BARLEY
According to the National Barley Foods Council, barley is used commercially for animal feed, to produce malt for beer production, for seed, and as an ingredient in human food applications. In the U.S., nearly 55% of the crop is used for animal feed, about 40% for malt production, and about 3% for seed. That leaves about 2% for human food. But that consumption level may start rising in the near future for the number of seasons.
Frist, there has been an increased effort to get more whole grains into the diet. Barley is a very rich source of antioxidants, vitamins. fiber, protein, and other nutrients. Improved processing methods may also help in retaining the nutritional value of barley which previously might have been lost or reduced.
Second, agricultural researchers, plant breeders, and farmer continue to make progress in improving different barley varieties, enhancing traits that will prove useful in the development of health-promoting foods.
Third, barley is recognized as having a higher beta-glucan content then oats, which can be effective in lowering serum cholesterol levels. It’s quite possible that someday barley may have it’s own health claim.
Fourth, work is being done to isolate and concentrate components of barley which may find use in the creation of novel nutraceuticals.
Fifth, in addition to its potential health value, barley offers a variety of functionality benefits. Because of barley's neutral flavor and texture properties, it may be added to a variety of dishes, including soups, sausages, crackers, casseroles, hot and cold ready-to-eat cereals, snacks, baked goods, and granola. Furthermore, it can be milled into various fractions, producing different cuts, pearls, flours, grits, and flakes.
As a functional food ingredient, barley may be used as a soluble fiber or as a fat replacer. Barley flours may also be added to flours from other grains.
Here are some of the significant barley developments. Keep in mind how they may have a positive impact on the overall consumption of this grain.
Barley-based ingredient aids in glucose transporter activity. A barley-based ingredient that increases the non-insulin dependent glocose uptake in peripheral muscle tissue has been development and marketed under the name Maltrim by FutureCeuticals.
The ingredient is said to be a product of liberation and activation of low-molecular-weight active substances hidden in a macromolecular matrix of barley seed proteins that actively increases the body's Glut-4 (glucose transporter) activity. The product is useful in maintaining healthy blood glucose levels and aids in weight management.
In addition to blood glucose management, it may also be effective in decreasing total lipid levels in blood triglycerides and cholesterol with an improvement in the HDL/LDL ratio.
The ingredient may be used in health bars or beverages, or as a stand-alone supplement in capsules and tablets.
Developing bioactive components from barley. Novel bioactive components, especially those derived from cereal grains such as barley, are being development for use in foods and nutraceuticals by PolyCell Technologies, a bioscience technology company, P.O. Box 552, Crookston, MN 56716
In a paper presented at the symposium, "Grains for the Health of It," Tom Jorgens, president of the company, discussed some of these products. The compyny is reportedly working with several international partners to develop leading-edge methods to extract and apply selective bioactive components of barley for a range of nutrition and health uses. These products include a beta-glucan isolate (called Glucagel) that is in the 75% range, a high beta-glucan concentrate (23%), a barley/bran concentrate, and a waxy starch concentrate.
The paper discussed several clinical studies that have shown the effectiveness of barley beta-glucans in reducing LDL cholesterol, and helping to modulate blood sugar levels by slowing the rate of carbohydrate digestion and glucose absorption. New studies are also showing that barley beta-glucans can stimulate immune function and can increase short-chain fatty acid production through fermentation in the colon. Furthermore, barley beta-glucans are a significant source of antioxidant activity and can provide a satiety effect that can contribute to weight loss. Because of the results of these studies, there may be an effort to establish a barley health claim comparable to the oat health claim.