Ancient Sri Lankans had herbal porridge that are made from fresh juice of plants with medicinal and nutritional properties with coconut milk and rice, in an empty stomach, before breakfast (taking solid food). “Kola kanda” is a herbal porridge that is made from green leaves that have benefits to health. “Kola kanda” can be made using only one variety of green leaves or  adding more different medicinal plants together. Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa are old historical recordings of Sri lanka, according to those ancient texts, the habit of consuming Kola kanda originated with the Buddhist culture. It is eaten by Buddhist monks in the morning, as a means of sustenance. It's because monks are only allowed to have two meals a day, breakfast and lunch and lunch should be taken before noon. It's a good meal for the monks following a period of not consuming any solid food since lunch the previous day. Kola kanda provides the necessary restoration  to commence the daily activities of the monks. 

The green leaves that are used to make Kola kanda and their main beneficial properties are as follows, 

• Gotu kola - Improve cognitive processes and memory 
• Mukunuwenna - Improve vision, hair growth, and healthy skin 
• Karapincha - Detoxification, improve digestion, 
• Monarakudumbiya -  immunity boosting, blood purification, aid in the healthy function of the liver
• Hathawariya (Asparagus racemosus) - boost fertility, balances the hormonal system of men and women, increase the milk production of lactating mothers
• Wel penela (Cardiospermum halicacabum) - blood purification, boosting the  immunity 
• Pol pala (Aerva lanata) - blood purification, preventing formation of stones in the kidney and bladder 
• Elapitawakka (Phyllanthus debilis) - aid in the healthy function of the liver 
• Iramusu (Hemidesmus Indicus) - blood purification, cooling effect, healthy skin 
• Heen bowitiya (Osbeckia octandra)- blood purification, aid in the healthy function of the liver 
• Wel kohila (Syngonium angustatum) - blood purification, preventing constipation, preventing vitamin A deficiency  

Apart from the above mentioned benefits, “Kola kanda” has a great cooling effect on the body as well. In addition to “kola kanda” ancient Sri Lankans made herbal porridges by using different types of grains and yams. 

Some of the herbal porridge that are made with yams and grains are, 

• Roots of Hathawariya porridge 
• Dandila yams porridge 
• Roots of Kohila porridge 
• Undu seed porridge 
• Barley porridge  
• Mung beans porridge
• Finger millet or Kurakkan  porridge 
• Sago porridge 
• Sahal kenda - variety of rices are used to make porridge 

Some of the biggest health benefits of porridge come from its fiber content. Fiber is important for making the meals more satisfying and makes you feel full without adding calories and fibers are good at fighting constipation to keep your digestion regular. 

In addition to the above-mentioned porridges, ancient Sri Lankans had herbal drinks called “Osu Pan”  in between their meals. Osu pan is similar  to tea. Some examples for “Osu pan” are tea made from Ranawara flowers, Beli flowers and leaves, Iramusu leaves, red shoe flowers, Nil katarolu flowers, Pol pala leaves, Gotu kola leaves, Heen undupiyaliya leaves, cumin seeds.

To get the most benefits out of these herbal porridge and drinks, the professionals advice, the same type, in the same way, continuously, over and over, should not be used. You should incorporate them into the daily diet one by one in turns.