September 09, 2015 · Written by Foodtolive Team
Pearl Barley Vs. Brown Rice: Which Is the Better Grain
Barley is a seed that often goes unappreciated and passed on in favor of something that we are more used to, like rice or oats. However, the benefits of pearl barley shouldn’t be discounted as this particular food is highly nutritious and has a vast positive effect on your health as a whole. In this regard, it’s often compared to brown rice, which has been respected as one of the healthiest foods for many centuries.
It’s a good comparison as both these grains are similar in many ways. The first thing that comes to mind is their nutritional value. It is rather high for both, barley and rice as they are packed with essential minerals and other precious nutrients. Barley has a higher content of sodium and it’s a better source of dietary fiber. Therefore, it is a better choice for diets and weight loss programs.
All in all, pearl barley nutritional value is very high, but the same can be said about rice. So, there are other factors you will need to consider to decide which the healthier food is. Let’s focus on the health benefits offered by these two foods.
Brown Rice:
- High content of manganese.
Manganese is an essential nutrient that keeps your nervous system healthy. It plays a part in the production of cholesterol and some types of hormones. It is also a potent antioxidant that helps your body protect itself from the detrimental effects of free radicals. - High content of fiber and selenium.
According to the results of some studies, selenium can reduce the risk of colon cancer. When combined with dietary fiber, the level of protection it provides increases. Therefore, if you are at a risk group for this particular kind of cancer, you should include more brown rice and other selenium-rich foods into your diet. - Lowering the level of LDL cholesterol.
As all other seeds, brown rice helps flush “bad” cholesterol from your body and replace it with “good” HDL cholesterol. This promotes your cardiovascular health.
Pearl Barley:
- Blood sugar control.
Barley, in general, is the best choice of grain for diabetics as it helps keep your blood sugar levels under control. According to some studies, eating a barley dinner improves your insulin sensitivity up to 30%. - It lowers glycemic index.
Barley contains beta-glucan, an element that has a significa nt sway when it comes to lowering your glycemic index and normalizing your body’s insulin response. This alone makes it a much healthier than rice. - It reduces blood pressure.
Like other grains, pearl barley helps control your cholesterol levels and promotes cardiovascular health in general. It lowers your blood pressure and reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke. - It helps with weight control.
Not only does barley contain more dietary fiber, it also takes longer to digest than many other grains. Therefore, it’s a perfect choice for the people who want to lose weight as eating some barley-based meal will make you feel full longer. Pearl barley nutrition value is so high, that you will get enough energy to keep you going for many hours.
Considering all this, there are two major questions you should ask yourself. Is brown rice good for you? Is pearl barley good for you?
The answers to both of them are “yes”. However, barley is a more nutritious option that is definitely healthier and better for the people who aim to lose weight and those who have problems controlling their blood sugar levels. All in all, you should consume both these grains on a regular basis as they are good additions to any healthy diet.
How to Cook Pearl Barley
One thing you need to be aware, though, is that pearl barley takes much longer to cook than rice. Therefore, you will need to consider this when planning your meals. Barley is most often used in stews and soups. However, you can also add it to cold salads as its rich nutty taste goes well with fresh vegetables.
To cook the grain, you ‘ll need to take one part of pearl barley and two parts of water. It’s imperative to soak barley prior to cooking. In a perfect case scenario, you should let it soak for 4 hours at the least. Change water from time to time.
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Well-soaked barley will soften and you will be able to cook it in about an hour. Let it simmer and stir it occasionally to prevent it sticking to the walls of the pot. Using a pressure cooker will make the process of cooking barley very easy as the machine will do everything on its own. However, you will need to soak the grain even when putting it into the cooker.
You can cook barley “risotto-style” to create a delightfully delicious chewy dish. It soaks up the flavor from spices, so the taste of your culinary experiment is sure to be good.
It’s best to buy pearl barley in bulk as there are so many interesting things you can cook with it that it always pays to have some barley in your pantry.
It can be stored for many months as long as you keep it dry.
