12 Proven Health Benefits of Barley Tea That Will Surprise You

Barley Tea Benefits

Barley tea benefits your body in numerous ways. It can be a delicious, healthy option to your morning coffee.

Barley tea is known for its smoky scent and delicious taste in countries like Korea, Japan, and China for many decades.

In Japan, this healthy drink is known as Mugicha. The health benefits of barley tea are enormous. It contains high concentrations of:

  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin C
  • Amino acids
  • Melatonin
  • Tryptophan
  • Selenium
  • Various antioxidants

Served hot or cold, it is an excellent choice if you want to cut back on calories and boost overall health.

Also Read: Moringa Seeds: 12 Evidence-Based Health Benefits

12 Proven Health Benefits of Barley Tea

The health benefits of barley tea include improved blood flow, a better heart function, and improved digestion and much more.

Following are 12 proven barley tea benefits that will surprise you:

1. Improved Blood Flow

Barley tea is stimulating in nature. It works as an anti-clotting agent and improves the blood flow. It reduces chances of developing blood clots and prevents plaque building up on blood vessels.

A study published in the Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology shows that people who consumed 8 to 9 ounces of barley tea per day had improved blood circulation.

It was better than those who drank plain water. Barley tea benefits in lowering the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular complications.

2. Improved Digestion and Constipation

Another health benefit of barley tea is that it works as a digestive aid reducing acidity, gas, and bloating. It detoxifies the intestines as well. Barley tea may help with settling the stomach and with absorption.

3. Antioxidant Capacity

According to December 2004 issue of Bioscience, Biotechnology, And Biochemistry, barley tea has antioxidant properties.

Antioxidants are human-made or natural substances that may prevent or delay some types of cell damage. These compounds act on the body to prevent oxidative stress which helps avoid chronic diseases like cancer.

Health benefits of barley tea often go unseen, but this miraculous drink contributes to improving your overall health. Antioxidants help fight inflammation, disease and keep the cells healthy.

4. Helps in Weight Management

Weight loss is another important health benefit of barley tea. Barley tea is low in calories but can make you feel full. Barley tea nutrition includes an abundant supply of:

  • Vitamin B₁
  • Vitamin B₃
  • Fiber
  • Magnesium

By drinking this herbal tea, you can avoid snacking between meals and overeating. It also stimulates the metabolism so passive fat burning can occur more efficiently.

In fact, an 8-ounce cup of barley tea contains two calories per serving. Plus, you can replace the high-fat, high-calorie specialty coffees with a cup of low-calorie barley tea.

5. Strengthens the Immune System

High levels of vitamin C in barley tea promote the production of white blood cells. This can give your immune system a boost. Vitamin C also helps fight against various infections.

6. Antibacterial Properties

According to Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry roasted barley tea prevents the absorption of oral streptococci.

Barley tea prevents viral infections by interfering with the ability of bacteria from colonizing and infiltrating your mouth. Only a few cups of barley tea can help keep your mouth clean of intruders. It also helps prevent tooth decay and oral health issues.

7. Can Help You Sleep

Another barley tea benefit is that it helps you sleep. Caffeinated drinks keep you awake. Barley tea contains sleep promoting compounds like:

  • Amino acid
  • Tryptophan
  • Synthetic melatonin

It’s a warm and tasty beverage that won’t keep you awake at night.

8. Reduces Stress and Eases Nausea

Barley tea can help relieve stress, tension, and anxiety by relaxing the brain muscles. Barley tea benefits people who experience nausea and bacterial infections in the stomach. It also reduces a migraine and tension headaches.

9. Improves Prostate Health

Barley tea contains high quantities of selenium, a mineral found naturally in water and some foods. Selenium is critical to certain aspects of male fertility and can promote prostate health. Barley tea benefits are also linked to prostate cancer prevention.

10. Fights Inflammation

Barley tea benefits in fighting inflammation. It works as an anti-inflammatory agent and helps soothe joint pain, arthritis, gout and other inflammatory issues throughout the body.

11. Aid During Pregnancy

Most herbal teas are discouraged during pregnancy. However, drinking barley tea is considered safe for pregnancy. It contains ample amounts of:

  • Potassium
  • Niacin
  • Iron
  • Calcium
  • Folic acid
  • and other nutrients that are essential for a healthy pregnancy

It is also known to keep gestational diabetes at bay and prevent certain congenital disabilities such as spina bifida and neural tube defects.

As with all medications, all pregnant women should consult their physician before taking any herbal teas or vitamin supplements.

12. Skin Care

Antioxidants in barley tea play a significant role in premature aging, wrinkles, and age spots. They help you improve your skin elasticity and keep you looking younger for longer. When applied directly to the skin, barley tea benefits the boils treatment.

Are There Any Side Effects of Barley Tea?

Although barley tea is a nutritious drink, it can cause health issues for some people. For example, people with diabetes should monitor their blood sugar levels as barley tea can lower blood sugar levels. It is advised to consult your physician before taking barley tea.

Barley tea has blood thinning properties. You may need to stop taking barley or barley tea at least two weeks before surgery and inform your physician.

In some cases, the pregnant women who are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed should not drink barley tea. It can slow down or stop lactation during pregnancy.

Finally, barley tea contains gluten and should be avoided if you suffer from gluten sensitivity including celiac disease. Please keep in mind to check with your physician before taking any herbal and vitamin supplements.

Homemade Barley Tea Recipe

You can reap the barley tea benefits by drinking the tea hot or cold. Barley tea can be made in individual glasses. However, brewing it in a pitcher is probably the easiest and the most efficient way. Make sure not to add milk since it won’t do anything for its flavor.

Barley tea is worth sipping during the winter and fall months or as a refreshing summertime drink.

Here is a simple barley tea recipe:

Ingredients:

  • Six tablespoons of ground roasted barley
  • Two liters of filtered water
  • Lemon or honey (if desired)

Directions:

If you are using unroasted barley, add the barley grains to a skillet and roast. Occasionally shaking, roast the grains until they turn dark brown. Allow the roasted grains to cool before adding them to an empty pepper grinder.

  • Grind out the fine powder into a small bowl.
  • Bring the water to a boil and add the ground roasted barley
  • Reduce the heat to simmer while stirring occasionally
  • Let the tea cool slightly and then strain the mixture into a pitcher
  • Use a coffee filter or cheesecloth to filter the fine barley grains
  • Place the pitcher in the refrigerator for cold barley tea, or serve immediately for warm tea
  • Add honey or lemon to taste

Now you know the barley tea benefits and barley tea recipe you will surely prefer sipping this healthy drink rather than other caffeinated beverages.

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James Concato

James Concato is a Hospital Administrator in the Chicagoland area. He has been in healthcare for more than 25 years. He holds a Masters Degree in Healthcare Administration from Quinnipiac University and has worked in or lead many different departments. Writing on cancer treatment and cancer prevention through natural treatments is his passion. James, like many others, has had family members pass away from cancer and he knows that Cancer screening is the key to better outcomes. As an administrator of different physician practices like Pediatrics, Surgery, Anesthesia, and Oncology James brings a wealth of knowledge to his writing. James is interested in educating the public through his writing.