ConsumptionBarley waterCan it be fattening?
Barley water is a popular drink that many people enjoy; it can sometimes be known as a factor for weight gain. The preparation of barley water involves malt extract or barley sprouts, a small amount of hops, yeast, andsoda wateris used.
The soda water in it contains carbon dioxide and phosphoric acid, which are considered carbohydrates. During fermentation, the existing carbohydrates are converted into intermediate carbohydrates that are easily absorbed and digested. Then, these carbohydrates are burned in the body, producing energy, therefore the calorie content of barley water is significant and can be fattening.
When consuming barley water, you receive various compounds; these include yeast, maltose, vitamins B1, B2, and B5, which help in the metabolism of carbohydrates and energy production in the body.
By consuming barley water, the essential vitamins your body needs are provided as this drink also contains 16 essential amino acids, with about 20 milligramsof vitamin Creached by the body; therefore, barley water not only has a pleasant taste but can also offer useful nutrients to your body.
Side effects of excessive barley water consumption
Since many of us may not have whole grains in our diet, barley water can be a good source of vitamins and nutrients. However, if this drink is not consumed in moderation, its relatively high calorie content can lead to weight gain, so if you intendto lose weightyou should not consume it excessively.
Additionally, barley water contains high sugar content, which is not suitable for people withdiabetesMuch of the gas in barley water is due to the fermentation process, but most of its gas is produced industrially, known as carbon dioxide.
If the level of phosphoric acid in this drink is high, it may lead to problems such asosteoporosisExcessive consumption of barley water may result indecreased calciumin the body.
If you already havecalcium deficiencyorvitamin Ddeficiency, your bone problems will worsen; thus, it’s best to consume barley water moderately to benefit from its advantages and avoid potential issues.
Traditional method of preparing barley water in traditional medicine
For traditionally preparing barley water in traditional medicine, first prepare the peeled barley and place it in some water. Then put the container with barley over low heat and allow the barley to cook gently. After a while, remove it from heat and let the contents settle. Once settled, you will see a red or pinkish liquid that is called barley water.
This barley water has many benefits, including loweringblood pressure, reducing body heat, expelling toxins, alleviating extreme thirst, reducing liver heat,and treatingintestinal ulcers, treatingdry coughs and tuberculosis. Due to the natural properties and healing benefits of barley water, this drink is very popular in traditional medicine and can greatly contribute to overall health. By preparing this drink traditionally, you can benefit from all its properties.Industrial methods for making barley water
In addition to the traditional method, industrial methods are also used to produce barley water. In these methods, barley is first converted into malt. Malt is the dried sprouts of barley from which a liquid known as beer is derived after drying. This liquid undergoes alcoholic fermentation and produces alcohol with the help of active yeast.
Next, distillation is performed based on the amount of alcohol that is intended to remain in the product. Then a de-alcoholization process is conducted to reduce the existing alcohol. Typically, for beverages exported to Islamic countries, the alcohol content is limited to half a percent. These methods allow for the production of high-quality barley water with longer shelf life due to greater precision and control.
Method of making non-alcoholic barley water in Iran
To prepare non-alcoholic barley water in Iran, a limited fermentation process is used. This means that before the liquid becomes alcoholic, a thermal shock is applied to prevent it from becoming alcoholic. Beer usually contains yeast that will produce alcohol if placed in a suitable environment. By applying heat shock, the yeast is destroyed and the alcohol production process is halted.
Drinks that are usually consumed domestically are not considered beer at all. Rather, they are recognized as malt-based drinks and this is due to the completely limited fermentation process.
In this way, the non-alcoholic barley water produced in Iran is not only delicious and nutritious, but also suitable for individuals who do not wish or cannot consume alcohol for various reasons. This method has made barley water a healthy and popular choice among people.
It is not considered beer, but rather recognized as a malt-based drink due to the completely limited fermentation process.Consumption of barley waterDoes consuming barley water cause weight gain?
