Most people know barley as a grain used as an ingredient in beer and some breads. But before a barley plant gets to the phase where it’s a grain, it’s a grass that nutrition-minded people use in juice smoothies or shakes. This is because barley grass is so packed with nutrients that it’s considered a superfood.
The Numerous Benefits of Barley Grass
Barley grain is well-known as a highly nutritional plant, but it’s during the green grass point when the plant provides an impressive assortment of minerals and vitamins. The green is abundant in the B vitamins, in addition to vitamins A, C, and E. The grass also is packed with potassium, magnesium, copper, and antioxidants. So it’s hardly surprising that barley grass delivers several health and wellness benefits.
Barley Grass Maintains the Immune System
Your immune system is the body’s protection system to fight infections, bacteria, and other toxic substances. This young grass is rich in vitamin C — it has several times the amount of this vitamin than found in oranges. Vitamin C as all of us know is essential to excellent immune system wellness. This grass also provides zinc and copper, compounds crucial for blood cell production and the removal of accumulated toxins.
Enhances Digestive Health
Barley grass has a substantial HCl, (organic sodium), content. HCl is a necessary component in the stomach’s development of the food-digesting chemical substance HCl (hydrochloric acid). Inadequate HCl leads to a build up of toxins and indigestible food material. Because it’s a green plant, barley grass comes with a very substantial chlorophyll content. Chlorophyll is a natural cleaner that combats the unpleasant repercussions of eating refined foods. Barley grass is a great provider of fiber that has the ability to help enhance gut health by feeding the health-providing bacteria that organically lives in your gut. This aids in digestion and keeps your intestines healthy.
Barley Grass Slows Down Aging
Saponarin is a remarkably strong antioxidant. Saponarin is found only within barley grass. Antioxidants neutralize the harmful side effects of cell-harming free radicals — the unstable molecules caused by toxins and processed foods that harm the DNA in cells. These free radicals increase the causes of aging. In addition to saponarin, SOD — the substance that gives protection from ultraviolet (UV) radiation — is a key free radical fighter that is crucial to reducing the aging process.
Helps Prevent Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a condition that hinders the development of bone growth, resulting in a loss in bone thickness and strength. Barley grass includes phosphorus and copper, which are both necessary for good bone development. More importantly, this grass is quite high in calcium. Indeed, this grass offers about twelve times as much calcium found in milk!
Barley Grass Provides Protection From UV Radiation
Ultraviolet, or UV, radiation is the unsafe radiation released from the sun. Where some UV radiation is healthy for people, too much exposure may result in liver spots and dry skin. UV radiation is the main cause of the skin cancer called melanoma. This green grass is a great source of the previously mentioned superoxide dismutase — an antioxidant enzyme that has properties that guard cells from the adverse effects of UV radiation.
Taking Barley Grass Nutritional Supplements
Barley grass does not make for a scrumptious dinner entree — what grass does? So people who are nutritionally-minded normally buy it in the form of a nutritional supplement.
People buy barley grass nutritional supplements packaged as powder, capsules, or tablets. Getting barley grass powder is normally the favored method to take this supplement since it’s quick and easy to measure the perfect dose you want. The barley grass may be stirred in water, but for a superior drink, it’s much better to mix the powder in a juice or flavored drink of your choice.
The amount of this grass you choose to take per dose is up to you. A daily dose of a couple of grams (2000 mg) is common, however many people take as little as half of a gram to as high as six grams or more. Severe side effects of barley grass are practically unheard of (it is only a variety of grass, after all), so there shouldn’t be any worry of consuming way too much. Similar to any supplement that’s being introduced to your body, it does make good sense to start off with a low dose and work your way up to a higher level over time.