The Properties of malt For health include: boosting the body's defenses, stimulating muscle growth, improving the state of bones, is rich in nutrients, lowers hypertension, is antioxidant and others that I will explain below.
Malt is a well-known cereal that comes from processing some grains such as barley, rye or wheat, where the most common of them is barley.
You must comply with a specific process to be transformed into malt. By immersing the grains in water through their soaking process, germination is done and a drying process is carried out at not very hot temperatures and for a period of time of about 3 days.
This whole process is known as malting. In simpler terms, the malt is controlled germination and kiln-dried grains such as barley.
During this process, the grains develop the enzymes required to transform the starches into sugars such as glucose, fructose, maltose and maltodextrin. It also develops other enzymes called proteases.
In what drinks is the malt?
From its beginnings, nutritional properties and at the same time medicinal properties in the malt have always been described.
But do you really know what food or drinks the malt is in? We can see their presence in drinks like Whiskey , Milkshake, shakes, flavored drinks and in the well-known beer with or without alcohol. Barley extract provides minerals, vitamins and amino acids to these drinks.
The fabulous benefits of malt were also known from time immemorial, the famous philosopher Plato suggested drinking beer or eating barley bread for greater concentration and more energy.
Benefits and properties of malt
Many of us have heard of malt and its uses as a dietary supplement to treat certain health conditions. Several studies have revealed the wealth of nutrients that malt has as a natural source of numerous vitamins and minerals.
It is rich in vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12. Also in minerals like zinc, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, calcium, and others.
These nutrients play a very important role in the segregation of proteins in the body as well as supporting the function of most of the body's organs and systems.
Therefore, consuming this natural extract can provide our body with extra energy for our daily activities. Due to its high content of B-complex vitamins, malt can contribute to accelerate metabolism, and the minerals mentioned are absolutely essential to support bone health and the full function and quality of muscle tissues.
Let us know in detail 14 nutritive properties of this food:
1- Power the body's defenses
Malt extract can increase the vitamin B content in our body, including thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folic acid And vitamin B-6. The amount can vary depending on the malt drink.
Vitamin B is needed to metabolize carbohydrates, proteins and fats in food into energy. They also help regulate appetite, promote good vision and maintain healthy skin.
In addition, vitamin B6 is an important agent in the formation of Red blood cells , The conversion of proteins and the synthesis of antibodies, which supports the immune system.
It is advisable for people with anemia to ingest malt in a regulated way because it helps to elevate red blood cell levels and for its high content of vitamin B that helps to counteract its ailment.
2 - It stimulates the muscular growth
Surely you have heard the word amino acids in a gym or some diet recommended by your doctor, but what are these amino acids for?
Its function is to stimulate muscle protein synthesis, reducing fatigue during prolonged exercise and also helps in protecting the immune system.
Malt extract is a source of essential amino acids that the body needs to make proteins.
Although some malt extract beverages are not a major source of protein, they can help provide a small amount of these essential nutrients.
3- It is good for the bones
Good nutrition is important for bone health. In addition to calcium, these beverages may also contain phosphorus and magnesium, important minerals that help keep bones healthy and strong.
Some malt extract drinks can be an optional source of the nutrients your bones need for good health, but your main contribution may increase with your regular intake.
4- It is a sugar substitute
In addition to being sweet, barley malt extract contains amino acids, Vitamin B And easily digestible proteins.
It is a substitute for sugar in some products and a sweetener for tonic drinks. Malt is considered as a sugar supplement simply because it has sugars that are easy to assimilate for the body (glucose, fructose, maltose and maltodextrin).
The sugars contained in malt are ideal for people with slow metabolism, since the consumption of insulin to counteract sugar is done slowly and nourishingly with these sugars, as opposed to fast-assimilating sugars.
5- It is rich in nutrients
The barley malt extract is full of sugars, carbohydrates and some nutrients such as Vitamin A Y riboflavin . Nowadays it is mainly used in flavored drinks and confectionery.
In some countries after facing the war, malt was popular as an inexpensive dietary supplement for generations of malnourished children who needed a high carbohydrate diet.
At that time, its rich sweet flavor was often combined with cod liver oil, resulting in an unpleasant yet nutritious taste, and high levels of vitamin D , Could protect against rickets .
It was seen as a booster medicine as it contains proteins and amino acids, as well as being an excellent antioxidant.
6- It is a source of energy for our organism
For athletes and nutritionists malt is a wonderful source to recover the fluids and nutrients that are depleted during any physical activity. This is because beverages containing malt extracts are made up of 80% water.
It is highly recommended for people who train in the gym or practice some high-performance sport.
7- Generates positive effects on hypertension
So, what all we have been told about beer as a causative agent of hypertension is false?
Science can sometimes seem contradictory. Men with high blood pressure have a lower risk of fatal and nonfatal heart attacks if they drink moderately.
This is partly because Drink beer , Or any alcoholic beverage, in moderation increases high-density lipoprotein, or HDL , Also known as good cholesterol.
A beer a day for women has shown some benefits for heart disease, according to studies cited by the American Heart Association (which advises people not to start drinking, by the way).
8- General positive effect on health
Moderate consumption of beer as an example of malt-containing beverages helps reduce the risk of heart disease, digestive diseases, stress, and even depression can help to live longer because it is an antioxidant, according to David J. Hanson , Ph.D., of the State University of New York at Potsdam.
However, as a precaution, it is not recommended that you start drinking if you no longer drink alcohol.
9- Acts as anticancer and antioxidant
In cereals, the phenolic compounds are either free or bound. Malt releases the contained substances and increases the total amount of phenolic compounds in the grain.
In the diet these can have positive health effects like anti-carcinogens, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory substances.
Alkylresorcinols, for example, are phenolic compounds in rye, wheat and barley, and can increase human well-being by stimulating the circulation of the digestive tract.
10- It lowers cholesterol levels.
The Sterols Are steroids that are present in the grains used for malting. During the grain germination process, the content of the sterol has been shown to increase. The presence of sterol in our body reinforces the fight against cholesterol, by preventing its absorption in the intestine.
EFSA concluded in 2012 that the daily consumption of 3 grams of sterols is able to reduce cholesterol levels. In a diet it is important to reduce the levels of cholesterol in the blood, as it can be beneficial to our health.
11- Rich source of vitamins
Vitamins are essential compounds for human physiological functions and must be obtained in our daily diet for a correct behavior of our organs and our body in general.
Cereals are a good source of vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, B9 (folic acid) and vitamin E. Malt is a cereal that contains high and concentrated levels of these vitamins compared to unmalted cereals.
In addition to being an antioxidant, Vitamin E Can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, some cancers, inflammatory diseases, Neurological disorders , Cataracts and macular degeneration associated with age. It can also be linked to better maintenance of the immune system.
12- It is rich in fiber
Cereals are an important source of Dietary fiber And especially source of water soluble fibers, beta-glucans and arabinoxylans.
In beer malt, soluble fibers degrade, because they are detrimental in the brewing process by their property to cause viscous solutions.
However, the different use of special malting techniques raises the content of soluble fibers that can be preserved, for example, for special applications in foods.
The malt also contains insoluble fibers in the shell. Processed grains may contain more than 50% insoluble fiber.
13- Source of minerals
Minerals are essential for physiological functions and must be present in our daily diet. Minerals control osmotic pressure and some of these groups of elements are needed as cofactors of some enzymes.
Cereals are an important source of certain minerals, such as iron, potassium, phosphorus, zinc and magnesium. In the case of malt, its germination increases the availability of the minerals, making them more soluble.
Among the minerals we can find in the malt we will mention: iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, calcium, phosphorus and sodium.
14- Aid in the process of digestion of proteins
After the process called malting, a large number of enzymes are generated Proteases .
Proteases are involved in the digestion of long protein chains and transformed into shorter fragments by dividing the peptide bonds that bind the remaining amino acids.
And what other malta properties do you know?