• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • [Français]
  • Sign Up and Stay in Touch!
Canadian Food Focus

Canadian Food Focus

Everything Grows

  • About
  • Podcast
  • Courses
  • Contributors
  • Ask Us
  • In Your Kitchen
  • Recipes
  • Health
  • Canadian Food Stories
  • On The Farm
  • What’s in Season
  • Learn to Cook
benefits of eating barley

Ask a Dietitian: What are the health benefits of eating barley?

What do you think of when you hear barley? Soups, stews, maybe nourish bowls, they’re all so delicious. But do we ever think of health? Barley is one of the best healthy buys in the grocery store.

Pearl barley, pot barley… you can’t go wrong. They’re both nutritious fibre-rich choices, and they cook the same way. Cook them on the stove like rice or in a rice cooker or an Instant pot. Then add your favourite Canadian, chopped vegetables and a protein of your choice. Whip up a zesty canola oil-based dressing, and you are good to go for one fibre-rich delicious meal made with wholesome Canadian barley.

Here are 3 reasons why you’re going to want to put Canadian barley on your plate.

  1. Heart health– just half a cup of cooked barley supplies, 60% of a daily amount of fibre shown to help lower cholesterol, a risk factor for heart disease.
  2. Diabetes– the fibre in barley helps to control blood sugars. That’s important for preventing and managing diabetes. Compared to other grains, barley has some of the highest fibre content and three-quarters of Canadians do not get enough fibre.
  3. Digestive health– Barley’s a prebiotic food, so it plays a part in keeping our gut healthy. It’s a source of folate, zinc, potassium, and B vitamins vital for good health.

Let’s get cooking with Canadian barley.

Looking for some recipe inspiration? Check out these delicious recipes:

  • Pork & Barley Meatballs
  • Barley Salad with Dried Cherries, Feta, Grilled Pork & Sautéed Spinach
  • Herb Roasted Chicken with Cranberry Barley Pilaf
  • Baked Mushroom and Herb Barley Risotto

Carol Harrison

Carol is mom to three awesome kids. She’s a Toronto-based food and nutrition communications consultant and says she pretty much spends all day reading, writing, cooking or eating food—this is probably why her dog is always by her side! Carol is excited to share insights from her 20-year journey combining her interests in agriculture, food and nutrition.

Contributor PostsCarol Harrison
Previous Post:preparing potatoesWhat is Genetic Engineering?
Next Post:Smoked Pork Buttsmoked-meat-pork-butt

Sign Up and Stay in Touch

You can unsubscribe at any time by emailing info@canadianfoodfocus.org, or by using the UNSUBSCRIBE link provided in every email.
For more information, see our privacy policy here.

Canadian Food Focus
  • In Your Kitchen
  • Recipes
  • Health
  • Canadian Food Stories
  • On The Farm
  • What’s in Season
  • Learn to Cook
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Courses
  • Ask Us
  • Contributors
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy & Legal
  • [ Français ]
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
Canadian Agricultural Partnership
Government of Canada

Copyright © 2023 · Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan · All Rights Reserved ·

Scroll Up
Sign up for our Newsletter!

 

You can unsubscribe at any time by emailing info@canadianfoodfocus.org, or by using the UNSUBSCRIBE link provided in every email. For more information, see our privacy policy here.