The aroma of freshly brewed barley tea is something that we must experience at least once in our life time! But if you make a habit of drinking barley tea regularly, you’ll get something much more than the amazing aroma—you’ll get good health!
Barley tea is a common beverage in China, Japan and Korea. In Japan, the tea is known as mugicha and in Korea, it is called as boricha. Barley tea is free from caffeine. The tea is made by brewing ground barley, unshelled roasted barley or barley seeds in hot water. The light bitter flavor of the tea is sometimes balanced by combining it with roasted corn. Its aroma is fresh and downright amazing, which may make the other benefits of the tea look secondary. But barley tea offers much more than its aroma and flavor—it is a storehouse of health!
How does barley tea help your health? Here’s how:
Highly viscous blood can cause irregular blood circulation and similar health disorders in the body. Barley tea helps to regulate and enhance blood fluidity. It also helps in maintaining a healthy blood circulation.
Barley tea has high level of antioxidants. It contains a number of compounds, such as lignans, selenium, Vitamin A and Vtamin C, which work as antioxidants. Health complications, such as inflammatory, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders can be prevented by these antioxidants present in barley tea.
Oral streptococci are the bacterial agents responsible for tooth decay. Barley tea helps in inhibiting the colonization of bacteria, mainly streptococci, and prevents their adhesion with the tooth, keeping tooth decay at bay.
Diseases, such as prostate and breast cancer that depend on hormones, can be prevented by the hytonutrients present in barley tea. Preventing cancer, the high level of antioxidant in barley tea can assist in averting cell damage, caused due to free radicals.
Blood sugar level can be reduced and regulated by the use of barley tea. Barley tea also acts as a blood cleanser. Lowering the cholesterol level in the body, it offers a healthy heart. As the Japanese say, blood gets freed from impurities by drinking mugicha!
A cup of barley tea a day can keep cold away. Okay, not away, but barley tea helps in alleviating the symptoms of cold. Barley tea is said to be an effective treatment for fever too. It contributes in cleansing the system. It breaks up the phlegm and congestions and assists in treating asthma and bronchitis. Drinking 2 cups of barley tea can give respite from a sore throat too.
Barley tea improves digestion as it is a natural antacid. It can also help treat nausea.
Barley tea is packed with an ample amount of selenium, the mineral that plays an important part in male fertility and provides a healthy prostate, even helping prevent prostate cancer.
Loaded with fiber, barley tea eases bowel movement. Fiber present in barley tea promotes regular and easy bowel movements by sweeping the digestive tract. Regular and easy bowel movements minimize the chances of constipation that stimulate a bloated feeling.
Barley tea contains melatonin, tryptophan and amino acid, which facilitate healthy and good sleep patterns by working in combination. Barley tea is caffeine-free and does not interfere with the sleep routine.
There are so many benefits, which make this tea a good substitute for regular tea or coffee. It cleanses the system and removes toxins from the body. Barley tea is filled with antioxidants and phytonutrients that help to defend the body from free radical damage. And don’t forget the aroma!
Do you or have ever tried barley tea? Did you enjoy the aroma? Share with us in the comments section.