Low-carb is so last year! This year incorporate more grains like barley!

'It is surprising yet promising that choosing the right blend of dietary fibers can, in a short period of time, generate such remarkable health benefits.'

Did you resolve to eat healthier this year? Did you promise yourself you would lose weight? You're in luck! Barley may be the first step on the road to weight-loss and healthy eating.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - For the past few years, people have sworn off carbohydrates and claimed they had gluten sensitivities - claims that were later scientifically proven to be false, unless they suffered Celiac Disease.

This year, bring gluten and carbs back to your diet in flavorful - and healthy - ways.

A new study released by the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, discovered dietary fibers found in barley can create more gut bacteria that allows your body to better regulate blood-sugar levels and helps decrease other, unhealthy, gut bacteria.

For the study, healthy middle-aged participants were asked to eat bread "largely made out of barley kernels" during breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

11-14 hours after dinner they were examined for risk of both cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Interestingly, researchers discovered the following benefits:

• Improved metabolism for up to 14 hours
• Decreased blood sugar and insulin levels
• Increased insulin sensitivity
• Improved appetite control

The improvements were the result of mixing dietary fibers in barley kernel reaching the gut, which then stimulated the production of good bacteria and caused the body to release hormones that work to improve the way the human body functions on the molecular level.

Anne Nilsson, one of the head researchers for the study, explained: "After eating the bread made out of barley kernel, we saw an increase in gut hormones that regulate metabolism and appetite, and an increase in a hormone that helps reduce chronic low-grade inflammation, among the participants. In time this could help prevent the occurrence of both cardiovascular disease and diabetes."
To be clear, eating a barley-rich diet does not ensure an enormous increase of benefits in everyone.
Benefits of consuming barley kernel depends on an individual's gut microbiota, which means those who already have low concentrations of bad bacteria do not see a significant difference, while people who eat very little grain and have high concentrations of bad gut bacteria will reap each of the previously stated benefits.
The research was released with intentions of educating people on the importance of dietary fiber, such as barley, and how to easily incorporate the grain into their daily diets.
Simple ways to incorporate barley are to add it to the following:

• Soups
• Homemade bread
• Stews
• Served as an alternative to rice or potatoes
• Simply purchasing products with barley listed as an ingredient

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