Barley grass, sometimes referred to as “barley green”, is the young leaf of the barley plant (Hordeum vulgare), which is a member of the grass family. Barley grass leaves are paler than most common grasses, have a thin covering of soft hairs, narrow to a point, and can grow to about 17 inches in height.

Young green barley grass is rich in chlorophyll, contains an array of flavonoids, the major ones being the flavones C-glycosides, saponarin and lutonarin, as well as containing beta-sitosterol and beta-carotene. It is low in fat, high in dietary fiber, especially insoluble fiber, and is a good source of protein. Barley grass also contains a wide array of vitamins and minerals as well as many beneficial enzymes, being especially high in the enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD).*