Barley can reduce cholesterol levels, for it contains so-called beta-glucane. This is soluble roughage (dietary fibre) and occurs naturally in barley.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has recognised that the regular ingestion of beta-glucane from barley demonstrably reduces cholesterol levels in the blood. Lowering the cholesterol count can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease (coronary vessels). The process of the beta-glucane is extremely effective:
beta-glucane forms a gel which captures the "bad" LDL cholesterol and transports it out of the body, without any detrimental effect on the "good" HDL cholesterol.
The positive effect on the cholesterol level can be experienced following daily ingestion of three grams of beta-glucane from barley. This quantity can be ingested with just 7 to 9 tablespoons of beta-barley flakes (approx. 50 grams).
