Dr Clare Bailey Mosley, a GP and health food expert, is encouraging Brits to add an ‘underrated’ grain to their daily meals. The wife of the late Dr Michael Mosley, she’s championing pearl barley, a grain that’s often overlooked despite its numerous health benefits.
Pearl barley is simply barley with all husks removed and polished (pearled), resulting in a product resembling large grains of rice. This makes it quicker to cook and more palatable than regular barley.
However, many Brits don’t use it in their cooking, with much of the world’s pearl barley used for animal feed instead. “If you haven’t tried pearl barley, here’s a chance to try it out,” Dr Bailey Mosley suggested on her Instagram, sharing a recipe for pearl barley and eggs.
She explained that this slow-releasing starch provides a steady energy source and delivers more fibre to nourish your biome than more processed grains. Its health benefits are indeed impressive.
According to FoodtoLive, it’s an excellent choice for diabetics as it helps control blood sugar levels, with one study suggesting it can improve insulin sensitivity by up to 30 per cent.
Barley has been hailed as a superfood due to its numerous health benefits, including lowering the glycaemic index and stabilising insulin response, which makes it an advantageous alternative to rice. It’s a cholesterol controller and a boon for heart health by decreasing blood pressure and slashing the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Dr Bailey Mosley highlighted that barley’s high fibre content means you feel satiated for longer, beneficial for those looking to shed pounds, with roughly triple the fibre per serving compared to oats. Although barley isn’t classified as a whole grain since its husk and bran are stripped away during processing, the health-boosting beta glucans reside in the kernel’s core, maintaining its status as a wholesome option.
Barley also brims with vitamins and minerals and can be swapped in for rice or added to soups, stews, and salads. Social media users have shared their admiration for barley, with one declaring: “Pearl barley is lovely and so underrated. Great in vegetable soups,” besides another commending: “I absolutely love pearl barley.”