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Barley is an excellent food that can be used in some ways throughout its life span. Barley is a widely used grain at full maturation which is used in many products from cereals to livestock feed. The great thing about barley is the fact that it is highly adaptable to its surroundings; it can be grown in wet or dry areas as well as warm or cool. While there are so many uses for barley as a fully matured grain, the truly amazing benefits come before it's fully matured and while it is a tender grass. When barley is completely grown it is considered a grain, however, when barley is young and in the grass state, before the grain develops, it is more closely related to dark green leafy vegetables. This green grass is truly a wonderful nutritional source that has been linked to some seriously healthy benefits dating all the way back to 2,000BC.
When we think of some vitamins or minerals, we usually have a fruit or vegetable that comes to mind as the richest source. For instance when I say Vitamin C you most likely think of and orange, when I say calcium you most likely think of milk, and finally when I say iron most of you will think of spinach. Well, throw all those thoughts out and create a new way of thinking. What if I were to tell you that barley grass has ten times the calcium as milk, or six times the vitamin C as an orange, and finally four times the iron as spinach. Amazing isn't it, and this is just the tip of the nutritional ice berg. Barley grass also contains potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, copper, zinc, beta carotene, folic acid, vitamin B1, B2, B6, and pantothenic acid as well as chlorophyll. It is also an AMAZING source of vitamin B12.
Without a doubt, with all of these vitamins and nutrients included in one supplement, it is no wonder why barley grass is one of the most popular, and widely taken supplements around the world. The fact that Barley grass has been associated to things such as lowering cholesterol, improving circulation, and preventing cancer isn't bad either. However, it is essential to make sure the grass was harvested at exactly the right time, to ensure you are getting all these amazing vitamins and minerals. In general, the grass should be harvested when the nutrient packed leaves are about 14 inches high.
After the grass is harvested it is usually dried to make supplementing easier, although it can be juiced, but juicing it makes supplementing a little more difficult for some people. Once the leaves are dried they are ground into a powder for your supplemental use; this powder can be mixed with water or juice and taken with a meal. Be sure to avoid mixing the powder with hot or warm liquids as this will deactivate the enzymes in it. There are several types of Barley Grass Powders to choose from. Some have flavorings such as green tea, and some are plain and made to mix with a juice of your preference. No matter what flavor you choose plain, berry, or green tea the important thing is that you take it, and join the millions world wide that are drinking their way to a healthier life.
