College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

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AYURVEDIC FOODS

Barley Benefits (According to Ayurveda)

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1. Ayurvedic Perspective

2. Biocharacteristics & Herbal Actions

3. Similar foods and herbs

4. Impact: On tongue, nerves, elimination, etc.

5. Indications / Benefits

6. Comments and reviews

How Does This Ayurvedic Food Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Recipes with Barley: Barley with Basil & Avocado

Barley is a cooling diuretic and ideal grain for Kapha. It's high insoluble fiber content effectively regulates blood sugar levels. Slower absorption of glucose from the intestines results in lower fasting levels and reducing spikes in blood sugar levels after a meal.

Barley (and many high fiber foods) increase the release of bile from the liver and gall bladder, aiding fat metabolism. Since bile is an oily substance, release of bile directly lowers triglycerrides and cholesterol in the blood. As an added bonus, the high fiber content holds your appetite longer, so you won't find yourself snacking on high calorie foods.

Barley soothes irritated, inflamed bowels. It's fiber has been shown to repair the intestinal lining of the gut.

It also 'liquefies' the blood due to the presence of alkylpyrazine, cleansing the blood of impurities. Barley is demulcent, i.e. slightly slimy, acting as a laxative.

About Barley

Barley has an ancient history, and was first cultivated in the Near East.

Buying & Preparation

Barley may be purchased as a dried grain similar to rice, puffed, or as a malt.

Cooking Barley

Cook the dried grain similarly to rice. It is often used as a thickener in soups and to provide a soft texture. Barley bread is enjoyed in many cultures such as in Scotland. Barley may be roasted first before cooking. Barley malt may be used as a sweetener or to make beer.

Roasted barley tea is popular in Korea and Japan. Served hot in winter and cold in summer. From wikipedia, "Consuming non-fermented barley-based beverages is an ancient practice spanning across the globe; barley water is a popular traditional soft drink in Britain and a similar drink, aguas frescas is frequently sold by street vendors in Mexico."

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Is Barley Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Barley' is a good fit. Complete the basic quiz in 1 minute, or go deeper with additional quizzes at your own leisure to learn more about your body.

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AYURVEDA'S GUIDE TO VITALITY & WHOLESOME NOURISHMENT

Your Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body and your specific imbalances. With an Ayurvedic diet you feel joy and satisfaction because what you are eating truly nourishes and balances you. Disease results from diets and lifestyles that are incompatible with your nature. By eating a personalized diet matched to your body, you experience optimal health. See How it Works.

SERVING SIZE: 1/4 c

SPECIES: Hordeum vulgare

FAMILY: Poaceae

PREPARATION: BOILED

EAT IN: SPRING

FOR OCCASION: ON-THE-MEND

Metabolic Nature of Barley

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.

INCREASES Increases These Biocharacteristics (Gunas) Functional Ayurveda helps you assess imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating these characteristics weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which characteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct imbalances before you get sick. Every characteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite characteristic. Learn More	DRY ABOUT DRY BIOCHARACTERISTIC Dry is identified by lack of moisture, lack of fat, or anything that causes diuresis. LEARN MORE ABOUT DRY GOOEY ABOUT GOOEY BIOCHARACTERISTIC Gooey is identified by anything gelatinous (such as oatmeal), or by mucus congestion. LEARN MORE ABOUT GOOEY EASY ABOUT EASY BIOCHARACTERISTIC Easy refers to anything easy to digest, or digests quickly. LEARN MORE ABOUT EASY LIQUEFIED ABOUT LIQUEFIED BIOCHARACTERISTIC Substances that thin fluids (lower viscosity of blood plasma). These may include blood thinners or mucolytic herbs. LEARN MORE ABOUT LIQUEFIED CLEAR ABOUT CLEAR BIOCHARACTERISTIC Clear refers to anything that cleanses or flushes out wastes, or that digests ama. LEARN MORE ABOUT CLEAR COLD ABOUT COLD BIOCHARACTERISTIC Cold refers to anything that reduces body temperature, metabolism, and blood flow. LEARN MORE ABOUT COLD LIGHT ABOUT LIGHT BIOCHARACTERISTIC Lightness is identified by reduced weight. LEARN MORE ABOUT LIGHT
TASTES The 6 Tastes Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below? Learn More	SWEET ABOUT SWEET BIOCHARACTERISTIC Sweet refers to anything builds tissue, including macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats. LEARN MORE ABOUT SWEET
DOSHAS The Three Doshas / Body Types According to the biocharacteristic theory of medicine, people tend to get sick, over and over again, due to habitual causes and imbalances that are unique to the person. Your body type summarizes this tendency, showing you the 'type' of conditions and imbalances that frequently challenge your health & wellness. Using body type, you can also identify remedies likely to improve your strength and resiliency. Your body type identifies physical and mental characteristics as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses. The calculation of your body type is based on your medical history. The 3 functional body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha). Catabolic individuals tend to break down body mass into energy. They are easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry. Metabolic individuals tend to burn or use energy. They tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed. Anabolic individuals tend to store energy as body mass. If they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion. Anabolic people tend to be stable and grounded. Learn More	PACIFIES AGGRAVATES
HAS THE FOLLOWING	Subtaste: Bland BLAND Bland means doesn't have much taste. In Chinese medicine, bland taste refers to afood without little macronutrients, such as cabbage, radish or bok choy. SEE ALL 'BLAND' FOODS / HERBS Tissue (dhatu): Blood Plasma Lymph BLOOD-PLASMA-LYMPH Plasma (Rasa Dhatu) includes plasma, white blood cells, and lymph. SEE ALL 'BLOOD-PLASMA-LYMPH' FOODS / HERBS Affinity: Kidney Bladder Urinary Family: Poaceae
HERBAL ACTIONS (see all)	Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Barley Experiences are Personal Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition. Digestion: Appetite Suppressant APPETITE-SUPPRESSANT Suppresses hunger without causing weight gain. SEE ALL 'APPETITE-SUPPRESSANT' FOODS / HERBS , Spleen Tonic SPLEEN-TONIC An herb that strengthens spleen function by improving strength of the blood. Spleen tonics Builds agni, brighten the person's appearances & firms up tissues. SEE ALL 'SPLEEN-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS Bowel Health: High Fiber Laxative HIGH-FIBER-LAXATIVE A class of laxative that adds bulk and water to stools. The large size of the stool stimulates peristalsis so the stool can pass more easily through the colon. It is important to drink plenty of water when using high fiber laxatives, as they can be dehydr SEE ALL 'HIGH-FIBER-LAXATIVE' FOODS / HERBS Cleanse & Detox: Internal Detoxicant INTERNAL-DETOXICANT Liquefies, dissolves, decongests or dislodges internal stagnant toxins. Decongests the lymphatic system. SEE ALL 'INTERNAL-DETOXICANT' FOODS / HERBS Energy Vitality: Satisfies Stomach STRONG SATISFIES-STOMACH Provides a sense of gratification and fullness in the stomach. SEE ALL 'SATISFIES-STOMACH' FOODS / HERBS , Nutritive NUTRITIVE An herb that is strengthening and nourishing. SEE ALL 'NUTRITIVE' FOODS / HERBS Skin Care & Beauty: Demulcent DEMULCENT Herbs that coat or form a soothing film over a mucous membrane, relieving minor pain and inflammation of the membrane. SEE ALL 'DEMULCENT' FOODS / HERBS Kidney & Urinary: Diuretic DIURETIC Herbs that promote urine formation, thereby flushing the kidneys and urinary tract while eliminating any excess water retention. As diuretics reduce water retention, they are often used to reduce blood pressure. SEE ALL 'DIURETIC' FOODS / HERBS Liver & Gallbladder: Cholagogue CHOLAGOGUE Cholagogues stimulate the production & release of bile from the liver & gallbladder. This refreshes and cleanses these organs, as well as increases bile in the small intestines. SEE ALL 'CHOLAGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS Weight Loss: Lowers Blood Sugar LOWERS-BLOOD-SUGAR An herb that lowers blood sugar. SEE ALL 'LOWERS-BLOOD-SUGAR' FOODS / HERBS Constituents: Carbohydrate, Inositol INOSITOL Inositol is an alcohol sugar made naturally in the human body from glucose. It is lipotropic (aiding fat metabilism in the liver). It affects a variety of hormones, neurotransmitters, steroid, growth factors and water. SEE ALL 'INOSITOL' FOODS / HERBS , Melatonin, Phytates PHYTATES Phytates prevent absorption of nutrients. They are commonly found in all seeds, including nuts, grains, and beans. Sprouting greatly reduces phytate content, as well as long, slow cooking with vinegar. SEE ALL 'PHYTATES' FOODS / HERBS

Foods with a Similar Nature to Barley

Fenugreek

Fenugreek has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Lowers-blood-sugar, Diuretic, Nutritive, Cholagogue, Internal-detoxicant, Spleen-tonic

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Flax Seed

Flax Seed has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Lowers-blood-sugar, Diuretic, Nutritive, Appetite-suppressant, High-fiber-laxative

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Amaranth

Amaranth has these Actions in Common

Diuretic, Satisfies-stomach, Appetite-suppressant, High-fiber-laxative, Demulcent, Nutritive

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Popped Amaranth

Popped Amaranth has these Actions in Common

Diuretic, Satisfies-stomach, Appetite-suppressant, High-fiber-laxative, Demulcent, Nutritive

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Sorghum Flour

Sorghum Flour has these Actions in Common

Diuretic, Satisfies-stomach, High-fiber-laxative, Spleen-tonic, Demulcent, Nutritive

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Stinging Nettles

Stinging Nettles has these Actions in Common

Diuretic, Satisfies-stomach, Internal-detoxicant, Spleen-tonic, Appetite-suppressant, Nutritive

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Asparagus

Asparagus has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Satisfies-stomach, Diuretic, Appetite-suppressant, Internal-detoxicant

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Artichoke

Artichoke has these Actions in Common

Cholagogue, Lowers-blood-sugar, Diuretic, Appetite-suppressant, High-fiber-laxative

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Artichoke Hearts

Artichoke Hearts has these Actions in Common

Cholagogue, Lowers-blood-sugar, Diuretic, Appetite-suppressant, High-fiber-laxative

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Mung Bean

Mung Bean has these Actions in Common

Internal-detoxicant, Diuretic, Nutritive, High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach

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Herb Supplements with a Similar Nature to Barley

Cornsilk

Cornsilk has these Actions in Common

Cholagogue, Demulcent, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant, Nutritive

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Asparagus root

Asparagus root has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant, Nutritive

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Dandelion Root

Dandelion Root has these Actions in Common

Lowers-blood-sugar, Cholagogue, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant

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Red Clover

Red Clover has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant, Nutritive

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Neem Leaf

Neem Leaf has these Actions in Common

Internal-detoxicant, Lowers-blood-sugar, Cholagogue, Diuretic

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Gokshura

Gokshura has these Actions in Common

Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant, Nutritive, Demulcent

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Vidari

Vidari has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Diuretic, Lowers-blood-sugar, Nutritive

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Punarnava

Punarnava has these Actions in Common

Cholagogue, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant, Lowers-blood-sugar

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Punarnasava

Punarnasava has these Actions in Common

Cholagogue, Diuretic, Spleen-tonic

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Cumin, Coriander, Fennel Tea

Cumin, Coriander, Fennel Tea has these Actions in Common

Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant, Spleen-tonic

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Jamaica Sarsaparilla Root

Jamaica Sarsaparilla Root has these Actions in Common

Internal-detoxicant, Spleen-tonic, Diuretic

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Impact of Barley

In each clinical research trial below, students from the Joyful Belly School of Ayurveda ate the selected food for 3 days and reported the pharmacological effects. See other clinical research trials for diet & herbs at Joyful Belly.