Fascinating Facts - Barley
- Barley, a member of the grass family, is a major cereal grain.
- It was one of the first cultivated grains and is now grown widely.
- A barley plant grows to about 0.3 to 1.2 meters tall.
- It has a thin stem and long, narrow leaves. At the ends of the stems are structures called spikes, which produce small flowers.
- The flowers develop into kernels. Each spike produces two to six rows of kernels, depending on the type of plant.
- Like all plant foods, barley is naturally cholesterol-free and low in fat.
- Barley contains several vitamins and minerals including niacin (Vitamin B3), thiamine ( Vitamin B1), selenium, iron, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus and copper.
- Barley contains antioxidants, which are also important for maintaining good health.
- Barley, being an excellent source of fiber, keeps your body toxin-free.
- Barley is greatly effective in maintaining a healthy colon. By keeping the intestine in proper health, barley helps you to decrease the movement time of feces and keeps your stomach clean.