Dried young barley leaf. Its coarse fibre flattens the blood-sugar rise after a starchy meal, the firmest human finding; daily use appears to relieve constipation, and raised uric acid fell. Other claims rest on cells and rodents. Cheap and low-risk; the hazards are in the powder. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Fasting glucose | 75–86 mg/dL | Baseline for the one metabolic effect with human support |
| HbA1c | Below 5.4% | Shows whether meal-level change becomes durable |
| Post-meal glucose peak | Below 120 mg/dL | Identifies responders; effect only in high readings |
| LDL cholesterol | Below 100 mg/dL | Tracks the contested cholesterol claim |
| Triglyceride to HDL ratio | Below 2.0 | The metabolic pattern that fibre acts on |
| hs-CRP | Below 1.0 mg/L | Tests the anti-inflammatory claim directly |
| Uric acid | Below 360 µmol/L (6.0 mg/dL) | The one controlled effect outside the meal window |
| Potassium | 4.0–4.5 mmol/L | Main electrolyte consequence of a potassium-rich powder |
| eGFR | Above 90 mL/min/1.73 m² | Whether the potassium load is cleared or accumulates |
| INR (on a vitamin K antagonist) | Commonly 2.0–3.0 | Detects lost anticoagulation from changed vitamin K |
| Blood lead | No optimal level; track the trend | Greens-powder testing has repeatedly found lead |
| Tissue transglutaminase IgA (if coeliac) | Negative | Detects gluten exposure from grain carry-over |
| Ferritin | 50–100 ng/mL | Leaf fibre binds iron; a silent drift is the plausible cost |
Cadence: Baseline before the first serving. Potassium and kidney filtration at eight weeks where kidney function is reduced; lipids and inflammation at three months, then every six to twelve months once the daily amount is stable. On a vitamin K antagonist, clotting at one and four weeks after any change.