Health Benefits of Barley Products

Consumption of diets high in whole grains has been recommended in the
2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and are reported to have a number
of beneficial health effects including reduced risk of cancer,
cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes, which are leading causes of
death in the USA. These results have been attributed to the effects of the
soluble and insoluble fiber content of whole grain foods on risk factors
for these diseases including blood glucose, insulin, and cholesterol.
Other more general beneficial physiological effects of consumption of
whole grains include reduced transit time which may reduce risk of colon
cancer, and reduced rate of absorption of energy containing nutrients
which may reduce glucose and insulin responses and risk of obesity.
Numerous studies have demonstrated that whole grains that are high in
soluble fibers, such as beta-glucan, found in oat and barley products are
more effective in lowering blood cholesterol than those in which fibers are
predominantly insoluble such as wheat or rice. Health claims that
consumption of oats or barley products effectively lower blood
cholesterol concentrations have been approved by the Food and Drug
Administration. This claim states that consumption of oat or barley
products containing a total of at least 3 grams of beta-glucan per day is
necessary to observe a health benefit.
Read more...
Maud & Olof Erikssons Tunnbrödsbageri HB
Copyright © 2010