Adding a teaspoon of barley grass powder to your morning smoothie is a simple way to get a head start on your daily nutrition.
Research shows that barley grass is rightly classed as a superfood: it contains most of the nutrients we need for good health every day.
Looking for the best in organic barley grass powder? Green Nutritionals offers Australian Organic BARLEYGRASS, which is dried from the young whole leaf, rather than juiced, so it keeps all its precious nutrients.
The big benefit of barley grass powder is that it contains its nutrients in a form which is easily used by your body.
You may be wondering however—what is barley grass?
Barley grass and barley grass powder: what is it?
Available from your health store as a powder, barley grass is young leaf barley, harvested early, before it matures and is harvested as a grain.
Barley is the fourth largest cereal crop (3) grown worldwide. It has a short growing cycle, making it valuable as a food crop in many different climates, especially at high altitudes. In the west, it’s grown for animal feed, and for malt, to brew beer.
When it’s harvested as a young leaf grass, before the barley grows and begins its reproductive process, barley contains an amazing number of nutrients which are needed for good health. These nutrients include fibre, proteins and fat, as well as many vitamins and minerals, plus amino acids and the young leaf powder is GLUTEN-FREE.
Much research has been done on barley and barley grass’s health-giving properties. So let’s look at vital (and surprising) reasons you should consider adding barley grass powder to your daily diet.
1. Become healthier: the antioxidants in barley grass powder battle free radicals
Barley grass powder contains both vitamins A and C, which act as antioxidants.
Antioxidants are molecules which battle free radicals created by oxidation in your body. Oxidation is a normal process. However, when uncontrolled, free radicals can not only accelerate aging, but can contribute to inflammatory conditions such as arthritis. (2)
Free radicals can reduce elasticity in the skin. Barley grass powder helps to improve skin elasticity in another way: it contains the mineral selenium for skin health.
Did you know that barley grass powder contains more vitamin C than oranges? This makes barley grass powder an excellent tonic to boost your immune system, especially during the cold and flu season.
In addition to its supply of vitamins and minerals, barley grass also contains a surprising number of amino acids.
2. Calm your body and brain: barley grass powder is an amino acid powerhouse
Barley grass powder contains 20 important amino acids (2), including GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), which is known to be both calming and energizing. Not only does GABA help with the reproduction of your body’s cells, it reduces pain and enables healthy sleep.
GABA also improves cognition, making it valuable to improve memory and thinking: important for children and the elderly.
Since it contains GABA, as well as calcium, vitamin K, and tryptophan, barley grass also has significant benefits for healthy sleep. If you find it hard to get to sleep, barley grass may help.
3. Good health begins with healthy digestion: get more from the food you eat
Barley grass powder contains healthy fibre, which benefits your digestive system. When you eat highly processed food, its lack of fibre can trigger digestive challenges.
Everyone needs a healthy digestive system. Barley grass powder contains both soluble and insoluble fibre. It assists in preventing constipation.
The soluble fibre ensures that you feel satisfied: your body absorbs sugars from food more slowly, decreasing blood sugar levels and the unhealthy cholesterol in your system.
The insoluble fibre in barley grass powder increases the “good” bacteria in your gut and intestines. These bacteria help you to digest food, and get all the available nutrients from it.
4. Barley grass powder’s chlorophyll detoxifies your body and builds better blood
The green of barley grass powder comes from chlorophyll, which fundamental to good health (4): it has both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Chlorophyll functions to regulate blood pressure, as well as improve general blood flow and digestion.
Many people find it challenging to get sufficient chlorophyll in their diet.
The benefits of chlorophyll may include:
Skin healing: studies indicate that chlorophyll may lower inflammation and reduce bacteria in wounds;
Improving the quality of red blood cells, and enhancing these cells’ ability to transport oxygen throughout your body. This may increase your energy and thinking processes.
5. Increase your energy at any age with barley grass powder
Barley grass powder contains saponarin, which may help your liver, as well as increase energy. Its amino acids also help with energy production, as does its protein and fibre.
Since it helps your blood cells, barley grass powder.
Barley grass powder: are there challenges of which you should be aware?
When you obtain barley grass powder from a trusted source, such as Green Nutritionals Australian Organic BARLEYGRASS, you can be sure that you’re getting the best quality.
It contains so many essentials for good health, that it’s a valuable addition to your diet. However what about challenges?
Although barley grass powder is safe for most people at any age, if you’re uncertain, please be guided by your doctor, especially if you’re taking prescription medication. For example, if you’re taking the blood-thinning agent warfarin, barley grass powder contains vitamin K, which may interfere with warfarin’s effects.
Reference sources
(1) Health Benefits of Barley Grass