People suffering from health problems that are not compatible with drinking coffee are often looking for substitutes for this drink. One of them is barley coffee. It has a number of useful properties, allowed for use by children and the elderly. You can learn more about the benefits of coffee substitute from barley from the article.

What is barley coffee

Barley coffee is a drink made from an ear of malt barley. It has a pronounced tonic effect and can be used as a coffee substitute of plant origin. Many people believe that its taste and smell remotely resemble coffee. The main advantage of the described drink is the absence of caffeine. Many see this as a disadvantage, since it is not capable of exerting such an invigorating effect as natural coffee.The described coffee substitute is produced by roasting barley grains. Today on sale you can find several types of drinks made from barley ear. They can be soluble and boiling, cereal and ground. There are also pure drinks and containing various impurities, for example, chicory, rosehip, cereals, cardamom, echinacea.

Distribution history

Barley drink appeared to replace coffee. At first, the inhabitants of Italy began to use it. But it was not started to be brewed in order to avoid the health effects of caffeine. The fact is that coffee was too expensive, and not everyone could afford it. Moreover, it was very difficult to acquire.

Did you know? The first drink, which began to be made from barley, is beer. Foamy liquid quickly became popular and even at one time went as a currency - they paid it to employees in ancient Mesopotamia.

The Italians nicknamed the barley coffee substitute Caffe d’orzo. From their territory, the drink spread throughout Europe during World War II. He was especially loved in Spain. Already in the post-war years, about 20 companies producing it appeared here.

The composition and calorie content of the drink

To understand what effect coffee from barley can have on the human body, you should take a look at its composition.

Almost all known vitamins are present in it:

• A (0.1% of the recommended daily intake for humans);
• beta carotene;
• lutein;
• B1 (32.5%);
• B2 (10.4%);
• B4 (1.1%);
• B5 (9.4%);
• B6 (13.8%);
• B9 (5.2%);
• E (5%);
• K (3.3%);
• PP (13.5%).

Rich in drink and minerals.

It contains:

• potassium (13.5%);
• calcium (2.3%);
• magnesium (20.6%);
• sodium (0.5%);
• phosphorus (24.6%);
• iron (12.5%);
• manganese (77.4%);
• copper (35.4%);
• selenium (50.1%);
• zinc (17%).

The described beverage also contains sugars, essential and non-essential amino acids, sterols, saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. The calorie content of coffee from barley is 357.1 kcal / 100 g (21.2% of the recommended daily intake for humans).

The energy value of 100 g is as follows:

• proteins - 11.1 g (14.6%);
• fats - 2.1 g (3.8%);
• carbohydrates - 74.9 g (34.2%).

Which tastes and smells

The described coffee substitute has a peculiar taste. It has a touch of fried bread. Taste can be described as soft, with a slight bitterness. With proper preparation, a high dense foam forms on the surface of the drink.

Did you know? Barley, together with wheat, is the oldest cereal crop, the evidence of cultivation of which dates back to 10 thousand years ago. Scientists suggest that for the first time its cultivation came to mind to the inhabitants of the Middle East.

Useful properties of barley coffee

The rich chemical composition determines the benefits of the described drink. It can be used by almost all people - children, pregnant women, nursing women, the elderly. It is not contraindicated in such serious diagnoses as diabetes, pancreatitis, gastritis. It is recommended for people who want to lose weight or carefully monitor their body condition.

Health benefits in general

• In general, coffee from barley can have the following beneficial effects on the human body:
• Strengthen excretion of fluid with urine.
• To have a cleansing effect of toxins.
• Strengthen the body's defenses.
• Activate the elimination of bile.
• To tone up.
• To have a positive effect on the functioning of the heart and blood vessels.
• Soothe and normalize the central nervous system.
• To establish the digestive system.
• Stabilize the level of hormones and glucose in the blood.
• Restore strength.
• Contribute to weight loss.
• Make better skin and hair.
• Help recover faster after infectious diseases.

For children

For children, a barley drink can be useful because it has a rich vitamin and mineral composition. With regular use, it is able to saturate the growing body with the missing elements.

In addition, such a drink calms the nervous system, improves brain activity. Especially important for children are such beneficial effects of the drink as maintaining the level of fluid at the proper level and strengthening the immune system.

When losing weight

Barley has antioxidant properties. This means that its regular use will help cleanse the body of toxins. The presence of fiber in the coffee substitute leads to the fact that it regulates the action of the gastrointestinal tract, including regular emptying, as well as metabolism. All these actions in combination contribute to getting rid of extra pounds.

Can I drink

There are a number of health problems, as well as periods in people's lives when certain drinks and foods are forbidden, since they provoke deterioration and harm. For example, coffee should not be drunk for diabetics, ulcers, those who suffer from digestive tract disorders.

It is banned for pregnant and lactating women. But barley coffee is considered a healthy drink. However, before introducing it into the diet, you should make sure that there are no contraindications to its use.

During pregnancy and breastfeeding

Pregnancy and lactation are those important periods in a woman’s life, when she must in a special way monitor what gets into her body, since the baby’s health directly depends on the quality and properties of products and drinks. Pregnant women should not use it, since it can cause a sharp increase in pressure, which is dangerous because it leads to an abortion or untimely delivery.Everyone knows that it is strictly forbidden to drink coffee at this time. There are no contraindications for barley drink in women carrying children. The main thing is not to abuse it. It is not contraindicated to drink coffee from barley and women who are breastfeeding. It is believed that he is absolutely not dangerous either to mom or to a child. It does not provoke allergic reactions, agitation of the nervous system, sleep disturbance.

Important! Adding honey and milk to a barley drink can improve lactation.

With diabetes

The diagnosis of diabetes is not a contraindication for the use of barley coffee. Fiber, a large amount of its composition, can slow the absorption of carbohydrates. And this, in turn, leads to the fact that the blood sugar level is stabilized. The described drink is even recommended to be used to prevent the development of diabetes.

With pancreatitis and gastritis

Barley coffee substitute is allowed and even recommended for use by people who have problems with the digestive tract. It is not contraindicated even with serious diseases such as pancreatitis, gastritis, ulcers.

This is explained by the fact that barley is able to provoke the cleansing and toning of the epithelium of the stomach and intestines, the elimination of bile, and the removal of inflammation. Elements contained in it provoke the growth and maintenance in a normal state of beneficial microflora in the intestine.

How to use

Barley drink can be drunk at any time of the day. It is good to eat it during breakfast. It is also suitable for dinner and for snacks. To make the taste better, it is worth adding sugar and its substitutes, milk, cream, ice cream, lemon, cinnamon, honey to the coffee substitute.After adding milk, the drink remotely resembles a cappuccino. With proper preparation, it contains the same thick and high foam. The aroma in this case becomes more subtle. To bring the smell closer to coffee, chicory should be added.

Ways to make a drink

There are several recipes for how to prepare the described coffee substitute at home. It can be a pure drink or with the addition of various additives to enhance the beneficial effect. They give the coffee substitute a variety of interesting tastes. The following is a step-by-step description of the classic cooking method and with the addition of rye.

Classic way

3 tsp are used in this recipe. barley grains and 150-200 ml of purified water. Grains must first be thoroughly washed and completely dried.

Next, proceed as follows:

1. Heat the pan.
2. Put grains on it.
3. Fry, stirring constantly, until they darken and their smell intensifies.
4. Remove from pan and refrigerate.
5. Grind in a coffee grinder.
6. Pour cold water into the Turk and place the grains.
7. Put on fire and boil.
8. To hold within 3-5 minutes in a closed form.

Important! According to the recommendations of doctors and nutritionists, the maximum dose of this drink for an adult healthy person is 4-5 cups with a volume of 200 ml per day. Exceeding this volume can harm the body.

Barley coffee with rye

For this recipe, 2 tbsp. Will be required. barley and rye and 200 ml of purified water.

The drink is prepared in this way:

1. Rinse cereals and soak in water overnight.
2. Drain and rinse again.
3. Place cereals in boiling liquid.
4. After opening, throw them into a colander.
5. Flush.
6. Dry completely.
7. Place in a preheated pan.
8. Fry until dark.
9. Grind in a coffee grinder.
10. Pour water into the Turk.
11. Pour in cereals.
12. Boil.
13. Insist in a closed state for 3-5 minutes.

How to choose and store the product

Which drink to choose - soluble or insoluble, cereal or ground, pure or with additives - depends on the personal preferences of the person and on whether he has time for proper preparation by prescription. It is better to buy barley coffee produced by well-established brands.

The product must be sold in a sealed container. When buying, it is important to pay attention to the expiration date. Usually it is 12-18 months from the date of manufacture. Store the product in a sealed original packaging. It should be stored in a dry place, away from substances that have a strong odor.

Contraindications

Barley coffee is a unique drink, since there are almost no contraindications to its use. It can be harmful only if a person abuses it - drinks it too often, in large quantities, very strong. Uncontrolled use threatens to increase body weight.It is forbidden to drink the described coffee substitute for those who suffer from celiac disease - a disease of the small intestine. This disease leads to the fact that the body is not able to break down and absorb cereal gluten. As a result, a person may experience indigestion.

So, barley drink is an excellent alternative for those who should not drink natural coffee, as well as for people who prefer to lead a healthy lifestyle. It is saturated with vitamins, minerals and amino acids, is able to exert a number of beneficial effects on the human body. It is indicated for the restoration of strength and immunity after illness and in the treatment of certain diseases.