Health Benefits Of Barley Tea
Grain Tea
All You Need To Know About Korean Green Tea
The Health Benefits of Roasted Barley Tea With Chicory
Roasted Barley and Chicory Basics
Roasted barley and chicory are both enjoyed as caffeine-free coffee substitutes. Blends containing chicory and coffee are favorites in some areas, such as New Orleans. Both ingredients are sometimes added to ground coffee as fillers, where they add to the coffee’s bulk during times when problems such as drought affect the amount of coffee harvested.
The chicory used in coffee comes from the root of the common chicory plant, which is roasted and ground. To make tea from roasted barley, the whole grains must be simmered in water for about 20 minutes.
Source of Antioxidant Flavonoids
Barley tea contains a variety of plant-based compounds called flavonoids, including quercetin, reported an article published in Bioscience, Biotechnology and Biochemistry in 2004. These compounds act as antioxidants.
In laboratory tests, antioxidants from barley inhibited the growth of cancer cells by blocking damage to DNA from reactive molecules called free radicals, according to a report published in the January 2009 issue of Phytomedicine. However, more studies must be conducted to determine whether antioxidants in barley tea fight cancer in people.
Promotes Dental Health
Drinking barley tea with chicory may keep your teeth healthy because both ingredients help prevent cavities. Barley tea contains compounds called melanoidins, while chicory contributes quinic acid. These substances help inhibit the growth of cavity-causing bacteria.
Roasted barley tea, or coffee, stopped bacteria from sticking to tooth enamel in lab tests, according to a report in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry in December 2006. The report also noted that the active substance, melanoidin, likely develops when barley is roasted. However, it’s not yet known exactly how much roasted barley tea reduces the incidence of cavities in people.
Added Benefit From Chicory
The compounds responsible for chicory’s bitter taste may add to the benefits from drinking barley tea with chicory. These active ingredients, called sesquiterpene lactones, are easily extracted from chicory roots. In fact, tea made with chicory root is a source of sesquiterpenes.
Chicory root extract containing sesquiterpene lactones reduced inflammation caused by colon cancer cells, which may help prevent the growth of new cancer cells, according to studies cited in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences in June 2013. Since studies so far have been in the lab, research using people is needed to verify whether they have the same effect in the human body.
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The Health Benefits of Roasted Barley Tea
Individuals interested in beverages with therapeutic properties may be intrigued by roasted barley tea, known in Japanese as mugicha or in Korean as boricha. Barley tea is available in loose grains, tea bags or prepared tea drinks. It is traditionally used for detoxification, to improve digestion and for urinary tract infections, among other applications. While these uses have not been proven by scientific research, barley tea has other health-promoting properties.
Antibacterial
Roasted barley tea interferes with the absorption of oral streptococci, states the December 2006 issue of the “Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry.” Italian researchers exposed pretreated ceramic beads mimicking tooth enamel to bacteria and the tea in various combinations, discovering that the tea inhibited bacterial colonization and adhesion. Researchers noted that one chemical known for its anti-adhesive properties was absent in barley tea which was not roasted.
Antioxidant
Barley tea has antioxidant properties, notes the December 2004 issue of “Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry.” A team of Japanese researchers from Shizuoka University analyzed the chemical components of barley tea and their effects on peroxynitrite. This unstable oxidant can lead to cell death and health complications including cardiovascular, inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases, explains nature.com. The research team determined the presence of 10 chemicals within barley tea which were able to scavenge, or destroy, the peroxynitrite.
Anticoagulative Properties
Barley tea improves blood fluidity, according to the April 2002 issue of the “Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology.” High blood viscosity can lead to impaired blood circulation and related health disorders. Japanese researchers working for the Kagome Company found that the fluidity of the blood increased directly in proportion with the presence of alkylpyrazine, a substance which gives flavor to their tea.
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15 Amazing Health Benefits of Barley Tea
Only second to water, tea is the most consumed beverage on the planet. In fact, people have been drinking tea since ancient times to combat illness and disease; barley tea is no exception. While the taste and aroma draw attention, it is the barley tea benefits that have people turning to a cup of the tea.
Made from the cereal grain barley, barley tea has been found for centuries in homes and shops in Asia, and in more recent years, in the western hemisphere. It is also used in North America as a caffeine-free substitute for coffee. In Japan, mugicha is normally served as a cool drink whereas, in China, maicha is served warm in the summer and cool in the winter. Korea also serves it year-round and is known as boricha. The caffeine-free barley tea can surely benefit when used as a substitute for coffee.
15 Health Benefits of Barley Tea
Barley tea benefits are innumerable. Here are listed few of the barley tea benefits:
1. Cancer Prevention
The barley grain contains phytonutrients that may help prevent certain types of cancers.
2. Helps With Blood Circulation
It regulates blood sugar levels by cleansing the blood for a better flow throughout the body. Good circulation of the bloodstream is key to good health.
3. Helps With Congestion
Barley itself helps with congestion and phlegm brought on by colds, asthma, and bronchitis with its cleansing power.
4. Treats Constipation
It can treat constipation and keep bowel movements regular as it detoxifies the intestines.
5. Proper Digestion
The tea works as a digestive aid, resulting in complete digestion by reducing acidity, gas, and bloating.
6. Rich in Anti-oxidants
Barley is filled with anti-oxidants; it treats fever symptoms and helps to prevent infections.
7. Reduces Inflammation
It can help reduce inflammation and treat cardiovascular problems.
8. Eases Nauseatic feeling
Barley tea eases the feeling of nausea and helps lessen migraines and tension headaches.
9. Anti-bacterial Properties
It works as an antibacterial in the mouth to fight tooth decay and other oral health issues.
10. Stomach Cleansing
With its bacterial-fighting agents, barley treats bacterial infections in the stomach.
11. Reduces Stress
It eases stress, tension, and anxiety by relaxing the brain muscles.
12. Helps With Sleep
Warm barley tea encourages better sleep patterns with its components of amino acids, tryptophan, and melatonin. The fact that it is caffeine-free helps many as well.
13. Helps in Keeping Prostate Healthy
Barley contains selenium, which helps in the male reproduction role and helps to maintain a healthy prostate.
14. Induces Weight Loss
The effects of some of these health benefits of barley tea can also be used to promote weight loss.
15. Detox
Barley tea benefits further extend to aiding digestion issues, easing stress, and detoxifying the body, some people may see their weight decrease.
These issues, as well as sleep deviation, have been known to cause people to gain weight. Barley tea reverses these potential problems. In addition, a cup of barley tea has no sugar.
Uses of Barley
As one of the top grains produced today, barley is used for more than just cereal and processing beer. Barley is also known to be used to treat boils when applied directly to the skin.
Roasted Barley Tea Benefits
When consumed as roasted barley tea, the barley tea can be beneficial to treat a wide variety of common ailments. Although there is more scientific research to be done on how and why certain treatments occur, barley does have vitamins and minerals such as fiber, magnesium, vitamin B1, and vitamin B3.
In fact, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published findings on a study that the fiber in barley helped with lowering cholesterol levels in a group of men and women, all of who had been diagnosed with high cholesterol.
Who Should Avoid Barley Tea?
Though barley tea is beneficial, it can also cause health issues for some people such as those with gluten sensitivity or celiac disease.
Diabetics should monitor their blood sugar levels very closely and refer to their physician in regards to their medications, as barley may lower their blood sugar levels. Furthermore, those undergoing surgery may want to stop consuming barley at least two weeks before their surgery date to avoid issues with blood levels during the procedure.
Make Barley Tea at Home
To reap the barley tea benefits to the fullest, you can sip a homemade barley tea.
To make your own barley tea, place two to three tablespoons of the grain in four cups of boiling water. Leave the mixture to simmer for approximately 10 minutes before straining the kernels. If you wish to drink it cold, place the mixture in the fridge to chill or combine the grain kernels in a pitcher of cold water to soak overnight.
Sources:
Motoya Ikeguchi, Masahito Tsubata, Akira Takano, et al., “Effects of Young Barley Leaf Powder on Gastrointestinal Functions in Rats and Its Efficacy-Related Physicochemical Properties,” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2014, Article ID 974840, 7 pages, 2014. doi:10.1155/2014/974840
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