Fortify The Body With Barley

Barley is an amazing crop and can practically thrive in any harsh conditions. To many civilisations, it is an important staple food. And recent research papers suggest that this humble crop serves humanity more than is earlier thought of. For instance, it helps lower blood cholesterol (hence good for people with blood cholesterol and heart disease).

Researchers in Canada, the United States, and Australia have found out that the components in barley not only effectively lower blood cholesterol but have also improved blood sugar levels in non-insulin dependent diabetics (Type 2). While scientists cannot pin point what exactly in barley causes these health benefits, they believe that the high soluble content in barley are the contributing factors.

The Chinese have long used barley in their diet, sometimes mixing with rice when the latter was scarce or crops fail, for their meals. On hot days, barley is used to cool down the body, as a herbal drink and diuretic.

Dried longan, lotus seeds and yok chuk (picture left) are traditional Chinese herbs used into cooking to improve appetite and digestion. Dried longan have been used to fortify the blood qi while lotus seeds are used to improve complexion.
Here is a recipe I use for my family every one or two weeks when the children will be having their examinations and are usually stressed out by their work.





Barley, dried longan, lotus seeds and yok chuk

Ingredients:-
100gm lotus seeds
75gm barley
100gm dried longan
50gm yok chuk
3 litres water
150 gm rock sugar


Method:
1.Put all ingredients in a big pot except the rock sugar.
2. Bring to a boil and simmer over low flame about 30 minutes. The aim is to extract all the goodness in the herbs.
3.You may add rock sugar for taste and simmer another 10 minutes. (If you are on sugar-free diet, you may add a tiny piece of rock sugar or avoid it totally. If you do not use rock sugar, do not substitute it with sugar-free alternative/herbs, which can result in the efficacy of this concoction).
4.Remove from heat and serve.