble fibers found in barley and many other whole grains reduce risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
- Due to high levels of niacin (a vitamin), barley increases HDL cholesterol levels.
How Barley Helps Prevent Cancer
- Barley contains a variety of free radical neutralizing antioxidants, including anthocyanins, flavonoids, and α-carotene/β-carotene. Free radicals can lead to cancer proliferation in the body.
- Studies show barley and other whole grains possess bioactive components that specifically help prevent breast cancer. Barley recruits the body’s natural defense system to attack and kill cancer cells (4).
Barley Promises Many Health Benefits
How Barley Promotes Immune Health
Barley is rich in minerals such as zinc, iron, copper, and selenium, all of which contribute to immune health.
- Zinc is included in many enzymes that perform daily functions in our body (5).
- Maintaining sufficient levels of minerals is important for fighting off minor and severe infections.
Barley is also a good source of both riboflavin and folate. These two nutrients play an important role in our immune system. Riboflavin also has anti-inflammatory properties (6).
How Barley Promotes Healthy Aging
Flavonoids and carotenoids are linked to slowing biological aging and avoiding chronic illnesses throughout life. Barley possesses these powerful bioactive antioxidants.
- Carotenoids possess photoprotective properties that help avoid skin damage caused by the sun. They also have some skin healing capacity (7).
Barley intake may also prolong motor function and cognitive ability (8).
How Barley Promotes Brain Function
It is well understood by clinicians that folate deficiency in infants leads to cognitive deterioration or abnormal psychiatric symptoms. In addition, numerous studies show that folate deficiency also negatively impacts the overall cognitive health and longevity in adults.
- Folate deficiency can lead to megaloblastic anaemia which, when left untreated, almost always leads to neurological complications.
- Among these neurological complications are depression, dementia, and nervous system degeneration (9).
Copper is an essential nutrient for enzyme activity, especially in the brain. The development of some neurological diseases including Menkes, Wilson’s, Alzheimers, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s is linked to copper imbalance in the body. Getting copper into your diet by eating whole grains like barley can help prevent the onset of these diseases (10).