John Myers
The Queen supposedly drinks a glass of it every day, it is said to make you slim and extremely healthy: barley water. You can find out what that is and whether the drink keeps what is promised here.
Refreshing drink: barley water
As an old crop, barley has been used as a food for around 10,000 years. The grains play a role above all in brewing beer and in the production of pearl barley, groats, flakes, and flour. Barley soup is often made with rolled barley. The grain consists of around 80 percent carbohydrates, 14 percent protein and 5.5 percent fat and thus provides important nutrients. Cooked barley also contains phosphorus, copper, and manganese. The recipe for making barley water is very simple. The grains are boiled and the liquid strained. This can be refined with honey, lemon, and spices and enjoyed pure or used for power drink recipes.
Ingredients and effects of barley water
A number of positive health effects are attributed to barley water. The beta-glucans it contains are said to contribute to maintaining normal cholesterol levels and to the blood sugar level rising less strongly after eating. This keeps you full longer and barley water can help you stay or become slim. A prerequisite for these effects is that you take in at least 3 or 4 g of beta-glucans daily with food. The amount of fiber in barley depends on the variety.
Delicious refreshment in summer
Given these proven benefits, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying the drink more often. The drink, which is often referred to as superfood, is said to be on the menu every day for the Queen and her family. In summer, barley water is pleasantly refreshing and, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), has a cooling effect, which is why it is also recommended for fever. It is also said to relieve gastrointestinal complaints and stimulate digestion. If you want to make barley water yourself, you should plan some time. Because the grains simmer for about two hours. Incidentally, they can still be used as a salad ingredient (just like pearl barley, as you can test on our pearl barley salad). Always keep your barley water in the refrigerator and consume it within three days.
Tip: Try barley grass, for example as an ingredient in a smoothie. Read our information about the effects of barley grass.
