Today, many people are battling to lose weight. Some are ready to try anything, but what about barley water? This beverage is a must-try if you’re trying to lose weight. Keep reading to learn why!
What is Barley Water?
Barley water was used by our ancestors as a medicine, getting its start in Asian, British and Greek cultures. In some regions of Britain, barley is drunk like a tea and combined with flavours like lemon, sugar and other fruits. In Asian countries, it is served both hot or cold with a sprig of lemon.
Ayurvedic medicine promotes it as a ways to treat urinary tract infections, and it can also help keep the body cool in the summer.
Nutritional Value of Barley Water
Barley is very rich in nutrition. One half cup serving of cooked barley pearls has:
-1 milligrams of manganese
-2 milligrams of niacin
-2 milligrams of sodium
-3 milligrams of dietary Fiber
-2 grams of protein
-22 grams of carbohydrates
-0 milligram of cholesterol
-1 gram of saturated Fat
-1 gram of fat
-96 calories
It is very clear from this that, aside from being great for weight loss, it is also beneficial for the body. Moreover, barley water also reduce cholesterol, because the beta glucan in the beverage is actually a cholesterol-fighting type of fiber.
Health Benefits of Barley Water
Before getting deeper into the effects of barley water on weight loss, here are some of the health benefits it offers that might help you decide whether or not you want to use it:
It helps detoxify. The drink helps flush out all the harmful toxins in the body through the urinary tract.
It helps combat urinary tract infections. Since it is a diuretic, it is beneficial in fighting the possible risk of urinary tract infections.
It helps relieve digestive problems. The beverage helps facilitate the digestive process.
It reduces blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Since it is rich in fiber, barley water is effective in reducing overall blood sugar and cholesterol.
How Does Barley Water Help with Weight Loss?
Barley water made from raw barley contains about 704 calories. To put this into more easily understood measurements, it will take you about 200 minutes of brisk walking to burn this off. Within this serving, you’ll also get 2 grams of sugar and 20 grams of protein. Needless to say, barley contains a lot of fiber, which helps make you feel full for longer and curbs any cravings, thus keeping you from unnecessary binging. This fiber also promotes smooth bowel movements, cleaning your digestive tract and purifying you from within.
Benefits of Barley Water for Weight Loss
To gain all the benefits of barley water, you should drink about 3 glasses every day. This will not only help you lose weight, but it will also help cool down your body.
Furthermore, barley water helps cleanse the kidneys and make sure they function smoothly, and it satisfies our thirst enough to ensure we reach our daily water intake goal.
How to Use Barley Water for Weight Loss
You can drink barley water at any time. It’s a great substitute for rice, since it has more flavour, and it makes a good side dish or complement to a salad. It also contains a lot of fiber, which is beneficial for the digestive system. Consider it a superfood, and add it to your morning cereal with some fruit and milk.
Its final effect depends on you, your surrounding diet and how much you exercise, but one thing is for sure: barley water will only help.
Conclusion
Barley water has proven its worth over and over. Its effects on weight loss and overal health are spectacular, so if you want to add a healthy element to your diet, try drinking barley water. It’s bound to help!
