The Barley Grass

Barley grass has been cultivated since 7000BC, and is used as a food source in some parts of Asia. In the early 20th century, the juice made from barley grass was discovered to be a rich source of vitamins and minerals. This type is harvested at a maximum height of 9 inches and dried at low temperatures and then made into a powder.

Barley grass neutralizes free-radicals, pesticides and preservatives, making it an ideal detox food. It has been found to be one of the most nutritionally balanced foods in nature along with the other cereal grasses in the same family.

Barley grass juice contains a rich assortment of vitamins, including a wide range of B vitamins, C, E and K - all vitamins have a greater absorption level when taken together than separately. Barley grass is rich in calcium, iron, copper, potassium, manganese and zinc, making it a great source of minerals.

It has been used to alleviate various conditions including arthritis, inflammation, asthma, anaemia, hypertension, diabetes, blood clots, obesity, impotence and kidney problems.

Barley grass also has very high living chlorophyll levels. Chlorophyll has been extensively studied and shown to aid rebuilding red blood cells, as it has a very similar structure to haemoglobin. For this reason, it can be beneficial to cardiovascular health as it reduces stress to the system by carrying more oxygen around the body. Chlorophyll also acts to detox the body from heavy metals and pollutants (such as cigarette smoke and heavy metal containing car fumes) ingested every day.

Barley grass can be taken as a juice, but it is more commonly taken in powder or tablet form. As a powder, it can be mixed into juices, shakes and smoothies or added to raw food recipes. Start with 1 teaspoon a day and gradually increase your dose to a tablespoon.