Scroll to Recipes with Barley / जौ as ingredient

Barley is a cereal grain that people use in beverages, stew, bread, and other dishes. It is called Jau as well. Moreover, it’s rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. It helps reduces the risk of obesity, heart diseases. and certain types of cancer.


This grain has chewy consistency and provides a slightly nutty flavor.

A very essential grain to get benefits with many health benefits like weight management, healthy heart, and prevent other major diseases.

Commonly Known As

Language Name Written As
Hindi Jau जौ
Gujarati Java જવ
Marathi Bārlī बार्ली
Malayalam Bārli ബാർലി
Tamil Pārli பார்லி
Arabic Shaeir شعير
Bengali Bārli বার্লি
French Orge Orge

Nutritional Profile of Barley

Nutritional profile per 100 gms

  • Calories: 354
  • Protein: 12g
  • Carbohydrate: 73g
  • Fiber: 17g
  • Fat: 2.3g
  • Sodium: 12mg
  • Potassium: 452mg

Source: USDA & Google

Health Benefits

Reduce hunger and promote weight-loss

It contains soluble fiber and therefore reduces hunger and full your stomach for a longer period. Therefore, it promotes weight-loss.

Source: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Good for digestion

Barley is high in fiber and good for intestinal health. The soluble fiber content present in it provides food for gut bacteria, which produces short-chain fatty acids.

Source: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Help lower cholesterol

The insoluble fiber type in barley reduces bad cholesterol by binding to bile acids. A study was done on patients to reduce their bad cholesterol. So, they were put on a diet of only whole wheat, and barley. After five weeks, their cholesterol reduced up to 7%.

Source: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Prevent heart diseases risk

Barley reduces the risk of chronic heart diseases. It protects your heart by reducing bad cholesterol from the body. Also, the soluble fiber in it helps reduces blood sugar levels.

Source: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Prevent colon cancer

The rich nutrient grain barley reduces the risk of some common types of cancers like colon cancer. Because the compounds found in barley fight against such free radicals and keep you healthy. However, more research is needed.

Source: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Side Effects

Barley flour can sometimes cause asthma and also not recommended during pregnancy. The gluten in it can make celiac diseases worse and shall be avoided. Moreover, people with an allergic reaction should avoid eating it. Furthermore, people who have gone through surgery should avoid eating it at least for 2 weeks or as prescribed by the doctor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of eating Barley?

Barley can help lose weight, regulate blood sugar levels, and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. It contains soluble fiber which makes your stomach full and so helps reduce hunger for an elongated period.

What is the difference between oats and barley?

Oats Barley
A crop derived from a weed primary from wheat and barley Grown as a cereal grass
Eaten in the form of oatmeal and protein bars Is used in the form of flour. However, some recipes use it as crushed
Eaten directly as baked or boiled Flour is used to make roti, soups

What does Barley taste like?

Depends on person to person. Generally, it is very delicious, fiber-rich, and slightly nutty in flavor. Also, they are tasty and chewy texture, and goes well in casseroles.