Barley is one of the oldest grains cultivated in human civilization. And even to this day, it is found in most of the Indian households. Barley has many benefits when incorporated into the daily diet. One cup of barley has only 1gm of fat, and an impressive 10gms of protein and 6gms of fiber.
High fiber content means one can stay fuller for a longer period of time. Most of the fiber in barley is insoluble fiber which bulks up once inside. It helps in digestion and relieves constipation.
Some of the Researchers at USDA and the Texas Children’s Hospital compared two varieties of Barley and concluded that one of the kinds may truly be good for obese and diabetic patients, due to its slow digestion process. This was published in the Journal of Nutrition.
According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, in January 2010, a set of Dutch researchers conducted a study and came to the conclusion that consumption of Barley improves Insulin sensitivity to 30%. One more study published in Plant Foods and Human Nutrition, March 2008, a study in Japan conducted on 44 men with high cholesterol shows that intake of Barley reduced visceral fat & serum cholesterol, both of which are causes of cardiovascular risk.
To include this in your weight loss diet, consult your respective nutritionist or your bariatric surgeon. For people under diabetes medication or insulin, consult your diabetologist or a metabolic surgeon before including in your diet.
