A few days before "Laba", reporters noticed that customers in supermarket checkout lines almost all carried Laba porridge.The ingredients for making the porridge were either Laba rice or instant pre-made varieties.Supermarket managers said that sales of Laba rice had been particularly good these days, and to prevent stockouts, they had prepared ample supplies.Traditional Chinese medicine nutritionist Li Xuefang stated that this type of mixed cereal, bean, whole grain, and dried fruit porridge was greatly beneficial for ordinary people, especially the elderly.According to China's customs, Laba falls on the eighth day of the twelfth month in the lunar calendar, a day when people traditionally eat Laba porridge.The ingredients are usually rice (glutinous or non-glutinous), beans, and dried fruits like lotus seeds, Chinese dates, chestnuts, apricot kernels, peanuts, hawthorns, lily bulbs, longan flesh, and various colored foods with added condiments, all cooked into a special porridge.In the past, Laba porridge was not only for home consumption but also given to neighbors and friends as a symbol of good fortune and health.

This year is approaching "Laba" again. Nutritionist Li Xuefang said that choosing materials for making Laba porridge can better meet various nutritional needs than single-component porridge.When making the porridge, especially those with medicinal effects, should be added according to one's physical condition.Commonly used are glutinous rice and coix seed.Glutinous rice contains protein, fat, carbohydrates, calcium, phosphorus, iron, etc., which can tonify the middle energizer, nourish the stomach, harmonize the five organs, eliminate restlessness, quench thirst, and benefit the spirit.Coix seed has warming properties to nourish the spleen. It is suitable for those with low spleen function. It also has certain auxiliary therapeutic effects on diarrhea caused by deficiency-cold, thirst from dry heat, and poor urination.According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), coix seed can strengthen the spleen, benefit the lungs, clear heat, and reduce dampness. Chronic colitis, digestive disorders, etc., can be effectively treated with regular consumption.The dietary fiber in coix seed helps lower blood lipids, high blood pressure, stroke, and cardiovascular diseases.Peanuts and walnuts are indispensable ingredients for making Laba porridge.Known as the "longevity fruit," peanuts have various functions such as moistening the lungs, harmonizing the stomach, stopping coughing, diuresis, and lactation promotion.Walnut kernels have kidney-nourishing and brain-boosting effects. They can increase appetite, darken hair, and promote hair growth. Walnuts also contain vitamin E, which is recognized as an anti-aging drug by medical experts.For patients with insomnia, adding longan flesh or jujube kernels to the porridge will have significant nourishing and calming effects on the heart.Lotus seeds can strengthen the qi and benefit the spleen.Goji berries have longevity-promoting properties. They also help regulate blood lipids and are a good choice for elderly people.Jujubes are also beneficial as they tonify qi and nourish blood, strengthening the stomach. They have therapeutic effects on weakness from insufficient qi and blood, pallor due to blood deficiency, and cough caused by lung deficiency.Pine nuts can moisturize the heart and lungs and regulate large intestine function. Chestnuts strengthen the kidneys and benefit energy, treating soreness in the waist and legs.Oats can lower cholesterol levels in the blood. Adding oats to carbohydrate foods can inhibit the rise of blood sugar after meals, making it suitable for diabetic patients or those with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.Legumes complement each other's proteins and have high dietary fiber content.Many studies show that foods rich in soluble dietary fiber can lower blood sugar levels. Oats, barley, and some legumes contain soluble dietary fiber that forms a sticky substance in the stomach, slowing down glucose absorption and utilization to prevent sudden spikes in blood sugar after meals.Certain nuts like peanuts, hazelnuts, and almonds also have high dietary fiber content and unsaturated fatty acids that can help regulate cholesterol levels.Even foods with more starch, such as chestnuts, lotus seeds, and coix seeds, contain 1.2% to 3% dietary fiber and have lower glycemic indices compared to refined rice or wheat.Buckwheat contains chromium which enhances insulin function and can be used in the nutritional treatment of diabetes.Therefore, diabetic patients should opt for oats and buckwheat as main ingredients.Diabetic patients should not add sugar when drinking Laba porridge. If they want a sweet taste, they can use stevia or xylitol sweeteners instead.Soybeans contain protein, fat, carbohydrates, crude fiber, calcium, phosphorus, iron, beta-carotene, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, etc., and are nutritionally very rich. They help lower cholesterol in the blood, prevent cardiovascular diseases, inhibit various types of cancer, and prevent osteoporosis.

Red adzuki beans also contain protein, fat, carbohydrates, crude fiber, calcium, phosphorus, iron, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, etc., and traditional Chinese medicine believes that they can strengthen the spleen and eliminate dampness. They have certain auxiliary therapeutic effects on diarrhea caused by spleen deficiency and edema.Green adzuki beans are beneficial for treating hypertension.Many dark foods are excellent beauty foods.

For example, black rice contains various vitamins and zinc, iron, selenium, etc., and traditional Chinese medicine believes that it can nourish the kidneys and improve vision.Black beans have high protein quality and content, also containing abundant unsaturated fatty acids, calcium, iron, carotene, and B-complex vitamins.The ratio of saturated to unsaturated fats in edible oils significantly affects beauty. Walnuts contain vitamin E essential for skin care, making them a top choice for beauty foods.Walnuts have excellent beautifying effects as well.Many young women enjoy drinking Laba porridge for its beauty benefits. However, there is a little-known secret: do not discard the rice oil.Rice oil refers to the thick, milky liquid that rises to the surface during prolonged cooking of the porridge. It has nourishing effects superior to cooked adzuki beans and can help beautify if consumed daily for a hundred days.During early pregnancy, pregnant women often experience severe morning sickness. Easily digestible foods are recommended to reduce vomiting, such as porridge. Laba porridge is an excellent choice.In the second trimester, fetal growth accelerates, requiring more energy and iron intake. In the third trimester, calcium supplementation becomes necessary.Therefore, for expectant mothers or new mothers, consider foods like brown rice, peanuts, soybeans, black beans, dates, which are rich in calcium and iron.For elderly people with weakened gastrointestinal functions, Laba porridge is soft and easy to digest. A balanced combination of coarse and fine grains can increase intestinal motility, helping prevent constipation in the elderly.Additionally, since the porridge contains a lot of water, liquid foods may stimulate excessive gastric acid secretion, causing stomach pain.Therefore, people with gastrointestinal problems should slightly thicken the Laba porridge. It is also advisable to eat some dry foods like pancakes or steamed buns alongside the porridge.Although originally a seasonal delicacy, due to year-round availability of ingredients and ease of consumption suitable for all ages, it can be consumed regularly as part of daily nutrition and diet diversification, especially beneficial for elderly people with weak digestive systems or those recovering from illness.

Peanuts and walnuts are indispensable ingredients for making eight-treasure porridge.Peanuts are known as the "longevity fruit" and have multiple benefits such as moisturizing the lungs, harmonizing the stomach, stopping coughs, promoting urination, and increasing milk production.Walnut kernels can tonify the kidneys, consolidate qi, benefit the mind, strengthen the brain, enhance muscle strength, and bones. They also improve appetite, darken hair, and promote hair growth. Walnuts contain vitamin E, which is recognized as an anti-aging drug by medical science.For patients who often suffer from insomnia, addinglongan meat,sour jujube seedsto the porridge will have a good nourishing and calming effect on the heart;lotus seeds can tonify qi and strengthen the spleen;wolfberry fruits have anti-aging effects, help regulate blood lipids, and are an excellent food therapy for the elderly;dates are also a good food therapy that benefits qi and nourishes blood, strengthening the spleen. They are effective in treating symptoms such as weak spleen and stomach, deficiency of blood leading to pallor, and lung deficiency cough;pine nuts can moisten the lungs and large intestine, while chestnuts tonify the kidneys and benefit qi, treating lower back pain.oats have the effect of lowering cholesterol levels in the blood. Eating oatmeal slows down the rise in blood sugar values and inhibits the increase in blood sugar when mixed with carbohydrate foods. Therefore, for patients with diabetes or diabetes, you can add some oatmeal to the porridge;various beans in eight-treasure porridge can make proteins complementary and are rich in dietary fiber.Many studies have confirmed that foods rich in dietary fiber can lower blood sugar, especially soluble fibers from oats, barley, and certain legumes form a viscous substance in the stomach, affecting the absorption and utilization of glucose, thus preventing sudden spikes in postprandial blood sugar levels;some nuts like peanuts,

hazelnuts, and almonds also have high dietary fiber content and contain unsaturated fatty acids that can regulate and reduce cholesterol.Chestnuts' dietary fiber content ranges from 1.2% to 3%, and their glycemic index is much lower than refined grains.Buckwheat contains chromium, which enhances insulin function and is used in the nutritional treatment of diabetes;therefore, patients with diabetes can choose oats and buckwheat as main ingredients.Patients with diabetes should not add sugar to eight-treasure porridge when drinking it. If they want something sweet, they can use stevia or xylitol as sweeteners.Yellow beans contain protein, fat, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and vitamins such as carotene, thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin. They are very nutritious and have functions like lowering blood cholesterol levels, preventing cardiovascular diseases, inhibiting various malignant tumors, and preventing osteoporosis.Red adzuki beans contain protein, fat, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, calcium, phosphorus, iron, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, etc. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that this bean can strengthen the spleen, dry dampness, promote diuresis, and eliminate edema, which is beneficial for treating spleen deficiency diarrhea and edema.Green beans have auxiliary therapeutic effects on hypertension.Many dark-colored foods are excellent beauty foods.For example,black ricecontains various vitamins and minerals such as zinc, iron, and selenium. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that black rice can nourish yin, benefit the kidneys, brighten the eyes, and promote blood circulation.Soybeans have high protein content, good quality proteins, and rich unsaturated fatty acids, calcium, iron,carotene

, B vitamins, etc.The ratio of saturated to unsaturated fats in edible oils greatly affects physical fitness. Walnuts contain vitamin E essential for beauty, making them the top beauty food.Pinenuts also have excellent beautifying effects.Many girls like to drink eight-treasure porridge for beauty. However, there's a little beauty secret here: don't discard the porridge oil.Porridge oil is actually the thick liquid that floats on top of the porridge when it boils repeatedly during cooking, also known as rice oil.In traditional Chinese medicine, porridge oil has a sweet taste and is neutral in nature. Its nourishing power surpasses shud (a type of medicinal ingredient). If you can drink a bowl of porridge every day, the black and thin will turn fat and white within a hundred days.For pregnant women who often suffer from severe early pregnancy reactions, easily digestible foods should be chosen to reduce vomiting. Porridge is an excellent choice; even more so for the fragrant, soft, and tender eight-treasure porridge.During mid-pregnancy, fetal growth accelerates, requiring increased energy intake while iron needs increase. In late pregnancy, calcium supplementation is needed.Therefore, pregnant women and new mothers should consider the following foods more:

Brown rice contains over 100 mg/kg of calcium. Peanut kernels, soybeans, black beans,red beans, dates contain relatively rich amounts of calcium. Soybeans and nuts also contain high levels of iron.Oats are rich in bioactive substances such as genistein, which can prevent osteoporosis by inhibiting lipid peroxidation in the body.Elderly people have weakened gastrointestinal functions. Eight-treasure porridge is soft, easily digestible, and contains a good mix of coarse and fine grains, making it rich in dietary fiber that increases intestinal motility, helping to prevent constipation in the elderly.Since soups contain more water, liquid foods can increase stomach acid secretion, irritating the intestines and causing pain.Therefore, people with digestive issues should make their eight-treasure porridge thicker. They should also eat some dry food like bakedpancakesorsteamed bunsalong with it.Eight-treasure porridge is a seasonal delicacy, but due to the year-round availability of various ingredients and ease of digestion for all ages, it can be enjoyed as daily nutrition without waiting until the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. It serves as a nutritious addition to meals and a way to diversify dietary life, especially suitable for elderly or weak individuals with spleen deficiency after recovery.

Many beauties like to drink eight-treasure porridge for beauty.But there is a small beauty secret, which is not to discard the porridge oil.According to traditional Chinese medicine, porridge oil tastes sweet and has a neutral nature, its nourishing effect surpasses that of cooked rehmannia. Drinking a bowl daily can make the thin and pale fair within a hundred days.

At the early stage of pregnancy, severe morning sickness often occurs, so easily digestible foods should be chosen to reduce vomiting. Porridge is an excellent choice, especially creamy and soft eight-treasure porridge.In mid-pregnancy, fetal growth speeds up, requiring more energy intake, with increased iron needs. In late pregnancy, calcium supplementation becomes essential.Therefore, for expectant mothers and new mothers, the following foods should be considered more often:Ricecontains over 100 mg/kg of calcium, peanuts, soybeans, black beans,green beans, jujubes all contain relatively rich calcium. Soybeans and nuts also have high iron content.

For seniors, a diverse diet with more soy products should be chosen, which eight-treasure porridge meets these requirements well.Additionally, eight-treasure porridge is often consumed in the evening, fitting the dietary habits of seniors.Rich bioactive substances in soybeans, such as genistein, can inhibit lipid peroxidation in the body and prevent osteoporosis.Seniors' gastrointestinal function is weakened. Eight-treasure porridge is soft and easily digestible, plus a combination of coarse and fine grains, rich in dietary fiber, which can increase intestinal peristalsis and help prevent constipation in the elderly.Moreover, due to its high water content, liquid foods may cause excessive gastric acid secretion, stimulating the stomach and causing pain.Therefore, for those with digestive issues, eight-treasure porridge should be made a bit thicker. Also, it is best to eat some dry foods along with it, such as bakedbuns,steamed buns.

Although eight-treasure porridge is a seasonal snack,itcan be consumed year-round due to the availability of various ingredients throughout the year. It is easily digestible and suitable for all ages, making it an excellent addition to daily nutrition or as a change in diet. It is particularly beneficial for the elderly with weak spleen and stomach or those recovering from illness.