While both contain soluble fiber, pearl barley has a little more. A good source of potassium and other heart-healthy nutrients, barley can help you slim down.

Eating barley helped people reduce their cholesterol, shrink their waistlines and lose dangerous visceral fat. Barley has twice the calcium and fiber and about 30 per cent fewer calories. The two are equivalent in protein and fat content.

Ultimately, both grains are healthy choices and getting variety from both is best. It is a hearty grain that is great in soups, including classic comfort food dishes such as vegetable barley soup. Pearl barley has had the bran partially removed, resulting in a quicker cooking time.