Learning most of the time for me and most folks comes out of necessity. As we all age our body does not function as efficiently as it did when we were in our twenties. One issue that is common as we age is our kidneys, they are the filters of our bodies, they get clogged up and don't do as good a job.

Barley water is a simple drink that has many health benefits, but it's best known for it's ability to detox the body and flush out the toxins and aid in digestion. Barley water is nothing new and has been enjoyed in England and Asia as a hot beverage like tea. Many other countries also enjoy it cold as a summer drink to help reduce the body temperature.

The Mayo Clinic recommends barley as a source of soluble fiber. Which most of us could use. I have started drinking barley water a couple times a week but I boil the barley and strain out the barley and just drink the water. I then use the barley in other ways. You may also blend the cooked barley with the water to make a thicker drink. This certainly will contain higher amounts of digestive fiber and more calories. If you choose to use this method be mindful of the higher amounts of fiber and calories you are consuming.

Vitamins: Barley also have several vitamins B1 (thiamin) and vitamin B3 (niacin). The B vitamins are needed for a healthy nervous system, proper liver function and great for your skin, hair, and eyes. The other important vitamins in barley are choline, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, and vitamins A, K, B6 and B12.

Minerals: Barley contains minerals like selenium, iron, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, and copper. Selenium, along with vitamin E, protects the cell membranes from deterioration and aids normal thyroid function. Copper and iron play an important role in the formation of bone and cartilage.

Antioxidants: Barley also contains antioxidants That slow down the rate of oxidative damage by the free radicals.

Phytochemicals: Phytochemicals are natural plant-based chemicals that decrease the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Being a plant source, barley is said to contain these phytochemicals.

Low Glycemic Index: The glycemic index of boiled pearled barley is 35, which is the lowest among all the common cereal grains. Making it a great  carbohydrate choice for diabetics or dieters who are recommended a low glycemic meal plan.

Recipe: Single Serving which I use

• 1T. barley
  
• 1 - 2 cup water
  
• Boil for 15 minutes or until the barley is soft.
  
• Strain out the barley and top off the water back up to 1 cup - cool
  
• Use the cooked barley on my salad for lunch
  

Recipe: Cooked Barley Water - Serves: 4 cups
Ingredients

• 1 cup organic Pearl Barley
• 5 cups water
• Juice of ½ - 1 lemon (to taste, or other fruit if preferred)
• 1 tablespoon raw honey (optional to taste)
• Cinnamon stick (optional)
• Fresh ginger root (optional, to taste)

Instructions

1. Wash the Pearl Barley and soak it in water for at least an hour.
2. Place the Pearl Barley, water, ginger and cinnamon in a pan. Switch the heat on.
3. Boil it and then simmer for 20-25 minutes with the lid off. This will reduce the amount of water by about ⅓. The grains should be softened and cooked.
4. Switch off, strain and add a few drops of lemon juice to the water (you can alternate with mint leaves, orange or lime juice, maple syrup, other herbs and spices etc.). Set cooked barley aside.
5. Add honey to taste, stir and leave to cool. Now your homemade barley water is ready!

Notes
It is best to drink it on the day of making. It can also be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Recipe: Raw Version of Barley Water
 Ingredients

• 1 cup organic Pearl Barley
  
• 5 cups water
• Juice of ½ - 1 lemon (to taste, or other fruit if preferred)
• 1 tablespoon raw honey (optional to taste)
• Cinnamon stick (optional)
• Fresh ginger root (optional, to taste)

Instructions

1. Place all of the above ingredients into a large glass jug and cover with a breathable lid or kitchen towel.
2. Stir the mixture and let it sit for 24 hours.
3. Strain and serve.

Source:
Fit for Live TV, 9 Benefits of Barley Water,  by Anitha Gomathy
foodndtv.com, 5 Amazing Barley Water Benefits,  by Plavaneeta Borah
http://www.stylecraze.com - 25 Benefits of Barley

Tea has many health benefits, and I drink green tea everyday. After learning about Rooibos I have added it to my evening ritual. Rooibos tea (pronounced ROY-boss) is native to South Africa and has benefits ranging from healthy bones to cancer prevention even weight loss. The best part is, it's pretty tasty, with no caffeine and is low in tannins.

Many of the experts agree that rooibos rivals green and black as both an anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant, protecting your cells from damage by free radicals and reducing inflammation. The tea is rich in minerals like calcium, iron, potassium, copper, fluoride, manganese, magnesium, zinc and alpha hydroxy acid. In fact, there is almost no part of your body that doesn’t benefit from rooibos tea.

Rooibos tea is naturally sweeter than other teas and needs to steep longer 1 tsp per cup is all that is needed and let it steep for 15 minutes. I add a bit of honey to the tea but it's pretty good just plain.

Benefits:
Anti-inflammatory
Polyphenols are organic chemicals praised for their antioxidant anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antimutagenic qualities

Lowers Blood Pressure:
Rooibos tea is a natural remedy to help relieve and prevent hypertension. It works by lowering the blood pressure. I have found it to be helpful.

Improves Bone Health:
Rooibos tea contains two specific flavonoids, orientin and luteolin, that increase mineral content in bones. Along with having no caffeine it makes it perfect for those who can't have caffeine.

Controls Diabetics:
Aspalathin is one of the rare antioxidants found in rooibos tea.  It can help to balance blood sugar, improve insulin resistance and glucose absorption by muscles, and boosts the insulin secretion from the pancreas. This all adds up to an ideal defensive shield against developing type II diabetics.

Skin Care:
The alpha hydroxy acid and zinc in this red tea are very good for the skin.  Alpha-hydroxy acids are believed to reduce the signs of wrinkles. Rooibos tea is one of the very few natural sources of alpha hydroxy acid. You can apply the tea as a facial mask. It's worth a try....

Prevents Kidney Stones:
There is no oxalic acid in the rooibos tea so drink up.
 
This tea is available at the Co-Op in the Retail Store, I bought 1 pound bulk loose tea for under $10.00. If you join the Co-Op there is no shipping.

Word of Caution:
Rooibos is powerful, it may interfere with treatments for various conditions, including chemotherapy for cancer patients also, if you have hormone-sensitive cancer like breast cancer. As with any new drug or food talk to your doctor before adding it to your diet.


Sources:
draxe.com, Rooibos Tea
Organic Facts, 13 Benefits of Red Rooibos Tea
WebMD.com The Tao of Tea