Which is better barley grass or wheatgrass

In fact, they are considered sister plants; both are classified in the grass family Poaceae. They have hollow stems, flat leaves and produce multiple seeds from complex flower heads.

Both are cereal crops commonly cultivated for their grains but have also gained popularity as health foods in their young grass forms. They both provide excellent arrays of vitamins and nutrients, reduce inflammation and help to maintain body alkalinity. Since they appear to be so similar, one must wonder if they can be used interchangeably.

The differences are subtle, but they do exist. The first, of course, is the taste. Wheatgrass has a sweet taste, but barley is a bit more bitter. Barley grass contains beta-sitosterol, a phytosterol which has a similar structure to cholesterol found in the human body.

Beta-sitosterol will actually replace some cholesterol during digestion which lowers bad and total cholesterol. It does not, however, raise good cholesterol. Additional scientific research has found that beta-sitosterol may provide symptom relief to those who are having trouble urinating due to an enlarged prostate benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Beta-sitosterol does not, in any way, shrink the prostate, though. Most wheat grass is grown indoors and hydroponically.

Barley grass tends to be grown outdoors. Now, there are advantages to growing crops indoors. It saves water, money, time and work, but these are all advantages for the farmer, not the consumer.

Growers also have more control over their plants when they are grown indoors which can be an advantage in the hands of a skilled botanist. Health Food. Functional Cereals. Functional Lattes.

Gretty Rose. Gluten Free. No Added Dairy. Meal Time. By Diet. FREE e-Cookbooks. Our Story. Antioxidants in barley grass acts as free radical scavengers that support a normal, healthy inflammatory response. Some claim barley grass is easier on the digestive system than wheat grass.

You can find young wheat and barley grasses dried and powdered to make dietary supplements, or picked fresh to process in juicing machines. Looks like you can't go wrong with either grass!