So, you’re asking about malt, huh? What it does, what it’s good for. Folks talk about it like it’s some kind of wonder food. Well, I wouldn’t go that far, but I did spend some time tinkering with it, out of sheer necessity, you could say. So, I can tell you what I found out, from actually using the stuff.
It all kicked off a few years back. My stomach was just a mess. Didn’t matter what I ate, felt like I had a bag of rocks in there. Bloated, uncomfortable, you know the drill. I went to the doctor, of course. He poked around, asked a bunch of questions, and then gave me the usual spiel: “Probably stress. Eat more fiber. Try to relax.” Real groundbreaking stuff, that.
Anyway, I was complaining to my old neighbor, Mrs. Peterson. She’s one of those who remembers all the old remedies. She said, “You know, my mother used to give us malted barley when our tummies were upset. Or just to keep things regular.” I kind of scoffed, to be honest. Malt? Isn’t that for making beer or those old-fashioned milkshakes?
But things weren’t getting any better. So, one Saturday, I figured, what have I got to lose? I headed down to one of those health food stores. You know the type, smells like a mix of dried herbs and good intentions. Found a bag of what they called “malted barley flour.” Looked a bit like dust, if I’m being honest. The instructions were pretty vague. “Add to food or drinks,” it said. Helpful.
First thing I tried was just stirring a spoonful into a glass of water. Big mistake. Tasted like… well, like dusty water. Not pleasant. I nearly gave up then and there. But I remembered Mrs. Peterson saying her mom put it in porridge. So, the next morning, I decided to give that a go. I made my usual oatmeal and stirred in a good teaspoon of the malt powder.
It actually wasn’t too bad in the oatmeal. Gave it a slightly sweet, kind of nutty flavor. I wasn’t expecting miracles, mind you. I just kept at it, a spoonful in my porridge every morning. For about a week, maybe ten days, I didn’t notice much. But then, slowly, I started to feel… a bit better. Less of that heavy, bloated feeling after meals. Things seemed to be, let’s say, moving along more smoothly.
It wasn’t some overnight cure. No magic involved. But it was a definite improvement. I just felt more comfortable. So, I kept it up for a few months. Eventually, my stomach settled down properly, and I didn’t need it every day. But I still keep a bag in the cupboard, just in case.
Then, a while later, when my daughter had her first baby, she was having a bit of trouble with her milk supply. Someone, I think it was her midwife, mentioned malt. Not the powder this time, but malt extract syrup. We found some at the supermarket, looked a bit like molasses. She started putting a spoonful in her tea or just having it on toast. Again, no overnight miracles. But she reckoned it did seem to help give things a bit of a boost. She said her supply felt a bit more consistent. Every little helps when you’re a new mom, right?
So, that’s my practical experience with malt. For me, it was the barley powder for digestion. For my daughter, the extract syrup seemed to lend a hand with lactation. It’s not a cure-all, and it’s pretty unassuming stuff. But from what I’ve seen, it can have some gentle, helpful effects. Guess those old-timers knew a thing or two after all. Just don’t go expecting it to solve all your problems with one spoonful. That’s not how these things work.
