Raw living barley grass is loaded with benefits for optimal health and longevity. It boosts mitochondria, pumps ATP, helps mitigate disease, and more.
If you’re adding a lot of green powders to your smoothies these days, you might’ve noticed barley as an ingredient. That’s because raw living barley grass (BG), like wheatgrass and oat grass, is powerfully good for your health. And definitely worth deep diving into!
Historically it was used by the Romans and Egyptians, the Vikings of Scandinavia, the gladiators. In India it dates back over 5000 years, and in Japan it’s used in green juices like aojirus.
It’s also one of the oldest producing grain crops in the world, so as a medicine and food it’s endured.
What Is Barley Grass?
Barley grass (Hordeum vulgare) is a member of the cereal grass family, including wheatgrass, oat grass, and rye. It’s harvested for use before it starts making seeds, when its youthful green blades are nutrient-dense.
It has powerful and longstanding contributions to health as both a cross-cultural staple and herb. It’s also been found that this raw living grass is one of nature’s most bountiful foods.
Have a look at why barley grass rocks:
Barley Grass is Rich in Chlorophyll
Raw living barley grass is packed with chlorophyll, which helps carry oxygen to cells. It revs circulation, detoxifies blood, and immerses your body in nutrients.
It’s also well known that the chlorophyll in grass—otherwise known as green plant blood—is key to survival for every species on earth and can boost every cell n your body, from your hair to the tips of your toes, and of course every system in-between:
“Whenever anyone talks about the healing powers of grass, they mention chlorophyll first. Grasses, along with alfalfa and algaes, are the richest sources of chlorophyll on the planet.”
Barley Grass Is Exceptionally Nutrient-Dense
Another great benefit of raw living grass is it’s exceptionally nutrient-dense. In fact, so much so, it can literally sustain life, and that’s a claim not just any plant can make. It has seven times more vitamin C than oranges, 11 times the calcium in cow’s milk, and nearly 6.5 times more iron than spinach.
It also rocks all nine essential amino acids, making it a complete plant-based protein.
Nutrients in Barley Grass
- Antioxidants.
- Phytochemicals.
- Amino acids.
- Alkaloids.
- Enzymes.
- Flavonoids.
- Calcium (11X the amount in cow’s milk).
- Magnesium.
- Chromium.
- Copper.
- Sulfur.
- GABA.
- Glutathione.
- Phosphorous.
- Potassium.
- Manganese.
- Molybdenum.
- Zinc.
- Beta carotene.
- Saponarin.
- Superoxide dismutase (SOD).
- Fiber.
- All nine essential amino acids.
- Iron (nearly 6.5 times more than spinach).
- Vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B9, B12, C (seven times more than oranges), E, & K.
- Chlorophyll.
Barley Grass is a Complete Protein
Raw living barley grass is a rich source of protein with every amino acid we need. Altogether it has roughly 20 amino acids that energize and regenerate cells.
According to one report, “The essential amino acids in barley grass are complete, making it one of the most nutrient-dense foods in the world.”
Barley Grass is Packed with Antioxidants
Barley grass is loaded with strong antioxidants that are especially good for your health. It’s chock-full of saponarin and superoxide dismutase (SOD)—powerful, powerful fuels:
“Young green barley leaves are one of the richest sources of antioxidants and contain the flavones C-glycoside, saponarin, and lutonarin . . . Saponarin in barley grass possesses strong antioxidant activities, which can prevent diseases caused by oxidative damage such as various cancers, inflammations, and cardiovascular diseases.”
Barley Grass Boosts the Immune System
According to research, barley grass rocks at protecting and bolstering the immune system. It’s helpful for just about every condition from cancer to the common cold.
Its rich phytochemicals and abundance of flavonoids nourish and strengthen the biome. It’s also been found that polysaccharides in BG have their own immunomodulatory perks:
“The immunoenhancement effects of polysaccharides isolated from young barley leaves have been demonstrated by Kim et al. and Han et al., in both in vitro and in vivo studies . . . the results of the present studies indicate that polysaccharide-rich young green barley extract may have immunomodulatory properties associated with the enhancement of NK cells’ ability to recognize and eliminate human colon cancer cells without any side effects on normal colon epithelial cells.”
Barley Grass Is Detoxifying
The juice of young barley grass is awesome for detox and cleanses the biome and blood. Its abundance of minerals and bioactive compounds boost deep mitochondrial repairs.
One study calls it the best functional food for eliminating toxins from cells, while another affirms it’s a “well established” plant for degrading organophosphate pesticides.
In addition, it’s shown to crush carcinogens, mutagens, benzpyrene, car exhaust, and more: “These tests show that grasses have a wider range of metabolic activity than animals and humans, and are capable of more efficient neutralization and detoxification of certain pollutants.”
Barley Grass Supports Mental Health
Raw living barley grass has powerful constituents that help support strong mental health. Its impacts on stress can significantly reduce and eliminate a plethora of ailments—from anxiety and depression to panic.
It helps calm the nerves, promotes restful sleep, and is a broad-spectrum anti-depressant. Studies have shown that constituents in barley grass can mitigate tons of ails.
Barley Grass Boosts Alkalinity
Barley grass raises the pH of the blood through an abundance of alkalizing minerals, and a whopping high serving of chlorophyll.
The reason that’s important is because, “Unless the body’s pH level is slightly alkaline, the body cannot heal itself. You cannot improve your oral or general health until pH levels are above 7.”
Barley Grass is Packed with Enzymes
Another great feature of raw living grass is its powerful antioxidant enzymes. There aren’t many veggies on the planet today with all three of the best onboard—Superoxide Dismutases (SOD), Catalase, and Glutathione Peroxidases.
Well barley grass stacks all three and more. According to Dr. Ann Wigmore, “To date, literally hundreds of enzymes have been discovered in cereal grasses. An even more thorough study in the future may turn up thousands, because grass is a storehouse of enzymes.”e grass is a storehouse of enzymes.”
Barley Grass Can Help You Lose Weight
Barley grass benefits are huge for weight loss, and especially on a plant-based diet. It’s packed with acetate, a molecule known to help modulate adipose (fat):
“In general, acetate may modulate body weight control through different mechanisms that can affect central appetite regulation, gut-satiety hormones, and improvements in lipid metabolism and energy expenditure. However, human evidence is accumulating showing that acetate may prevent body weight gain and adiposity through increments in energy expenditure.”
According to one report, “Our study demonstrates the anti-obesity activity of barley grass juice and it may be concluded that barley grass juice can be an effective nutraceutical in the management of obesity.”
Barley Grass Benefits for Weight Loss
- Boosts ATP.
- Ramps circulation.
- Improves digestion.
- Reduces food cravings.
- Promotes regularity.
- Revs metabolism.
- Supports the biome.
- Mitigates stress.
- Curbs inflammation.
- Alkalizes blood pH.
- Promotes detoxification.
- Boosts mitochondria.
- High-fiber content.
- Acetate-rich content.
- Balances blood sugar.
- Improves mood.
- Supports restful sleep.
Barley Grass Juicers & Equipment
I have a lot of experience with equipment after decades of juicing and owning an organic drink bar that served raw juices, including wheatgrass and barley grass. The juicer listed below is the best in the industry but also a bit spendy.
If you’re serious about making grass a lifestyle—I highly suggest!—it may be a good ROI. I still have mine after all these years and it rocks. It also juices oat grass and other grasses.
If you can’t afford it, you can always get a hand crank or something cheaper, but Nutrifaster is the state of the art. Used by Jamba Juice back when business was booming, it’s the only way to go if you plan on opening a juice bar or juicing a lot. 💚
Barley Grass Side Effects
Always consult your physician if you’re taking medications like blood-thinners or have medical conditions—contraindications may apply.
I also suggest starting slow with small doses to give your body time to adapt. Like wheatgrass, barley grass is strong and potentially irritating when you take it on an empty stomach, though that’s what I personally do and also what experts suggest. With food, it’s significantly much more dilute and assumingly less effective.
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The medical and health topics covered on the PlateofGrass website have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to prevent or cure any disease. This article and its content is presented ‘as is’ for informational purposes only.
