Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Barley is February’s Grain of the Month

An ancient king give 3 people barleyBarley


The Whole Grains Council has declared BARLEY to be the grain of the month of February.

You know barley as that grain floating in canned vegetable beef soup. It’s been a common and healthy part of the human diet since prehistoric times.

Ashnan, the Sumerian Goddess of Barley, was worshiped lest the population starve. Barley was the main food in ancient Mesopotamia and a large part of Roman gladiators’ diet. Although it was one of the earliest domesticated grains, barley is now most often grown as animal feed or to produce malt for alcoholic beverages.

Barley is an important crop in dry, high-altitude areas, particularly in highly saline poor soils where other grains are difficult to grow. It is raised as a human food crop in north Africa, the Near East, the Andes, and the Baltic States.

To prepare barley seeds for cooking, the tough husk around the seed is removed, leaving the bran. The grains may then be malted, a process that involves soaking in water until the seeds germinate, then drying them with hot air. Malted barley is the source of the sugars that are fermented into beer and other alcoholic beverages. When the bran is removed and the interior kernel polished, it is called pearl barley.

Barley has a large amount of fiber, including the solublefiber that helps control blood sugar and reduces the risk of heart disease. Barley can help reduce blood pressure as well as lower plasma lipids (cholesterol).

Barley is firm and chewy; it tastes somewhat nutty. It can be used in place of rice in dishes such as curries, pilafs, risottos, salads and stir fries. You will find it packaged near the rice in the grocery store. Why not cook some up today?

Saturday, February 1, 2025

Displays and Exhibits for Healthinfo Island for February 2025

You can teleport to any of the eight displays and exhibits in Second Life using the SLURLs in this post. Click on the poster with the same name as the title of the poster set, and you will get a notecard that contains all the text of the posters plus descriptions of the images.  If you click each poster, you will get a private message with additional information and live links.

FEBRUARY is Heart Health Month. All of this month's poster sets relate to heart health!

Central Pavilion of Healthinfo Island
Check out the calming breathing exercise on the back wall!
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/128/126/24


Heart Attack - Lady lying on a couch
Heart Attack
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/195/158/22


Heart Arrhythmias
Heart Arrhythmias
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/188/181/24


Cardiac Rehabilitation Week - picture of biologic heart

Cardiac Rehabilitation Week
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/172/155/22


Cardiovascular Professionals Week - graphic of heart
Cardiovascular Professionals Week
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/114/79/24


Congestive Heart Failure - 2 heart pictures
Congestive Heart Failure
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/98/40/26


Atrial Fibrillation - floral background
Atrial Fibrillation
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/50/28/28


Angina - Arm clutching a chest
Angina
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/24/23/30


Is Alcohol Good For Your Heart?
Is Alcohol Good For Your Heart?
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/21/63/32