Congee & Porridge

Jiaogulan and Red Date Congee

Traditionally supports liver health and is taken as part of a liver-friendly diet

In short: Jiaogulan and Red Date Congee is a congee & porridge that Traditionally supports liver health and is taken as part of a liver-friendly diet. It is most often made for digestive wellness, children's wellness, liver wellness. Total time about 1 hr 10 min. Key ingredients: red dates, white rice.

Prep
10 min
Cook
1 hr
Total
1 hr 10 min
Makes
600–900 ml
Jiaogulan and Red Date Congee

Why people make this congee

Studies suggest that as many as one in four people locally may have fatty liver — and that fatty liver is linked to a higher chance of bowel polyps, which matter for long-term gut health. So the smart move is to look after the liver early. For anyone with fatty liver, the first steps are losing excess weight and eating lighter, with less oil and less sugar. A gentle food-therapy congee can be a helpful companion: jiaogulan tea is traditionally valued for the liver, and simmered with red dates and a little slab sugar into a congee, it makes a comforting daily bowl.

What studies say about the key ingredients

Traditional use is not the same as clinical proof. Here is the strongest human research we found for each ingredient, limitations included.

  • Red dates · Meta-analysis, 483 participants · 2025
    Jujube was associated with significantly lower BMI and triglycerides, and lower fasting blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. LDL and total cholesterol fell only in some subgroups. HDL, AST and ALT did not change significantly.Limitation: The authors state the overall quality of the evidence is limited, and results varied significantly by dose, treatment duration and disease type.PubMed 40399274 · 3 more red dates studies

From the Nourilo Research Library. Findings come from specific doses, extracts and populations and may not apply to a home-cooked recipe.

Safety first — read before you cook

This is a traditional food, not a treatment. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist before making it a regular part of your diet if you:

  • are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are cooking for a young child;
  • take regular medicines — especially blood thinners, blood-pressure, diabetes or immune-suppressing drugs;
  • have a kidney, liver or heart condition, or a known food allergy.

Stop eating it and seek advice if you notice an allergic reaction or feel unwell. Safety notes reviewed 8 October 2026 · How we write safety notes

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