To state the obvious, barley water and barley-based products are made from barley. It is said to be one of the oldest grains in the world and has been upheld for its variety of health benefits. Of the long list of benefits, the most significant ones are that it is an excellent source of fibre, it can reduce the level of LDL or the so-called bad cholesterol in the blood, that consuming barley-based foods can help balance gut bacteria, that it helps lower blood sugar levels for 11 to 14 hours, and that it encourages weight loss by prompting the body to release hormones that regulate appetite, thus making the person feel fuller for long.
Meditate To Reduce Anxiety
Even a single session of meditation can have a marked impact on anxiety. Studies have shown that an hour-long mindful meditation can help reverse the physical and psychological toll of stress on the body. While previous research had shown significant reductions in anxiety levels after weeks of meditation, the new study suggests that just one meditation session can lower anxiety and even cardiovascular risk. Researchers found significant effects on both physical and mental symptoms of anxiety from mediation. Participants of the study not only reported far less anxiety on the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) system, they also had physical indicators of less stress.
Beware Of Hand Dryers
Dubbed as ‘bacteria bombs’ by researchers, the hand dryers in public restrooms have come under the scanner of health experts. According to researchers, the hot-air dryers are covertly blowing out all sorts of germs back onto the hands. Although they aren’t necessarily dangerous, the only way to stave off those germs and prevent the spread of bad bacteria is to wash hands and dry it on a paper towel. Researchers used germ-collecting plates to study the hand dryers and they found that any bacteria that landed on the plates would start growing, forming tiny, domed bacterial colonies. The researchers counted the number of colonies that appeared on each plate and said the results were staggering.
Stress Is Contagious?
Science has suggested that stress could be contagious, as humans have a sophisticated ability to pick up on stress cues from others. While that explains the passing of stress from the boss to the lowest cadre in an office setup, that it can impact even strangers formed the crux of a new study. As a part of a research into stress and behaviour, data was collected from thousands of people in a task called the ‘Trier Social Stress Test’. College students were recruited to stand up in front of a group of strangers, give a public speech and were asked to mentally compute some tough arithmetic problem. While the participants became flustered and made errors with their arithmetic, the audience also tended to feel the stress. “As humans, we have always had a vested biological interest in picking up on how others around us are feeling,” observed the researcher.
