Introduction
Barley grass juice powder, made from the young, tender leaves of the barley plant (Hordeum vulgare), has gained quite a following internationally as a nutrient-packed superfood. It looks so fresh (when processed super carefully) and smells just like freshly-mown grass. It is convenient and easy to incorporate into smoothies, at low levels, to get a nutrition boost without affecting flavor too much. But beyond the fresh appeal, scientific research has also shown that it may help people suffering from inflammatory conditions. Barley grass juice powder has been put to the test for a wide variety of issues like inflammatory bowel diseases and joint pain, both of which are fairly common maladies. In this article, we’ll explore three studies that examine how it might help for 3 different conditions: ulcerative colitis, liver damage, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Barley Grass Juice for Ulcerative Colitis
A 2002 study by Ben-Arye and colleagues, published in Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, investigated the effects of wheat grass juice (a close cousin of barley grass juice) on active distal ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, patients drank either 100 ml (about 3.4 fluid ounces) of wheat grass juice or a placebo daily for a month. The results? The people in the group consuming wheat grass juice saw significant reductions in disease activity, including less rectal bleeding and abdominal pain, compared to the placebo group.
What this means for you: If you’re dealing with ulcerative colitis or similar gut issues, barley grass juice might offer complementary support, along with other things you are doing. We aren’t saying that it will cure you at all. But its anti-inflammatory properties could help soothe flare-ups like it did for people in the study.
Protecting the Liver from Inflammation
In a 2017 study published in Phytotherapy Research, Nepali and colleagues explored a wheatgrass-derived polysaccharide (again, closely related to barley grass) in mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced liver injury. LPS, a bacterial toxin, triggers intense inflammation that can harm the liver. The study found that the polysaccharide reduced inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell death in the liver, protecting it from damage.
What this means for you: While this study was in mice, we can see that various compounds, like polysaccharides, in barley grass could support liver health under inflammatory conditions. So, if you have liver issues, maybe barley grass products would be a good supportive food for you to add to your diet.
Easing Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms
A 1998 study by Cremer and colleagues, published in Romanian Archives of Microbiology and Immunology, examined a green barley extract’s effects on cells from rheumatoid arthritis patients. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition marked by chronic joint inflammation. The study found that the barley extract reduced the release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), both key drivers of inflammation in arthritis.
What this means for you: If you’re managing rheumatoid arthritis or other inflammatory joint conditions, barley grass juice might help modulate your immune system’s overactive responses. It’s not a cure, but it could be a natural way to complement your treatment plan.
Barley Grass Juice Powder: A Natural Way to Quench Inflammation
Together these studies bring out barley grass juice’s potential to address inflammation in specific health contexts. Whether it’s calming gut inflammation, protecting vital organs like the liver, or easing joint pain, barley grass offers a versatile approach to wellness. And it’s a natural, nutrient-rich, whole food supplement that appeals to those who are seeking holistic health solutions, like you.
Here are Some Ways to Drink Barley Grass Juice
- Smoothies: Blend a teaspoon of barley grass juice powder into your morning smoothie. One teaspoon won’t mess up the flavor much (says me, who has been drinking this kind of stuff for more than 25 years).
- Water or Juice: Mix a teaspoon with water or orange juice, grape juice, or pineapple juice. Or make a small shot of it and chase it with something must tastier as a reward.
- Capsules: Not so sure about that green drink stuff? We have BarleyMax in capsules as well.
- Tip: Start with a small dose, like a ¼ of a teaspoon if you are sensitive to foods, to see how your body responds. If you have chronic conditions or you’re taking medications, it would be a good idea to check with a nutritionally-minded healthcare provider.
Conclusion
Barley grass juice is more than just a trendy superfood pushed by a MLM company. There are scientific results spanning decades of research showing its anti-inflammatory benefits. From supporting gut health, to protecting the liver, and reversing some of the molecular pathways of inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis joints, this humble green powder shows promise for helping people with serious health issues that are not well treated by pharmaceutical medications.
As research continues to build a case for using barley grass juice and its extracts for its health benefits, more people will choose to use natural means like BarleyMax to help ease their physical pains and discomforts in life. Are you looking for a premium barley grass juice powder? Our testing proves that BarleyMax is the best. Our testimony page shows that is has helped quite a few people. You could be next!
References
- Ben-Arye E, et al. (2002). Wheat grass juice in the treatment of active distal ulcerative colitis: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Scand J Gastroenterol. Link
- Nepali S, et al. (2017). Wheatgrass-Derived Polysaccharide Has Antiinflammatory, Anti-Oxidative and Anti-Apoptotic Effects on LPS-Induced Hepatic Injury in Mice. Phytother Res. Link
- Cremer L, et al. (1998). A purified green barley extract with modulatory properties upon TNF alpha and ROS released by human specialised cells isolated from RA patients. Roum Arch Microbiol Immunol. Link
