Barley is a cereal grain with a rich nutlike flavor and an appealing chewy, pasta-like consistency. In addition to its robust flavor, barley's claim to nutritional fame is based on its being a very good source of fiber and selenium, and a good source of niacin, phosphorus, copper and manganese. This grain is low in fat and sodium and rich in B vitamins and minerals, including calcium. It also offers some protein and fiber. When fermented, barley is used as an ingredient in beer and other alcoholic beverages.

Health Benefits of Barley:

• The rich fiber content of barley helps promote regularity in bowel movement therefore preventing illnesses such; chronic constipation, hemorrhoids, colon cancer, etc.
• Barley provides insoluble fibers that feed friendly bacteria in the digestive tract, this helps to maintain larger populations of friendly bacteria, the friendly bacteria acts to prevent the bad bacteria from surviving in the intestinal tract.
• The fiber in barley can also help to prevent blood sugar levels from rising too high in people with diabetes.
• Barley contains niacin (B vitamin) and Beta glucan which helps protect against cardiovascular disease by reducing the total cholesterol in the body. Niacin also helps reduce the clumping of platelets that can result in the formation of blood clots. One cup of barley will supply you with 14.2% of the daily value for niacin.
• Barley fiber can help prevent gallstones formation.
• Barley's copper content may help in reducing the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. A cup of cooked barley provides 32.0% of the daily value for copper.
• Barley also helps to normalize blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.

Barley is sold in different forms which include: Whole-hulled barley is more nutritious than pearl barley.

Barley is sold in different forms which include: Whole-hulled barley is more nutritious than pearl barley.

• Hulled barley - the outermost hull of the grain is all that gets removed in this form of barley. Hulled barley is also sometimes called "dehulled barley," this is the form of barley that is considered whole grain.
• Pearl barley - this form undergo various degrees of polishing, or "pearling". In addition to a polishing off of the outermost hull, the grain's bran layer, and even parts of its inner endosperm layer, may be removed during the pearling process.
• Pot/scotch barley- this falls in between hulled and pearl barley. It's been polished to remove its outer hull, but the polishing process is not continued for much longer, so that a large amount of the remaining grain is left intact. While pot barley would not technically be considered whole grain, and would lack some of the benefits of hulled barley, it is still a very reasonable nutritional choice and more nutrient dense than pearl barley.
• Barley flakes can be made from hulled, or pearl barley, and can be significantly different in nutrient content for this reason.
• Barley grits - this is a form that has been toasted and cracked. Barley grits can be made from hulled, hulless, or pearl barley, and can be significantly different in nutrient content for this reason.