'Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: "Talbina soothes the heart of the sick and removes part of the sadness." (Narrated by Al-Bukhari, no. 5417, and Muslim, no. 2216).
Talbina is a porridge prepared from barley flour, bran, and honey. The Prophet ﷺ recommended it for the sick, and 'Aisha would order it to be prepared for the afflicted, saying: "I heard the Prophet ﷺ say: Talbina soothes the heart of the sick and removes part of the sadness."
Modern science has confirmed the nutritional benefits of barley, notably through its beta-glucans, soluble fibers. Clinical studies have shown that consuming about 3 grams of barley beta-glucans per day significantly reduces total cholesterol and LDL ("bad") cholesterol.
These benefits are officially recognized: the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Health Canada have approved health claims regarding barley beta-glucans and the reduction of blood cholesterol.
Meta-analyses have also confirmed that barley beta-glucans reduce the postprandial glycemic response (the rise in blood sugar after a meal), which is beneficial for diabetes management. The convergence between the prophetic recommendation of talbina and modern nutritional science is solid.