Barley Grass
What is Barley Grass?
Barley grass is the name given to the leaves of barley in the new growth stage when the plant reaches 12-14 inches. During the initial growth stages barley grass absorbs nutrients from the soil as well as the sun. When at this stage of growth, barley grass is at its nutritional peak, and contains many of the vitamins, proteins and minerals essential for a balanced diet. Because these nutritional goodies are presented in simple plant form, they are readily accessible to the body once ingested.
What will Barley Grass Do For Me?
Barley grass is a great source of potassium, iron, copper, magnesium, zinc, manganese and calcium. Pantothenic acid, vitamin C, the B vitamins, folic acid and beta carotene can also be sourced from barley grass. These nutrients and vitamins contribute to healthy skin, bones and organs, efficient digestive function, and overall good health. Barley grass has also been touted to reduce cholesterol levels, stimulate blood circulation, and reduce the risk of cancer. All this aside, barley grass is an easy way to get your daily dose of the good stuff, as it’s available in tablet, powder or juice form.
Which Barley Blend is for Me?
It can be hard deciding between all the well-marketed brands of barley grass supplements out there. At the end of the day, the freshly squeezed juice contains the highest concentration of vitamins and minerals that are in a form that your body finds very easy to process. So go for the juice if you possibly can. Another bonus with the juice is that you get all those enzymes as well. If you can’t source freshly squeezed barley grass, the tablet and powder formulas available do contain high mineral and vitamin content, and they are still easier to digest than synthesised multivitamin tablets. Try to opt for a brand that has cold-pressed the barley grass to extract the minerals rather than heat-treated it. Heat-treated produce loses a lot of the vitamin content and you could be paying big bucks for next to nothing. Powder form will be better for those who prefer to mix their supplements in with their morning juice or smoothie, and tablets are convenient for those who would rather get it out the way before their meal.
Barley Grass: The New Wheatgrass?
Barley grass and wheatgrass are very similar in mineral and vitamin content, as well as both containing high levels of chlorophyll and enzymes. So which one is better than the other? That really depends on the individual, since some prefer the taste of barley grass while others love wheatgrass. Other than taste preference there really isn’t much between these two super foods! Why not give them both a go…
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