Barley water has been popular for centuries, and Ayurveda recommends it as a drink to aid digestion and purge excess kapha that causes sluggishness in the body.
Now, research is harnessing the benefits of barley for its fiber content and nutrients that can help fight UTIs, kidney stones, gallstones, and even help with overall heart health, skin care, and digestion. .
the water of barley it is a favorite for some people who take it as a refreshing drink that is also incredibly good for your health. We know, below, its benefits:
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Barley water benefits
urinary tract infections According to the Urology Care Foundation, 3 out of 25 men and 10 out of 25 women experience UTI symptoms at some point in their lives. In addition to the antibiotics that your doctor may prescribe to treat a urinary tract infection, home remedies like drinking barley water can help. Barley water is a diuretic and can help increase urination.
In fact, as the experts at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases point out, your health care provider will usually suggest that you drink more fluids when you have a UTI or are prone to it. This helps flush out the bacteria and also increases your urge to urinate, allowing the bacteria to leave your body instead of staying in your bladder for too long. And barley water with a hint of lemon provides a tasty alternative to just drinking water.
digestive health Barley water contains insoluble fiber from barley which can help good bacteria thrive in the gut and reduce the population of disease-causing pathogenic bacteria in the intestinal tract, a property that classifies it as prebiotic.
A healthy colon and intestine can reduce the risk of problems such as gastritisdiarrhea and, if the early investigation is good, also the stomach cancer and of the colon. Some researchers suggest that prebiotics may have a sustained modulatory effect on your gut microbiota, and this may have larger implications for colorectal cancer prevention with such foods.
Ayurveda uses barley water as a drink for those with weak digestion, a state also known as low “agni”. Barley or yava is also said to have laxative effects and can help the body remove any excess kapha from the body. Those with excess kapha may experience a general feeling of lethargy or sluggishness, feeling drowsy, sluggish, or even melancholy.
heart health Barley is rich in vitamins, including B vitamins that help your body break down the amino acid homocysteine which is linked to stroke and heart disease. Consuming B vitamins may even help reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, although further study in this area is warranted before supplementation is recommended.
In the meantime, making sure you meet the recommended daily levels by consuming foods rich in B vitamins like barley water is a good idea. In addition to this, barley contains soluble fiber β-glucan, which can reduce levels of LDL cholesterol without affecting the levels of the good HDL cholesterol in your system. Some researchers have suggested that for every gram of water-soluble fiber your blood consumes, LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol drop by 0.029 mmol/L and 0.028 mmol/L.
Skin care Barley water helps flush out toxins and hydrates your body, both of which are great for your skin. Plus, the selenium in the grain helps keep your skin youthful. The essential mineral is necessary for the skin to retain its elasticity, and its antioxidant properties are helpful in fighting signs of aging, such as wrinkles that occur due to free radical damage.
gallstones A high calorie, low fiber diet rich in refined carbohydrates increases the risk of developing gallstones. Barley fiber has been found to help reduce the frequency of gallstone occurrence in animal studies. Barley water also contains this insoluble fiber which can reduce the risk of gallstones.
kidney stones Eating a balanced diet with plenty of fiber, reducing intake of animal protein, reducing consumption of oxalate-rich foods such as celery, beets, rhubarb, almonds, peanuts, soy products, and chocolate may help reduce the risk of kidney stones. Just as important is staying hydrated to prevent urine from becoming too concentrated and forming stones. Barley water is one of the liquids used as part of preventive care for kidney stones, to produce urine with the proper concentration.
type diabetes Barley has therapeutic benefits for people with type 2 diabetes, as some animal studies have found. Test animals with diabetes given barley saw their blood glucose concentration decrease, indicating a possible benefit from barley consumption. There are also anecdotal accounts of people using barley water for a similar purpose.
Research also suggests that the beta glucans in the grain are an important soluble fiber that may help slow the body’s absorption of glucose after eating a meal. This is important for people with diabetes, as it slows the rise in insulin and glucose levels after meals. Dietary intake of beta glucans has been found to reduce risk factors such as hypertensionlipid levels and blood glucose levels.
lose weight or lose weight Barley water can be a great drink if you are trying to lose weight. Allows you to fill and hydrate, both of which are important when trying to keep up with weightloss. Research has shown a connection between inadequate hydration and obesity. In fact, those who are overweight and trying to lose weight through diet lose more weight and fat when they drink adequate water.
With a squeeze of lime or lemon, barley water can be a tasty alternative to plain water. Most of the people suggest having it before meals for the best effects. This is because the fiber it contains helps you digest that food better and keeps you full longer, possibly allowing you to eat less because you’re less hungry. Plus, it’s also low-calorie and low-fat: Half a cup of cooked barley has just under 100 calories and just 0.35g of fat, and barley water contains even less.
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How to make your own barley water
To make barley water at home, all you have to do is rinse 2 tablespoons of barley and soak for a few hours to allow for faster cooking.
1. To cook, bring 4 cups of boiling water along with the barley.
2. Cook over low heat for 10 to 15 minutes until slightly more than cooked.
3. Next, strain the mixture into the bottle, squeezing the juices into the bottle, discarding the grain.
You can add lemon zest to the water when it boils, for a hint of citrus, or garnish with a fruit of your choice when you drink.
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