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Hamilton's Barley Flour is grown on the family farm west of Olds, Alberta in the shadow of the Canadian Rockies.  Blessed by the warm sun and nourished by the gentle rain of the foothills, this flour rivals any on the market today for flavour, nutrition and healthful food value.   It does not contain any additives or preservatives and it is not bleached.     

The Top 5 Healthy Reasons to enjoy Barley Flour:

1. Great Taste
Barley adds a delicious dimension to your baked products.  It is often described as slightly "nutty" flavoured.  In addition to the recipes provided, try using Hamilton's Barley Flour in your own favourite recipes. 

2. High Fibre
North Americans generally  consume only half of the recommended dietary fibre per day.  By substituting barley for all-purpose flour in everyday recipes, daily intake of fibre can be easily increased.  Barley contains  both insoluble and soluble fibre.  Managing blood glucose levels is very important for people with diabetes.  By eating foods that slow the release of glucose into the blood stream people with diabetes can avoid the peaks in blood glucose after meals.  A study conducted  by Hawrysh et al at the University of Alberta found that individuals with type 2 diabetes' blood glucose levels were improved (less severe peaks) while on a high fibre diet which substituted products made from barley flour for the other usual grain foods.

3.  Lower Cholesterol
Barley has the functional components that may reduce fat and cholesterol absorption in the intestine.  This can result in lower blood cholesterol, especially LDL (harmful) cholesterol, in people with high cholesterol levels.

4.  Variety
Adding barley flour to your diet will diversify the grain choices that you make.  Canada's Guide to Healthy Eating suggests 5 to12 servings of grain foods each day.  People who have some sensitivity to wheat-based food have told us that they can use barley in place of wheat.

Barley has been cultivated for more than 7,000 years.  It was the grain of choice for Egyptian pharaohs and Roman gladiators.  French settlers eventually brought barley to Canada.  In the 1860's, after the Industrial Revolution, whole grain breads fell out of fashion as more people could afford white flour.  In recent years, the pendulum has swung back as we have learned more about the benefits of eating whole grain foods. 

Barley foods are more common in other countries, where people may be more familiar with its healthful properties.  Casablanca here we come!  Morocco is the largest per capita food user of barley, at 65 kg per year in foods such as soup, porridge and traditional breads.  

Canada is the second largest barley producer in the world and in fact, seeds almost as many acres to barley as the United States.  Alberta's climate and terrain are ideally suited to growing this crop, so it is not surprising that Alberta accounts for half of the 12 million tonnes Canada produces annually.  

Most of us have heard that high fibre and low fat is good for our health.  Barley is an excellent source of dietary fibre, and B-vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin and niacin; it is also very low in fat; and research has shown that barley may lower blood cholesterol levels.  So, adding barley to your menu is a good idea!  In Canada, we know barley mainly by the excellent beer that it makes and the added flavour that it gives soup.  There is more to barley than meets the eye - it is truly a grain full of nutrients and possibilities. This website provides new ideas for adding barley to your diet, as well as providing detailed   information of its health benefits and the results of ongoing research.

Hamilton's Barley Flour is sold at Canada Safeway in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.  In Alberta, it is also sold at the Calgary Coop.  If it isn't in the store where you shop, the  grocery department manager may be able to order it for you.

Growing Health Not only does barley flour make baked goods  extra tasty, it just might help you live longer.   To read this article ..........

Not only is barley a crucial  ingredient  for fine beer and  succulent Alberta beef,  it also has the doctor's  stamp of approval. Have your read this article?

A site devoted exclusively to Alberta Barley!

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