A nutritional powerhouse, barley grass (Hordeum vulgare) is one of the few forms of vegetation on earth that can provide your sole nutritional support from cradle to grave. Barley grass is the leafy portion of the plant that remains when the seeds have been removed, and it has been used by humans for thousands of years; the ancient Egyptians, the Romans and the Vikings all used it, while Columbus carried it to the Americas in 1493. The reason barley grass is so beneficial is because of its incredible range of nutrients. Easily absorbed by the human body, it contains an amazing combination of nutrients including carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins, minerals and chlorophyll.
The health benefits of barley grass are only just beginning to be discovered, but they include reducing the amount of free radicals in the blood, improving skin health, and helping to stimulate weight loss. It is also reported to be effective in helping to alkalize the body, and repairing cell DNA. Much of the benefit comes from the chlorophyll that is in barley grass. This is the same chemical that makes grass green, but it does far more than that. As the essential ingredient in photosynthesis it is the basis of all plant life, and as the first product of light, it contains more light energy than any other element. Chlorophyll also has a very similar in structure to blood hemoglobin, and it has an amazing number of benefits when consumed.
· It is anti-bacterial, and thus helps to protect against harmful bacteria · It is very similar in structure to blood hemoglobin, and can help rebuilds the blood in anemic people · It reduces blood sugar problems, and can thus help with diabetes and weight loss · It neutralizes toxins in the body, making it effective for detoxification · It helps to purify the liver
Among the key ingredients in barley grass are protein, vitamins, and minerals. The protein in barley grass has 18 of the 22 amino acids, including all of the eight essential amino acids (those the body can’t make for itself). It is thus an excellent source of protein for vegans, who often struggle to find good, non-animal sources of protein. Barley grass is also rich in vitamins, with 30 times more vitamin B1 in cows’ milk, plus vitamin B2, vitamin B6, high amounts of vitamin B12, and 7 times more vitamin C than you’ll get from an orange. It is also an excellent natural source of minerals, including calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and potassium. When you consider that is also provides a substantial amount of folic acid, pantothenic acid, carotenoids, (including beta-carotene) and organic sodium, you begin to appreciate why it is proving to be such a popular supplement, and why it has been labeled a superfood.
Numerous benefits have been reported by those who consume barleygrass regularly. Thus far, few of these have been rigorously tested scientifically, but as with many natural foods, it is likely that this is a case of the science lagging behind what people are discovering for themselves. While exaggerated claims should be treated with caution, the impressive list of illnesses that show improvement when people add barley grass to their diet make it well worth considering if you suffer from any of the following conditions:
· Treatment of arthritis and relief from arthritis pain · Treatment of asthma · Reducing blood clots · Combating cancer · Reducing levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (the ‘bad’ cholesterol) · Reducing blood sugar problems; it is thus helpful for diabetics · Reducing fatigue · Relieving inflammation and inflammation-related pain in various parts of the body · Treating migraines · Reducing and relieving stomach and intestinal disorders
