5 Amazing Barley Water Benefits: Drink Up This Elixir to Good Health

An historical treatment or an elixir to good well being, barley water is an unimaginable beverage that our ancestors included of their every day weight-reduction plan for the reason that daybreak of civilisation. The energy grain barley, which our technology generally associates with beer, has lengthy been used to make cereals, instead to rice and to dish out different delicacies intrinsic to varied regional cuisines. While we now marvel at one of many variants – pearl barley, with the continued development of consuming what our ancestors ate and utilizing it to toss up salads and fast stir-fries, one other barley type which is garnering consideration is barley water. The advantages of barley water aplenty.

This wholesome beverage has made a mark in varied cultures – Greek, Britain, and East and Southeast Asia. In historical Greece, considered one of their favorite drinks referred to as kykeon was made with barley water, and it was deemed to be a treatment for varied illnesses. In Britain, it was largely used as a sizzling beverage, very like tea, and flavoured with lemon rinds, sugar or different fruit juices. In reality, it’s mentioned that athletes at Wimbledon are sometimes served an orange flavoured, barley water drink throughout summers. Coming to Asia, barley water is loved each, sizzling or chilly, and drank as is or flavoured with lemon. According to Ayurveda, it is a wonderful diuretic, which cures urinary tract infections (UTI) and in addition helps the physique to maintain cool in the course of the summers.
 

 

Health Benefits of Barley Water

Barley water ranks excessive within the class of wholesome drinks as a result of it’s loaded with important vitamins. Since barley is an effective supply of soluble and insoluble fibre, nutritional vitamins, important minerals (calcium, iron, manganese, magnesium, zinc and copper), anti-oxidants and phytochemicals that are believed to decrease the danger of coronary heart illness and diabetes, barley water too attracts out these advantages to make itself a well being booster. Here’s why you must give it a attempt –

1. Aids in Detoxification

Regular utilization of barley water helps flush out toxins from the physique and the intestines by way of the urinary tract. This course of is primarily triggered by a gaggle of sugars referred to as beta-glucans that are current within the cell partitions of barley. It due to this fact helps in cleaning the interior system of the physique.

2. Home Remedy for Urinary Tract Infections

Since barley water acts as a diuretic, in lots of households in India, it’s thought of to be a pure treatment for urinary tract infections, and kids or adults are sometimes really helpful just a few glasses of barley water every day until the an infection subsides. It can also be mentioned to be a very good treatment for kidney stones or cysts.

3. Helps in Digestion Related Problems

In Ayurveda, barley water is taken into account as a digestive tonic which helps in facilitating the method of digestion, particularly for individuals who have low ‘agni’. Different physique sorts, corresponding to Vata, Pita and Kapha, may combine in just a few spices respectively to additional assist within the course of. It is commonly really helpful to these affected by constipation or diarrhoea, and it additionally helps restore the electrolyte stability throughout infections.

According to the e-book Barley for Food and Health: Science, Technology, and Products by Rosemary Okay. Newman and C. Walter Newman, “Barley water is a beverage known since ancient times as a folk remedy or preventative for numerous ailments, such as gastroenteritis and heat exhaustion.” Since it’s a gentle beverage, it’s straightforward on the abdomen, and since it comprises important minerals, it aids in varied processes of the physique.

4. Promotes Weight Loss

Since barley is a wonderful supply of fiber, barley water too retains this attribute in some measure. It due to this fact proves to be an important possibility for these in search of to shed some pounds because it tends to fill you up for an extended time, thus reducing down in your meals consumption. Moreover, as it’s good for digestion, it additionally stimulates the metabolism of fat. But this positively doesn’t suggest that you may bask in fatty meals and count on barley water to work its magic.

5. Lowers Cholesterol and Blood Sugar

Being a very good supply of fiber and beta-glucans, barley water additionally works in direction of protecting a verify on blood ldl cholesterol (by inhibiting the absorption of LDL and triglycerides from meals) and blood sugar (by enhancing insulin resistance). Moreover, it has anti-inflammatory properties which not solely assist in cooling the physique however in defending the guts as effectively.

How to Make Barley Water

To profit from this wholesome drink, it’s best to stir it up at house. It is straightforward to make and you may even use flavour boosters and sweeteners to enhance the style. You can use hulled barley or pearl barley to make the drink. Ensure that you simply prepare dinner the grains effectively to extract essentially the most vitamins from it.
 

1/4 cup pearl barley

4 cups water

A pinch of salt

A drizzle of honey (non-obligatory)

A lemon rind (non-obligatory)

Method:

1. Heat the water and pearl barley in a saucepan and convey it to a boil.

2. Add the salt and let it prepare dinner on a low flame for half-hour. You can muddle the grains just a little, utilizing a spoon.

3. Strain it right into a glass, tip in a lemon rind, and drizzle with just a little honey on prime. Let it cool utterly. You may maintain it within the fridge for half-hour after which have it.

Note: You can use ginger, cinnamon, cumin seeds and different spices, or orange juice to reinforce the style. The leftover grains can be utilized to make cereals, salads or a thickening agent for curries and smoothies. Don’t waste it!