Barley water benefits our health. A simple and excellent drink that you can make yourself.
Barley water is a healthy choice for consumption with many vitamins and minerals. It helps with weight loss, better digestion, immunity, less cholesterol, a healthier heart, skincare, and other benefits.
Why is barley water so healthy?
Barley is considered one of the oldest cereals used in the diet. Barley is ranked fourth in cereal production in the world.
An increasing number of studies show a positive effect of its products in terms of various health aspects. Barley water is one of those products. It is a drink made from the water in which barley was prepared.
Sometimes additives such as squeezed fruit juices, such as lemon juice, are added to this water to improve the taste.
This is also suitable as a refreshing drink, especially in summer conditions. In traditional medicine, barley water was considered useful for various health problems.
In the continuation of today’s article, let’s find out what science says about barley water.
10 Benefits of barley water
Barley water offers many benefits to our health. But let’s not owe much, let’s start immediately with the 10 most important benefits of consuming it.
1. The rich source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
Barley water is rich in water-soluble B vitamins, then iron, copper, manganese, and many other minerals in smaller quantities.
It can also be drunk or added to salads, stews and cooked vegetables In addition, it is rich in antioxidants that are a key protective factor for health.
It protects us from the harmful effects of daily produced (as metabolic waste) free radicals. Most of the beneficial effects of this water are due to its rich antioxidant composition.
The addition of certain antioxidant spices makes barley water an even stronger antioxidant.
2. Barley water lowers cholesterol
That’s right- drinking barley water or barley tea affects your blood cholesterol levels. Tokols, specific components of barley, have been shown to lower “bad” or LDL cholesterol.
In this way, they contribute to the improvement of our cardiovascular health.
Barley water antioxidants help reduce oxidative stress caused by free radicals, which also reduces the risk of heart disease.
In addition, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has confirmed that beta-fiber (a type of fiber) in barley has a positive effect on heart disease and lowers blood cholesterol.
3. Use barley water for skincare
Barley water helps flush toxins out of the body. This contributes to our skin is much healthier and more radiant.
In addition, barley in its unique composition contains an ingredient called azelaic. Azelaic is the right solution that works effectively against acne and reduces inflammation.
Antioxidants and barley prevent free radicals from damaging cells. This delays the onset of the first signs of skin aging.
Barley water can also be used as a face mask. Simply apply the barley water to the face, leave it on for 10 minutes, then wash it off.
4. Barley water helps with urinary tract infections
The very fact that barley water is an excellent diuretic contributes to the urinary tract. This healing fluid helps to improve the functioning of the urinary tract and reduce possible infections.
In addition, barley water also has a very successful effect especially on the kidneys, and has an anti-inflammatory effect.
5. Helps control blood glucose levels
A very interesting study was done that examined the ability of barley and oat water to control blood sugar.
It has been found that both drinks of water, if not sweetened with certain sugars, may have some benefit in controlling blood glucose levels.
This property of barley water is quite important for patients with diabetes, so it is recommended to use it after meals.
The antioxidant composition of barley water can also help improve diabetes.
6. Barley water for weight loss and digestive health
Barley water contains a high content of soluble fiber. This allows it to cause a prolonged feeling of satiety and a decrease in the glycemic index of other foods.
Unprocessed barley water contains a lot of calories, but not fat and helps to better hydrate.
The mentioned factors can make drinking barley water quite useful in the weight loss process. In addition, this drink speeds up fat metabolism.
To speed up weight loss, drink 3 glasses of barley water a day. Of course, the best results will be achieved if combined with a healthy and proper diet.
In addition, fiber is food for the beneficial intestinal microflora. Fiber balance is important not only for good digestion but also for overall health in general.
Fiber has been shown to be extremely useful in one of the most common digestive health problems – constipation or constipation.
Research shows that increasing the amount of fiber in the body reduces the chances of developing colorectal cancer.
7. Barley water can also be good for immunity
Barley water is a real immune bomb that contains many healing ingredients. Here we primarily mean B vitamins, iron, zinc, magnesium, selenium…
Barley beta-glucans also play an important role in boosting immunity.
In addition to fighting harmful free radicals and being rich in micronutrients, barley water can support the immune system in another important way.
Namely, citrus fruits are often added to the preparation of this water. For example fruits such as lemon and orange.
Their importance is primarily in the richness of vitamin C.
We all know that vitamin C has a very important role not only in improving immunity (protection against colds and flu), but also a significant action as an antioxidant.
Let’s not forget that vitamin C also improves skin health, etc.
8. Protects against breast and prostate cancer
German researchers have found that barley reduces the risk of cancer, thanks to phytonutrients called lignans.
The results of the study showed that women who ate foods rich in lignans before menopause reduced their risk of breast cancer by a staggering 62 percent.
Men also benefit from barley – regular consumption of foods rich in lignans reduces the risk of prostate cancer by 82 percent, research has shown.
9. Against arthritis
The magnesium and potassium in this drink prevent bone problems. Daily use of barley water helps relieve joint pain.
Helps to reduce their inflammation and prevent arthritis.
10. Barley water for better brain function
The key mineral in barley water for the health of our brain is zinc. It has a lot of zinc which helps to improve all brain functions.
Consuming it daily is a great solution to keep your brain healthy, always be healthy. Zinc, let’s not forget, has an additional useful function.
It helps prevent Alzheimer’s disease, increases concentration, and improves memory.
How to make barley water yourself?
Barley water is very easy and simple to prepare.
Lemon, orange or other citrus fruits, honey, natural sweeteners, but also various spices can be added to improve the taste.
This, as we saw above in the text, makes barley water even healthier and tastier.
To make 6 glasses of barley water, you will need the following ingredients:
- 3/4 glass a cup of barley
- 2 lemons (slices or juice)
- 1½2 tablespoon honey
- 6 glasses of water
Preparation procedure:
1. First you need to thoroughly wash the barley under running water. You should wash it until the water under it is completely clean.
Next, you need to let it soak in a bowl full of water for about 4 hours.
2. After those 4 hours, wash the barley with a small stream of water and put it in a bowl.
In the bowl, besides the barley, you should add lemon (lemon juice) and 6 glasses of water.
3. Cook the prepared contents like this at medium to boiling temperature.
4. Then lower the temperature slightly and cook for another 15 to 30 minutes.
5. Drain the entire contents into another bowl.
6. Finally, add the honey to the water while it is still hot.
7. Store the barley water prepared in this way in the refrigerator and then you can consume it cold.
Note: for people who have problems with sugar, it is good instead of honey to add some other natural sweetener, such as stevia.
How many glasses of barley water should we consume?
You are probably wondering how much barley water should be drunk per day. Because it should not be overdone.
Daily intake of barley water:
- for weight loss – three to four times a day for at least a month in order to lose weight.
- for cholesterol – to lower cholesterol, drink at least 4-5 glasses of barley water during the day.
- urinary tract infections – drink at least five to six glasses of barley water daily.
- for anemia – drink a glass of barley water once a day regularly, for at least a month to treat and prevent anemia.
- for kidney stones – five to six glasses a day, until the kidney stones disappear.
- healthy heart – to improve heart function and avoid complications, drink a glass of barley water every day.
Side effects of consuming barley water
No matter how healthy the barley water is, you should still make sure that your final limit is 6 glasses a day. Do not drink more than six glasses of barley water as a diuretic.
People gluten intolerant should avoid barley water because it contains gluten. Avoid consuming barley water before surgery.
In order to avoid any surgical complications as it can lower blood glucose levels.
Conclusion
Barley water is a drink made from the water in which barley was previously prepared. Barley water offers many beneficial properties for our health that we should use to the maximum.
Consuming barley water is great for weight loss, better immunity, better digestion, and many other properties.
It is very easy to prepare, so you can make your own barley water. In any case, barley water should be consumed because of its benefits for each of us.
