The benefits of red beans and coix seeds, and the effects of coix seed and red bean soup, are truly remarkable. Coix seed, known as "Yi Yi Ren" in traditional Chinese medicine, is classified as a superior herb in the Divine Farmer's Classic of Materia Medica. It treats dampness-related paralysis, aids digestion, reduces edema, strengthens the spleen and stomach, and when taken long-term, lightens the body and boosts energy.Red beans, known as "chixiaodou" in traditional Chinese medicine, also possess distinct diuretic, edema-reducing, and spleen-strengthening properties. Their red color corresponds to the heart in traditional medicine, making them beneficial for nourishing the heart. Modern individuals often suffer from mental stress leading to deficient heart qi, irregular diets, and insufficient exercise resulting in spleen deficiency and excessive dampness. For addressing dampness, nourishing the heart, and strengthening the spleen and stomach, nothing surpasses coix seed and red beans.Simmering them into porridge allows their active components to be fully absorbed by the body while minimizing burden on the spleen and stomach. The "swelling-reducing" effect of coix seeds and red beans is also noteworthy. We must not equate swelling solely with edema. Observe modern people: at least five or six out of ten carry excess weight—this too is swelling, termed corpulent physique.From a traditional Chinese medicine perspective, both obesity and edema indicate internal dampness. When bodily fluids cannot circulate with qi and blood, they stagnate between cells, causing rapid bodily expansion. Edema and obesity share this mechanism, differing only in severity. Medicinal herbs or foods with potent dampness-dispelling properties can eliminate this stagnant fluid, thereby reducing swelling.Therefore, red beans are essential for treating edema. Practice has proven that coix seed and red bean soup possesses excellent weight-loss benefits—it helps shed pounds without harming the body. It is particularly effective for middle-aged and elderly individuals struggling with obesity. Dampness is the root cause of various modern chronic and stubborn diseases, and coix seed and red bean soup is the best remedy for addressing dampness. People often ask:Why doesn't the coix seed and red bean soup thicken?" When preparing this soup, never add rice! Why? Because rice grows in water and contains dampness, which is inherently sticky and viscous. Thus, rice thickens the soup immediately upon cooking. Red beans and coix seeds, however, are dampness-eliminating ingredients that contain no inherent dampness. Therefore, no matter how long they simmer, they won't thicken the soup, which remains clear.Traditional Chinese medicine precisely leverages this clear nature to expel dampness from the body. Adding rice introduces dampness, thickening the entire porridge. While the taste may improve, it's detrimental to health preservation. That handful of rice renders all the red beans and coix seeds useless, negating their benefits entirely.