Barley weight loss or fattening? how to consume, benefits!
Barley for weight loss or fattening is widely consumed in Brazil and there is this great doubt, it has B vitamins, folic acid, choline and Vitamin K , it is a good source of potassium , magnesium and phosphorus , but its main virtue is the richness of trace elements such as iron , sulfur, copper , zinc, manganese , chromium, selenium , iodine, molybdenum.
In addition, it also contains lysine (the limiting amino acid in wheat), which provides several health benefits.
What is barley?
Barley, scientific name Hordeum vulgare is a cereal that is produced on a large scale, mainly in Europe, Asia and North America.
It consists of an important food , both for humans and animals, which takes between one and three days to germinate.
Its flowers appear distributed at the ends of the stem in the form of spikes, and its fruits are slightly rounded or ovoid with a yellowish tinge. These fruits are used for food. But in the end, does barley lose weight or gain weight ? Calm down, let’s explain this better.
Health benefits of barley:
1. Diabetes treatment:
Soluble fiber , particularly beta-glucan, slows the absorption of glucose. In addition, studies conducted showed that insulin resistant men who consumed soluble fiber beta-glucan significantly reduced glucose levels.
2. Prevent atherosclerosis:
Barley contains niacin (a B-complex vitamin ), which reduces total cholesterol and lipoprotein levels and minimizes risk factors that develop atherosclerosis.
3. Strengthening the bones:
The phosphorus and copper content present in barley , help and ensure optimal bone health. In addition, the Phosphorus content effectively cures bone and dental diseases.
4. Strengthen the immune system:
The high content of Vitamin C is almost double that of oranges. This special vitamin strengthens the immune system and reduces the chances of colds and flu .
5. Combating premature aging:
In addition, barley is a good source of Selenium , which helps preserve skin elasticity, protecting it from free radical damage that causes premature aging.
6. Control cholesterol:
Propionic levels help keep blood cholesterol levels low. In addition, this grain being an excellent source of both soluble and insoluble fiber , it is also specifically recommended by doctors for its naturally low-fat content and zero cholesterol properties .
7. Regulate blood pressure:
Consuming fiber -rich foods is another attitude that can contribute to lowering dangerous blood pressure numbers. In addition to the benefits above, watch the video below and check out other Health Benefits of Barley !
After all, does barley make you lose weight or make you fat?
Barley does lose weight ! But don’t worry, that doesn’t mean that just eating is enough for your measurements to decrease overnight (let alone drinking beer!).
As we have already seen above that barley is really slimming , it also brings other benefits to our health. In fact, it is a cereal rich in fibers and minerals that, together, can be allies in the slimming process . This because:
- Insoluble fibers stimulate satiety, decreasing the desire to eat and facilitating portion control during meals;
- The high concentration of chromium in the grains stimulates the burning of fats and decreases the desire to eat sweets;
- Vitamin B complex helps keep metabolism up to date and makes it difficult to accumulate fat;
- It has a low glycemic index, which facilitates the control of glucose levels in the circulation and can help reduce appetite.
How to use barley to lose weight?
You can find it in grains or in the form of bran, which can replace wheat flour in recipes for cakes, breads, pancakes and whole-grain pies. In addition, her grains can be cooked and consumed in a similar way to wheat and rice, in the form of salad, risotto, soup or even alone, seasoned to taste.
Another use of it is in the preparation of green coffee , a type of beverage obtained from cereal and which replaces traditional coffee with the advantage of not containing caffeine.
Barley loses weight if consumed in this way:
Stages:
- Boil a handful of it in 1.5 liters of water .
- Then turn the heat to low and cook for 30 minutes.
- You can change the amount of water depending on how you like it to taste .
- Let cool and drink throughout the day.
- Keep in mind that the taste is very bland.
- So if you can’t tolerate the taste and want to improve it, squeeze some lemon into it or add some honey.
Thus, this fiber -rich cereal grain can form a part of balanced meals, where it can be used as a side dish or made into a breakfast cereal, to provide a filling meal with a variety of health, skin and hair benefits.