Congee & Porridge

Water Chestnut and Job's Tears (Coix) Congee

Low-purine foods traditionally used to clear damp-heat and ease gout discomfort

In short: Water Chestnut and Job's Tears (Coix) Congee is a congee & porridge that Low-purine foods traditionally used to clear damp-heat and ease gout discomfort. It is most often made for cooling & summer heat, bone & joint wellness. Total time about 1 hr 40 min. Key ingredients: water chestnut, job's tears / coix seed.

Prep
10 min
Cook
1 hr 30 min
Total
1 hr 40 min
Makes
600 ml
Water Chestnut and Job's Tears (Coix) Congee

Why people make this congee

Nourilo got thinking about gout after a long day of walking left his own feet sore. People prone to gout — often those who are overweight, or living with high blood lipids, high blood pressure, diabetes, or who drink heavily over long periods — know how punishing those joint flare-ups can be, usually starting at the base of the big toe. Both water chestnut and Job’s tears are low-purine foods, which is why he likes them as a gentle everyday dish for people managing gout.

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.

  • Job's tears (coix) · Randomized controlled trial · 2024
    Myeloperoxidase activity rose significantly in the placebo group after 8 weeks but showed no significant change in the adlay tea group. Vascular endothelial function improved in the adlay group, especially in those over 40.Limitation: Participants were healthy adults and the outcomes were surrogate markers, so the results say little about clinical disease outcomes. Tea is a polyphenol-rich extract, not whole grain.PubMed 38945894 · 2 more job's tears (coix) 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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