Pearl barley is a healthy product that is high in vitamins, fiber and minerals. It is recommended to eat porridge for people who want to lose weight and strengthen the immune system. The product is often used in traditional medicine and is used as home cosmetics.
The use of barley in a balanced amount has a positive effect on vitality and improves performance, making the porridge suitable for sports nutrition. The product energizes athletes before long and intense workouts.
Calorie content and composition of barley
Pearl barley or “pearl barley” is a high-calorie product. 100 g of dry mix contains 352 kcal, however, during the cooking process, the energy value is reduced to 110 kcal per 100 g of the finished portion (cooked in water without using other ingredients). The chemical composition of barley is rich in useful elements, in particular, fiber, which removes toxins from the body and improves intestinal function.
Nutritional value of porridge per 100 g:
- fats - 1.17 g;
- proteins - 9.93 g;
- carbohydrates - 62.1 g;
- water - 10.08 g;
- ash - 1.12 g;
- dietary fiber - 15.6 g.
The ratio of BZHU in pearl barley per 100 g is 1: 0.1: 6.4, respectively.
In the process of heat treatment, cereals practically do not lose their beneficial properties, therefore they are ideal for dietary and proper nutrition. In order to lose weight, give preference to boiled porridge in water without adding oil and salt.
The chemical composition of cereals per 100 g is presented in the form of a table:
| Name of substance | unit of measurement | Quantitative indicator of the content in the product |
| Zinc | mg | 2,13 |
| Iron | mg | 2,5 |
| Copper | mg | 0,45 |
| Selenium | mcg | 37,7 |
| Manganese | mg | 1,33 |
| Phosphorus | mg | 221,1 |
| Potassium | mg | 279,8 |
| Magnesium | mg | 78,9 |
| Calcium | mg | 29,1 |
| Sodium | mg | 9,1 |
| Vitamin B4 | mg | 37,9 |
| Vitamin PP | mg | 4,605 |
| Thiamine | mg | 0,2 |
| Vitamin K | mg | 0,03 |
| Vitamin B6 | mg | 0,27 |
In addition, barley contains nonessential and essential amino acids, poly- and monounsaturated fatty acids such as omega-3, omega-6 and omega-9. The content of monosaccharides is low and equals 0.8 g per 100 g of cereals.
Useful properties of porridge for the body
The systematic use of barley porridge will strengthen health, immunity and improve the appearance. As it is equally useful for both men and women.
The most obvious health benefits are:
- Barley porridge improves the condition of the skin, makes it more toned and elastic. The product protects the skin from external influences and prevents premature wrinkle formation.
- Useful compounds in cereals have a positive effect on the state of the nervous system, as a result of which the sleep pattern is normalized and insomnia disappears.
- The product strengthens the immune system and increases the body's resistance to viral infections. It is recommended to eat porridge during a common cold to speed up the healing process.
- Croup strengthens the skeleton and prevents crumbling of teeth.
- Eating the product several times a week can prevent or alleviate the risk of asthma.
- Barley has a beneficial effect on the digestive system, speeds up metabolism and increases the growth of beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract.
- The product stabilizes the production of hormones that are disrupted due to a malfunctioning thyroid gland.
- Boiled barley is a means of preventing cancer.
- Porridge increases the intensity of training, increases the rate of muscle contraction and is ideal for sports nutrition.
Barley porridge is recommended for people with diabetes, as the product helps to lower blood sugar and improves insulin production. For a healthy person, cereals will help reduce the risk of developing diabetes.
© orininskaya - stock.adobe.com
The therapeutic effect of barley on humans
In folk medicine, barley porridge is often used, as well as decoctions based on it.
The medicinal use of pearl barley is varied:
- Consuming porridge regularly (in moderation) improves bowel function, relieves bloating and prevents constipation thanks to the fiber included in the product. Barley reduces the risk of colon cancer.
- Porridge is considered a prophylactic against joint diseases and osteoporosis. Since barley saturates the body with calcium, the likelihood of inflammation of the cartilage tissues decreases, and degenerative processes also slow down.
- If you eat barley porridge regularly, you can prevent the formation of kidney and gall bladder stones. People who are at risk are advised to take a cereal-based decoction.
- Barley helps to restore the full functioning of the cardiovascular system, reduces the level of "bad" cholesterol in the blood.
The product cleanses the body of toxins, poisons, as well as toxins and salts. Pearl barley reduces the manifestation and alleviates the symptoms of allergic reactions. Barley grains are used in the treatment and prevention of fungal diseases.
© Kodec - stock.adobe.com
The benefits of cereals for weight loss
People who want to lose weight are advised to add boiled pearl barley with low or no salt to the diet. The benefits of a slimming product lie in its nutritional value and ability to affect metabolism.
There are various mono-diets using barley, but they are all difficult for the body, especially for women. Therefore, nutritionists recommend adhering to diets using barley no more than once a month and following them for no more than one week.
For best results, you need to revise the diet, adding pearl barley dishes a couple of times a week. Once a month, it is recommended to arrange a fasting day exclusively on barley in order to cleanse the intestines, rid the body of toxins, salt and mucus. A fasting day will help remove excess fluid from the body, thereby reducing swelling and normalizing metabolism.
During a diet on pearl barley, no weakness is observed, since the body is saturated with the nutrients that make up the cereal. Porridge provides a feeling of fullness for several hours, which prevents breakdowns and overeating.
If you follow a diet, it is imperative to drink the daily fluid intake in the amount of 2 or 2.5 liters of purified water (tea, coffee, compote and other drinks are not considered).
Important! The daily intake of boiled pearl barley porridge should not exceed 400 g, provided that a mono-diet is followed. With the usual intake of porridge, the norm is 150-200 g.
© stefania57 - stock.adobe.com
Contraindications and harm of barley to health
Pearl barley porridge can harm human health in case of individual gluten intolerance or allergy to cereal products.
Contraindications to the use of cereals are as follows:
- chronic constipation;
- increased acidity;
- gastritis in the acute phase;
- flatulence.
Pregnant women are advised to reduce the amount of barley porridge consumption to a couple of times a week. Overuse of porridge can cause indigestion and nausea.
Outcome
Barley is a healthy and nutritious porridge that must be included in the diet not only for girls and women who want to lose weight, but also for male athletes to achieve the best results during workouts. The product has a positive effect on the state of the body as a whole, strengthens health and speeds up metabolism. Barley porridge has practically no contraindications, and it can harm the body only if the daily norm is exceeded, which is 200 g with a normal meal and 400 g while observing a mono-diet.
