Barley

1. Barley

2. Barley is quickly becoming one of my favorite grains. I love the soft texture and nutty flavor when boiled and used in place of rice. A truly ancient grain, barley’s versatility makes it a superb choice when experimenting with whole grains.

3. Many of us may know of barley only as the five loaves with the two fish used to feed the 5000. Or perhaps as the little, white, round, pasta looking substance in many commercially prepared soups. Since most of us weren’t around when Jesus fed the multitudes we shouldn’t let our only experience with barely be as an addition to soup and stews. Barley is a most delicious and very nutritious grain. • Barley is an excellent choice in a variety of cooking and baking applications. Barley can be cooked whole and used in place of rice or as delicious breakfast porridge or pudding. Barley can also be ground into flour. Barley is often overshadowed by wheat for bread in part due to its lower gluten forming potential. Though not as suitable as wheat for yeast breads, barley flour can be used to make biscuits, quick breads and cookies. Barley mixed with soft wheat flour makes an exceptional whole grain for pastry.

4. Delicious and Nutritious • Barley, as well as all whole grains are so much more than just delicious. They are nutritious as well. And for me, that is like icing on a cake. • Barley is the 4th most consumed grain in the world and has more fiber than any other grain, out-performing even wheat. Most common varieties of barley contains 17% fiber, compared to wheat at 12%, oats at 10%, corn about 7% and brown rice at only 3.5%. While the fiber in most grains is concentrated largely in the outer bran layer, barley’s fiber is found throughout the whole grain, which may account for its extraordinarily high levels.

5. It is not just the amount of fiber that makes barley unique but the type of fiber. Barley, along with oats, is the richest grain source of a soluble fiber known as beta-glucans. Numerous scientific studies have shown that it may in fact be barley’s high levels of beta-glucans that give barley its most notable health benefits. Beta-glucans have been proven to lower both LDL cholesterol and triglycerides while raising HDL cholesterol, help control blood sugar and improve immune system function. Recent studies showed that barley fiber had a much more positive effect than brown rice on increasing the amount of good microflora found in the gut. Beta-glucans also seem to slow digestion which gives a sustained feeling of fullness and satisfaction which can contribute to better weight management. New research even indicates that beta-glucans may be radio-protective, meaning that they may help our bodies stand up better to radiation therapy and nuclear emergencies.

6. A Serving of 100% Whole Grain Foods • If you enjoy foods made entirely with whole grain, you can follow the suggestions in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, where a serving of whole grain is defined as any of the following: • • ½ cup cooked brown rice or other cooked grain • • ½ cup cooked 100% whole-grain pasta • • ½ cup cooked hot cereal, such as oatmeal • • 1 ounce uncooked whole grain pasta, brown rice or other grain • • 1 slice 100% whole grain bread • • 1 very small (1 oz.) 100% whole grain muffin • • 1 cup 100% whole grain ready-to-eat cereal • (The US Dietary Guidelines don’t actually use the word “serving.” They call the amounts above “ounce-equivalents.” https://www.breadbeckers.com/blog/barley/