This is normal and is generally triggered by the
Barley Grass Benefits
Latin Name
Hordeum vulgare L
Parts Used
Young leaves of the plant before it produces grain,
and before the stem has developed
Traditional Use and Health Benefits
Barley is one of the world’s oldest crops, with
records of its use dating way back to 8,500 BCE.
Used by many ancient civilisations such as the
Greeks, Egyptians and Babylonians, where in
Babylonia barley was the standard currency.
In the early 20th century it was found that the
shoots of the young plant provided an exceptional
array of nutrients. Pre World War II pharmacists in
the USA even sold tablets of dried Barley Grass as an
early kind of vitamin supplement.
Barley Grass Benefits
Digestive Health
A healthy digestive system is one of the
cornerstones of good health; Barley Grass is a
natural source of organic sodium which is needed by
the lining of the stomach to produce hydrochloric
acid (without which our food cannot be digested).
Also rich in digestive enzymes, these substances can
help to reduce toxic and indigestible materials in
food.
This tender young grass is also extremely high in
chlorophyll, a natural cleanser to the body which
will help to counter the effects of eating processed
foods and give an overall energy boost.
Detoxification
Extremely alkalising and rich in essential vitamins
and minerals, Barley Grass is an abundant source of
chlorophyll - a compound that converts sunlight into
energy within the plant. When chlorophyll is
consumed it releases a flow of oxygen into the
bloodstream, detoxing the body of harmful toxins
and impurities, it has the ability to bind to and flush
out toxic chemicals and heavy metals.
Barley Grass offers protection from radiation and
cellular damage, regenerating damaged cells and
tissues. It is such a powerful cleanser that it is
recommended to start slowly to avoid detox
symptoms such as headaches, rashes and nausea.
release of toxins from the cells and tissue, however
should these symptoms persist it is advised you
contact your health care professional.
Immune Boosting
Barley Grass is naturally high in many key nutrients
that help to support the immune system, such as
vitamins, minerals, amino acids, antioxidants and
enzymes.
It is extremely high in vitamin C which is crucial to
the overall health of the body in its efforts to fight
off infections – both bacterial and viral. White blood
cells contain 20 times the amount of vitamin C than
other cells and require constant replenishment to
keep the immune system working to its optimum
capacity.
Alongside other immune supporting vitamins and
minerals, Barley Grass is high in the amino acid
“arginine”. This is especially effective in helping the
body heal from burns, injuries and wounds.
Alkalises the Body
If you eat too many acid forming foods without
counterbalancing with alkaline foods, the body
struggles to maintain the blood’s Ph – normal blood
Ph is tightly regulated between 7.35 – 7.45, the
result of too many acid forming foods is catastrophic
to the body in many ways. Firstly it will pull alkalising
minerals out of your bones and teeth, such as
calcium, magnesium and potassium. This can
understandably lead to a whole host of disorders
including osteoporosis. The body will also store
excess acid in the muscles, one of the primary
causes of fibromyalgia. If not kept in check, your
body may go into a state of “acidosis”, this occurs
when arterial Ph falls below 7.35 - chronic acidosis
corrodes body tissue, and if left unchecked, will
interrupt all cellular activities and functions.
Barley Grass is highly alkalising due to the amount
of alkaline minerals it contains (calcium,
magnesium, manganese, and potassium to name
but a few). It has the powerful ability to restore a
healthy acid-alkaline balance in the body whilst
offering protection against the many health
problems that can be caused by disharmony in the
blood PH.
Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis is linked to low levels of friendly
bacteria in the gut and an accumulation of toxins in
the bowel. Barley grass helps reverse this by
stimulating the growth of friendly bacteria, which in
turn helps reduce inflammation and improves
symptoms. Barley grass helps combat this
debilitating condition by lowering the amount of
inflammatory chemicals in the bowel, including one
called epithelial NF-k, and by balancing the water
content of the bowels. Studies also show that barley
grass increases the amount of friendly bacteria in
the bowels.
Typical Use
Suggested Dosage:
½ to 4 teaspoons per day
added to smoothies, juice, water, rice milk, yogurt
or any other foods.
Barley grass should be introduced gradually to
enable the body to get used to any detoxification
reaction
Constituents
Barley grass contains significant amounts of
vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, C and E. It also
contains Folate which is sometimes known as
vitamin B9.
The minerals barley grass contains in abundance
are Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, Copper,
Phosperous, Manganese and Zinc.
Precautions
Barley grass may sometimes be rich in vitamin k,
which interferes with the action of anticoagulants
such as Coumadin (the brand name for warfarin, a
drug used to treat and prevent blood clots). Other
than an allergic reaction, there are no known
adverse effects attributed to barley grass.
Hypersensitivity reactions to barley are well
documented. These typically are attributed to the
storage protein present in the seed of the plant
and not to the green, aerial parts of the plant (see
Barley monograph for further details). It may be
prudent to restrict the use of barley grass in
hypersensitive people, including those with celiac
disease.
1. It improves the health of type 2 diabetes
sufferers
Type 2 diabetes is very common in adults, and is a
disease that cannot be cured. However, it can be
treated.
According to several studies, barley grass can
improve insulin resistance and lower sugar levels,
which helps people with diabetes control the
changes in their sugar levels throughout the day.
(1)
The thing that causes all the major health problems
associated with diabetes (gangrene, for example)
are those sudden blood sugar level spikes or drops.
As it has been proven that barley grass—or more
specifically, the antioxidants and vitamins found in
the barley leaf—improves this condition, it is
included in many supplements, which usually take
the form of either barley grass juice powder or a
barley grass capsule. (2)
2. It reduces toxic build up in the body
Your body is your temple; I certainly believe this
about mine. The only way to truly preserve your
temple is to maintain good overall health, but
modern life can make this difficult.
We burden our bodies by eating junk food all of the
time, failing to find ways to address our stress
levels, or by simply not finding the time to take
care of ourselves properly.
Thankfully, one of the biggest barley grass benefits
is that it’s a natural detoxifier—especially when it
comes to our liver—that can help us deal with the
physical repercussions of these bad habits.
[Related: 7 Liver-Healthy Foods Your Body Will
Thank You for Eating]
Traces of lead can often build up in our system,
which can have a negative effect on our mental
abilities. This is especially true in children, who may
suffer from learning disorders.
Also, the chlorophyll and beta carotene content of
barley grass stimulate the elimination of waste
materials. This way we are getting rid of the waste
in our system by using a natural remedy that
doesn’t negatively affect any aspect of our health.
3. It improves skin health and elasticity
Is your skin losing its luster and vitality? Being a
source of selenium, barley grass can significantly
improve the health of our skin.
Barley grass benefits our skin’s elasticity, which
prevents further harmful issues such as developing
folds of loose skin.
Moreover, it protects our skin from damage done
by external factors such as harmful UV rays, wind,
and cold air. Exhaust fumes and smog are some of
the other common factors damaging our skin, so if
you live in a city, barley grass will definitely help
you keep your skin youthful and healthy.
4. It reduces cholesterol
During a clinical study of the effect of barley grass
on type 2 diabetes, researchers found that it not
only lowers blood sugar levels, but also lowers
cholesterol. (3)
Furthermore, the study showed that after 70 days
of consuming barley grass on a daily basis,
cholesterol levels decreased by 5.1 %. Cholesterol,
as well as type 2 diabetes, is actually slowed down
by monosaturated fats and antioxidants, which
barley grass is rich in.
If you have high cholesterol, consult your doctor
about consuming barley grass as a viable remedy.
Should you use it, you will quickly see the results.
5. It can aid in weight loss
Being overweight makes you more prone to getting
diabetes, cancer, and heart diseases. Moreover,
you can experience some breathing problems, as
well as joint pains.
Barley grass will not only help you lose weight, but
also help prevent these problems.
Being a source of insoluble fiber, barley grass
makes you feel full for a long time, all while
providing you with a lot of the essential vitamins
and minerals your body needs. As it also helps
control blood sugar levels, you won’t have strong
cravings between meals.
By using barley grass—provided that you also
engage in some form of exercise and avoid
overeating—you’ll be able to stick to your diet
more effectively and lose weight in a healthy
manner.
6. Barley grass prevents asthma
The most common disorder among children is
definitely childhood asthma, which can lead to
more serious issues later in life. Owing to its store
of antioxidants and vitamins C and E, barley grass
can help you normalize and control your breathing.
You can use it to prevent asthma and alleviate its
symptoms, but you cannot cure it.
7. Prevents some forms of cancer
Barley grass possesses superoxide dismutase
enzyme, which excels at fighting cancer cells and
can be used as a preventive measure. Moreover,
owing to the powerful catalase enzymes, it can
actually decrease the proliferation of cancer cells.
[Related: Is the Alkaline Diet Key to Cancer
Prevention]
I especially recommend barley grass for women, as
it is one of the best ways you can use your diet to
help stave off breast cancer. It’s also a powerful
precautionary food that can bolster your defenses
against diseases such as coronary or heart disease.
8. Repairs DNA
Physician and pharmacist Yoshihide Hagiwara has
spent over 10 years researching barley grass
benefits, and has found that, among many other
health advantages, it can repair DNA.
Due to stress, medical drugs, food additives, low
immunity and even radiation, our DNA can change.
This change can lead to sterility, genetic
abnormalities and premature aging. This DNA
damage can negatively affect womens’ pregnancy
in the form of spontaneous abortion and deformed
offspring.
Best then, to tend to the strength of your DNA with
barley grass.
9. Prevents osteoporosis
Bone health can also be improved through barley
grass intake, as it contains phosphorus and
copper. Barley grass contains 11 times more
calcium than milk. Whether you have a broken
bone that’s slowly healing up, or you just want to
boost the health of your bones, barley grass will
certainly help you.
This also makes it a great addition to your
children’s diet; because their bodies keep growing,
they should be provided with plenty of natural
sources of vitamins and minerals that will promote
healthy development. Barley grass is a surefire way
to do just that.
It can’t cure osteoporosis, but it can help you
alleviate some of the symptoms, slow the process
and keep your bones in better condition.
Moreover, barley provides us with manganese,
which is essential for bone production.
10. Supports immune system
You probably think of oranges as the ultimate food
source of vitamin C, but here’s a shocker for you:
barley grass contains far more.
Because of this, barley grass can support our
immune system and improve our overall health. It
makes us more resistant to catching a cold or
coming down with the flu. As we are constantly
under pressure and stress, we are prone to
becoming fatigued, but we can put an end to
constantly feeling ill and weak by just adding a
couple of servings of barley grass a day to our diet.
Copper is another important immunity-boosting
micronutrient found in barley – it improves our
bone health, and is essential for hemoglobin
production in red blood cells.
11. It has a rejuvenating effect
Most people in the modern world are overly
obsessed with maintaining a youthful appearance,
but very few actually focus on improving their diet
and lifestyle habits; the quick fixes they choose
don’t work.
Barley grass contains chlorophyll, iron and vitamin
B, all of which can renew and regenerate cells,
which leads to maintaining healthy and youthful
skin and hair.
Barley grass also rejuvenates our entire body by
supporting the creation of both white and red cells
within the body. It also regulates digestion.
How can you include barley grass in your diet?
You can eat barley grass raw, which means you can
add it to any salad or meal. If you’re a smoothie
enthusiast like me, you can add barley grass
powder to the blender along with your favorite
ingredients or try any of these 12 creative recipes.
I personally prefer to use my own powder
supplement, in the form of my superfood Energy
Greens drink mix.
Whether you choose to make some natural juice or
combine it with other foods really doesn’t matter,
as long as you stay within the recommended daily
intake of 15g. However, if you are currently taking
any other medicine, you should consult your doctor
first.
Barley Grass FAQ
What’s the difference between barley grass
powder and barley grass juice powder?
Barley grass powder is a cheaper option whereby
the grass is cut then dried. This results in a bulkier
powder, which is cheaper, harsher on the throat
and has less overall nutrient density.
Premium products (such as my “Energy Greens”)
use higher quality grass juice powder whereby the
barley grass is cut, then cold press juiced. It is then
dried at low temperature to preserve its raw
benefits. This results in a richer finer green grass
blend with a higher overall nutrient density and is
100% raw.
Which is better: barley grass vs barley grain?
They’re completely different. Like comparing
apples to oranges. The grass is most often
consumed as a juice (or powder put into water)
whereas the grain is consumed in a similar fashion
as you would rice or quinoa.
Does barley grass have gluten in it?
No. It is most often cut at its nutrient density peak
before any gluten has been formed into the grain.
How to drink barley grass powder?
Whichever way you like. I consume it as part of my
Energy Greens in a glass of water or as an
ingredient in many of my smoothies.