I take barley grass powder daily by mixing one teaspoon in juice or water every morning before I start the day on my yoga mat. Ever since I adopted this practice, I noticed that my skin is clearer than before. When I first returned to Hong Kong, after months in the countryside, my skin was the first thing affected by the pollution in Hong Kong. I was astounded by the immediate effects of barley grass powder, so I went on to investigate the benefits of the plant and was nicely surprised with what I discovered.

According to online health retail shop, Barleygreen Store, “Barley grass is one of the green grasses - the only vegetation on the earth that can supply sole nutritional support from birth to old age.”

Barley grass contains many enzymes, vitamins and nutrients that help us live a long and healthy life. There are so many vitamins and minerals in barley grass that it’s no wonder that the benefits were so quickly visible. Barley grass contains calcium, iron, potassium, beta carotene, a number of vitamin B1, B2 and B6, and plenty of vitamin C. It is also full of chlorophyll and folic acid, which helps to rejuvenate cells and keep it in check.

All of this goodness comes from the leaves of the barley grass itself and these leaves absorb a multitude of nutrients from the soil; when we consume barley grass we feel the results almost immediately.

As well as all the benefits mentioned above, barley grass has a significant amount of amino acids. Amino acids play a vital role in the body and barley grass is effective in neutralising components in our body that are bad for our health. Barley grass has eighteen amino acids, “including the eight essential ones - that is, the amino acids that we must get from out diets; that the body cannot produce itself”, notes the Barleygreen Store.

What I like the most about barley grass is that it is highly alkaline. So with regular intake, it helps to bring the body back into balance. We are all aware of the benefits of an alkaline body: when our body has the correct pH balance, our cells can function much better. When we have too much acid in our body, we  feel tired, fatigue and dull.

The impact of this powder is great, and it takes nothing at all. Just a little teaspoon, a cup of juice and you’re good to go...