FAQ: Why Burl?
Q: These look like rolled oats… where is the barley?
Burl Barley Granola is made entirely with rolled barley as the grain source. As part of its journey from the farm to your table, the barley grains are rolled into flat pieces called barley flakes. These rolled barley flakes look nearly identical to the familiar rolled oats, but it’s all barley, we promise!
Q: Does barley taste good?
Definitely! Barley is often described as having a subtle sweet and nutty flavor. Personally, we love the flavor of barley and we think it forms the perfect foundation for making our Burl Barley Granola.
Q: How should I eat Burl Barley Granola?
In a bowl! Or by the handful! Or in your favorite breakfast! Or served in a dish at your next dinner party! There are just so many ways… Feel free to eat Burl however and wherever you want. For more ideas, check out our Recipes section!
Q: Why should I eat barley? Isn’t barley just used for making beer?
Barley is one of the oldest grains known to mankind. In fact, barley was once a staple food for many ancient civilizations. Over time, some people stopped thinking barley was “cool”…but barley kept on being deliciously healthy! Barley has always been used to make malt and beer, but there is so much more to barley!
Barley grain is known to have some amazing nutritional properties. It contains dietary fiber (so good for you!), it has a low glycemic index, and a potentially positive influence on gut health. Plus, it just simply tastes good (in our humble opinion.) So to recap - why eat barley? - it’s one of the oldest grains, it’s nutritious, and it tastes delicious. Check out our Recipes page to see what barley can do!
Q: Is barley a whole grain?
Yes, ours is! In making Burl Barley Granola, we use barley that has been hulled. This particular processing step retains much of the nutrient-packed bran layer in each barley grain. As a result, hulled rolled barley is a true whole grain that contains more nutrients than other barley products, such as pearled barley, which is made by removing the bran layer.
Q: How much barley is in Burl Barley Granola?
Every bite of our Burl Barley Granola is 100% real, wholesome, rolled barley. No fillers and no fluff. This means that the only whole grains in each serving come from authentic rolled barley.
Q: Does barley contain gluten?
Yes, gluten is a natural component of barley. As a result, our Burl Barley Granola does contain gluten.
Q: How can eating Burl help people with kidney disease?*
For many patients with kidney disease (including individuals on dialysis), staying healthy requires careful monitoring of their dietary phosphorus intake. But here’s the catch: phosphorus is in so many foods as well as many food additives. Practically speaking, it can be quite a challenge to eat a low-phosphorus diet.
Barley is special in that it’s one of the few whole grains with a relatively lower amount of phosphorus. As a result, barley is a recommended whole grain for many renal and dialysis diets. Plus, unlike many other packaged foods, our Burl Barley Granola includes phosphorus labeling in the nutritional information. Know what you’re eating!
For people who monitor their dietary phosphorus intake, eating barley may help when following a recommended diet. While Burl Barley Granola is not meant to diagnose, prevent, treat, or mitigate disease, it may provide a convenient way for complying with a balanced kidney-friendly diet. Of course, if you have special dietary restrictions, it’s best to check with your doctor or dietitian about which foods are right for you.
Q: I don’t have kidney problems. Can I still eat Burl?*
Of course! The beauty of barley is that it’s generally good for many people, regardless of their kidney status.
Our rolled barley is a source of whole grain (and we all know that whole grains are generally good for us.) Conveniently, barley is one of the few whole grains that is recommended for many people with kidney problems. So, it is a whole grain that is good for healthy people as well as many people following renal diets.
Q: Where can I learn more about barley?
Great question. We would suggest starting with the following experts:
Whole Grain Council: Overview of Barley
Whole Grain Council: Selected Research Studies with Barley
Pubmed (search “barley” and “health”)
*Kidney or renal diets can get quite complicated, due to the particular needs of each unique person. Talk with your doctor or renal dietitian to determine if barley-based foods like Burl are recommended for you. And just so there’s no confusion, Burl Barley Granola is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.