GoutPal Interactive

Jim,

Do you still have some of your new batch black beans? If you do you could try cutting it and see if the kernel is green or brown (Pl refer to my earlier post with the 2 pictures).  The black soy beans are slightly bigger than the Raitip BB.

As trev had mentioned, it would be good to find out more about your new supplies – especially after it gave you stomach cramps. Hope it's just  too much gas.

I have a feeling that BBB works better for me because I am not on any long term medications (which could complicate matters). Now I take BBB only once in a long while.  Touch wood, my gout has not recurred for some time now. It could be due to my diet – I am eating much less red meat, though I still enjoy fish and chicken almost everyday. I do not drink beer or other hard liquor.  In other words, I still enjoy eating almost everything, but in moderation.

Ok the “new” Brand is Khaothong, packaged in Bangkok. I assume grown in Northern Thailand, I am in the south & it’s too hot for them to grow here… northern Thailand get much cooler nights 12 -15 c… here on Koh Samui, it rarely drops below, 23 c… a big difference when growing things!

I should have got up from the computer & taken a look, when I did the last post.

They are white inside, so the same as the other brand…

Khaothong have a website address, but when trying it I get a warning, it may harm your computer… so thought better not go there, just add www K com. if you want to try it…

It will probably all be in Thai anyway… not a easy language, with 44 totally different letters to their alphabet!

Anyway, I’ve taken several gulps of the weaker brew today & no more cramps, so guess it was making it too strong, that caused that… When I finish the pitcher, I’ll see how much sluggy stuff there is at the bottom of this batch…

Like Met, I don’t drink much, (never did) at most a can of beer a day, sometimes, & I don’t eat a lot of red meat, certainly not chicken either… mostly pork, when I do eat meat, which seems to be OK….never large servings either.

But I have to say several people have commented lately on how much weight I lost in the last year… 20 lbs… or so, I think partly by keeping active & sweating it out doing the garden… (but landscaping always was my trade, so being active like that is not new to me.) But in this warmer climate, I find I don’t eat as many “sweets”… I thought I would add that as a observation… hope not too much off topic!

Jim

PS: I must add to my earlier comments about freezer keeping that I did partially defrost the batch to get some takeoff- before refreezing.

This is probably a mistake -with all that protein and starch waiting to go in new directions…

Because this is a daily “staple” for me, The roughly two litres I make about twice a week.. seems to keep fine in the fridge, for at least 3 or 4 days… The amount I take, depends on how much twinging I get…. but I do start the day with it, before my Cornflakes!

Other than that batch I made too strong, & other than “tooting” generally odor-less & quietly I might add…: I don’t get any other “side effects”

The last two batches I made with ginger, chopped into the boiling pot.

I find the Khaothong brand, leaves a lot more fine sludge in the pitcher, … good half an inch or so where as the Raitip brand does not…. I am back on Raitip brand again… btw.

I would suggest if the Khanthong brand, if it’s all you can get, should probably be stranded through a fine cheese cloth. ????

Post edited 10:20 pm – May 7, 2010 by odo

Can someone just remind me about the latest thinking on the cooking procedure; is it soak for 3 hrs in warm water, boil for 10-15 mins & simmer for 1 hr using the soak water?

Thanks Meta. Will be adding ginger & cinnamon sticks for flavour and am toying with the idea of adding turmeric root (Chinese herb) for further anti-inflammatory effects.

trev said:

Post edited 9:31 am – May 8, 2010 by trev

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Don’t forget the mashed and shredded garlic too ,Odo -[added with the square inch of grated root ginger].

Known to help circulation and ,once used to it, a great taste- so long as no girlfriend around…  :~)

I mix my BBB with soup, 50/50 [winter veg good, as already quite earthy to taste] but only add the ‘extras’ at the last minute, so the volatiles don’t ‘boil off’. [* Important]

Hi Guys!

In my yesterday’s brew, I added ginger… & Star Anise… & then thought why not a bit of ground black pepper…. that sure added a zing!

But is nice to be able to vary the flavours, each brew… makes life far less boring….. ha ha!

It’s so hot/ humid here at the moment it takes hours to cool down enough, before placing in the fridge… Needing a gulp yesterday, I put in a bunch of ice cubes to cool down faster…

Still not tried cooking with it…. I need to get a four litre pot…then can do double batches… a bit too tedious to make everyday! Once every three days is enough!

Jim

Have to say the BBB didn't appear to have any effect for me during my recent flare Not to say that I would mind taking it just in case, anyway, but I'm afraid the usual bean side effects probably makes this less likely in future.

It may have simply been a question of timing; perhaps BBB works best in the very early stages of a developing flare and then with decreasing effect as the inlammatory process takes hold?

This is also true of NSAIDs, after all, which are quite powerful drugs, but I know I only have a small window of opportunity with Naproxen to prevent a flare from developing. Also, after a certain amount of time there is no point in continuing with them because, in fact, they will do me more harm than good. With BBB I know the side effects are at worst simply annoying or embarrassing.

metamorph said:

Hi Jim,

Sounds like you are taking BBB very regularly or you “need a gulp” quite often”.  Taking BBB regularly is certainly good for your health in many ways. But if it is because your gout is coming off and on very often valids some further consideration of “why is it so?”. Perhaps, your diet - too much of those sumptious, delicious and mouth watering Thai gourmet (especially seafood)? If I am not wrong, you are not overweight – if fact on the slim side, and active too.

I am just curious. Of course, if BBB can keep your gout at bay and allow you to relish/enjoy whatever you eat that’s wonderful!  Anyway, you seem to be enjoying your BBB and have added a lot of “zing” into it. It will try the same too, the next time I prepare mine.

Cheers!

Hi Met et al.

BBB is certainly something I am taking everyday, I start off before my cornflakes, & coffee! Lunch is usually a simple sandwich, & dinner varies from Thai food to something more western… as Thai food all the time gets …well boring!

I eat very little fish, I’ve never been a big fan of fish, the meat I generally use now is pork, since all this started, before that is was almost exclusively chicken… (for years)….

Last year I did lose about 20 lbs, (last weight check 160 pounds) partly because I find in this warmer climate I don’t eat as much sweet stuff or chocolate! I’ve not been that light since my teenage years, decades ago!

I am now trying to get some weight put back on, as I am am starting to look a little “gaunt” when I see pictures of my self! OMG is that me?

I sometimes wake up with a minor throb in my foot, but that soon goes after my gulp of BBB…

The other day I found a picture of my legs, when I was in hospital (Dec 2008) when I first came down with this… the whole right leg is very swollen… and pain was unbearable, I’ll try to find it again & post it!

It was several months after that, before it became bearable to sit even at the computer…. I would guess now, about 12 months ago.

Perhaps BBB a placebo effect? But it seems to work for me… but as I have said before, but when I drink it, I can feel the effects of any pain, lessening within minutes…

Jim