Barley is a relatively old cereal and belongs to the sweet grasses. Even if the barley is not a very conventional cereal, it is rich in nutrients and low in fat. Barley is a very adaptable grain, but prefers moist soil. In addition, this plant fertilizes itself.
There are two types of barley: Winter and summer barley. Winter barley is sown in the fall and harvested in the spring. It is higher yielding than spring barley and is mainly used as livestock feed. Spring barley is sown in spring and harvested three months later and finds its use in brewing. Barley is also used for whiskey and malt coffee production.
Studies in which subjects consumed barley, even for a longer period of time, yielded interesting results. On the one hand, it was found that cholesterol levels improved and, on the other, that the risk of heart disease was reduced. The consumption of barley also has a positive effect on the intestinal flora.
If you are still interested in other cereals, then you can find here the contributions to:
Sources:
https://www.getreide.org/gerste.html
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerste
https://www.zentrum-der-gesundheit.de/gerste.html