It is good for the heart! Pearly barley can be good for your heart because the high fibre content helps prevent cardiovascular disease and diabetes. It keeps our digestive system running smoothly. Although pearl barley is not a whole grain, it contains more fibre than white and even brown rice! Barley is an excellent source of dietary fiber, particularly beta-glucan soluble fiber. Besides be rich in fibre it is low in fat and has a low glycemic index (GI). On average pearl barley contains about 5% to 8% of gluten.