Barley is one of the best foods to consume to help your intestinal health. Barley is extremely high in dietary fiber, which helps control appetite and also helps prevent constipation. Most importantly, the dietary fiber in barley provides food for the good bacteria in the large intestine, making this bacteria grow and become more powerful in the body, which in turn will fight off free radicals and the bad bacteria that infects your system. The good bacteria produces a fatty acid known as butyric acid, which is the main fuel for the cells of the large intestine and helps maintain a healthy colon. These good bacteria also create other fatty acids, which gives the cells of the liver and muscles fuel. Moreover, barley may play a significant role in reducing heart disease. According to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, eating high fiber foods, such as barley, helps prevent heart disease; as people eating the most fiber (21 grams per day), had 12% less coronary heart disease (CHD) and 11% less cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to those eating hardly any fiber at all. Moreover, fiber found in barley can help people with diabetes by preventing blood sugar levels from rising too high. Fiber slows down the absorption of carbohydrates and prevents a dreaded insulin spike, which will inhibit the growth of fat cells. Consume some fiber with nearly every meal.