Benefits of well cooked white button mushrooms:

A great alternative to carrot salad.  They lower excess estrogen, endotoxin and nitric oxide; when well cooked, mushrooms help move along in the intestine anything that will not be properly digested that could therefore potentially increase endotoxin and estrogen.  Their fibers absorb toxins and disinfect the bowels in much the same way as those in bamboo shoots and raw carrots.  And by this means they are very helpful in treating small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).

They contain phytochemicals that inhibit aromatase activity (synthesizes estrogen) and breast cancer proliferation.  See here and here.

They help lower excess serotonin (some symptoms of elevated serotonin include: loose bowels, profuse sweating, IBS, nausea, irritability, depression, aggression, tinnitus) and reduce intestinal irritation).

They work as an antihistamine.

Mushrooms are also a source of high quality protein (especially important for vegans).

Why you don’t want to eat them raw or undercooked:

The things to caution about mushrooms are the toxic compounds that they contain; namely hydrazine and agaritine.  Hydrazine especially is hepatotoxic (see here), so you never want to eat mushrooms raw or undercooked, especially not in such quantities.    Cooking mushrooms very well (for 1-3 hours) removes virtually all of the hydrazine and most of the agaritine.

A collection of quotes from Dr Ray Peat regarding Mushrooms:

“I’ve been experimenting with white button mushrooms (sautéed in butter and  coconut oil) at bedtime, and they work almost  like the antihistamines.”

“Well cooked button mushrooms contain an effective amount of aromatase inhibitors, and can improve digestion, and are very nutritious, similar to meat.” (2015)

“Raw carrots, cooked bamboo shoots, and cooked mushrooms contain antibiotics that are safe to use everyday. Like tetracycline and the macrolide antibiotics, they (especially mushrooms) are also antiinflammatory.” 

“The hydrazine-containing toxins that Toth and others wrote about are destroyed by heat. Since extracts made by boiling the mushrooms for three hours were very active, I think it’s good to boil them from one to three hours.” – Ray Peat newsletter

“A safe bowel disinfectant that can help with hormone balance is cooked white button mushrooms, a few ounces per day.”

“Mushrooms have very high quality protein that is easily assimilated, in association with a good balance of other nutrients.” “The fungal sterol, lanosterol, which is very similar in structure to cholesterol…”

“…some of the mushrooms’ protective effects result from inhibiting aromatase, the enzyme that synthesizes estrogen…”

“I think it’s good to alternate carrots and mushrooms, for example carrots two or three days per week, mushrooms (or bamboo shoots) on the other days.” (Thank you Katia!)

Ray chatting to Danny Roddy on his podcast ‘Safe Supplements; Generative Energy #31‘:

DR: “can you replace the carrot if you eat mushrooms everyday?”

RP: “yeah I’ve done that; I got tired of carrots after eating one a day for 20 years!”

DR: “would it be risky to replace eggs with mushrooms?”

RP:  “mushrooms have really a good broad spectrum nutritional value, but you just have to eat an awful lot of them.”

DR: “how much have you been averaging Ray?”

RP: “sometimes ridiculous amounts … once every week or two we’ll have a big bowl of mushroom soup which is almost like porridge; I think we must eat 8oz (225g) at least each in the soup days, other days much less … like tonight when we’re having liver with mushrooms, probably 4oz (110g) of each.”

Listen to Ray Peat on KMUD here discussing white button mushrooms, Chinese study, containing aromatase inhibitors  – women who had at least 10g a day on average, 88% lower incidence of cancer mortality.

And from Rob Turner:  “If carrots makes you worse, try mushrooms or boiled bamboo shoots. If your metabolism isn’t optimised (which is the barometer for how well you’re doing with his suggestions), then the “healing” has yet to commence because the bowel will continue to be slow and even traditionally very-friendly foods can continue to promote the intestinal overgrowth.”  

How to prepare them:

I cook up no less than 1kg of white button mushrooms at a time to make the effort worthwhile.

Throw into a sink full of water and give them a rub to remove any dirt.  Drain in a colander.

Get out your blender or food processor (or if you don’t have one, start chopping).  A lot of my clients report that they have better effects from mushrooms when they’re completely ground up, otherwise slice them finely with a food processor or knife.

If you’re blending them into oblivion, pop them in your blender with half to 1 liter of water (depending on the capacity of your blender). Blend til it becomes brown mush then pour into a heavy based pot.

If sliced, put into a big enough pot and cover with water (filling it no higher than an inch from the rim).

Bring to a boil, then keep at medium-high heat.  Turn your range hood exhaust fan on and leave it on (to whisk away the hydrazine that’s released in the steam).  Boil uncovered for at least 1, or up to 3 hours.  I cook mine for at least 2.  Check the water level every now and then and top up if necessary so they don’t dry up and burn.  If there’s some residual ‘broth’, keep this, or cook until most of the water is gone, but they’re still wet.  Just don’t let them dry up, brown or burn.

For storage, allow to cool off then keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.  If your batch is more than you’ll get through in 5 days, portion it and freeze.

To eat, scoop out about a cup per person as needed, reheat in a pan with butter or coconut oil and salt, and flavour with sprigs of herbs like thyme if you like.  Have on an empty stomach or as an accompaniment with a meal.   Nice with grated parmesan and a fried egg on top. *Or try my mushroom soup recipe below…

For best results, you want to have these at least twice a week, or as much as daily.  Having them right before bed can maximise their antihistamine action.

My Mushroom Soup Recipe

(based on Jamie Oliver’s The Real Mushroom Soup)

This is a great way to get in a lot in one go.  Although you could just eat a bowl of blended and cooked mushroom mush, I personally don’t find that appetising (and food should be delicious, otherwise why bother?!)  But when I’ve flavoured the mushrooms up like this, I can’t get enough.

ingredients:

1 kilo (2.2lb) white button mushrooms, washed

1 litre (2 and a bit pints) of water

2 tbsp coconut oil or butter

500ml of homemade / quality gelatinous beef or chicken broth

1 red onion, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, crushed

small handful each of thyme and parsley, chopped

1-2 tsp salt

the zest (finely zested with a microplane) and juice of 1 lemon

1 rounded tbsp of mascarpone (or sour cream), and more to serve

white pepper (optional)

method:

Blend the mushrooms and water in a high powered blender (in 2 batches if necessary).

Pour into a heavy based pot, bring to the boil then reduce heat to about medium (turn your range hood fan on).

After at least an hour (stirring occasionally) add 500ml broth.  Bring back to the boil and then simmer for another 30 minutes to 1 hour. Add more liquid if it gets too thick for your liking.

Heat coconut oil in a frying pan, add the onion, garlic and a sprinkle of salt.  Sauté until softened, add the herbs.  Tip all of this into the pot.  Add the lemon zest and juice, mascarpone, pepper and a tsp of salt.  Stir over low heat for a couple more minutes.  Check seasoning and add more salt to taste.

Ladle into bowls and garnish with another dollop of mascarpone.  Nice with buttered sourdough toast if that’s your thing.

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Disclaimer:  My posts are not meant to be individualised treatment plans, protocols, etc.  I share what I research and use, and that is it. They are meant to spark thought based on the normal anatomy, physiology and biochemistry of the body.  The information contained in this blog should not be used to treat or diagnose disease or health problems and is provided for your information only.

Skim milk powder (not full fat milk powder, here‘s why) is also a handy nutrient-dense ingredient to have in your pantry for thickening ice cream and custards, in place of things like gums and cornflour.

Milk Powder Pancakes

1/2 cup skim milk powder (I used this one)
1 good egg
1/8 cup (2 tbsp) milk (more if you prefer them thinner like crepes)
1 tbsp caster/superfine sugar (omit for a savoury version)
fat pinch of salt
butter or refined coconut oil for cooking (I prefer refined to unrefined for cooking as it has a higher smoke point).

And you’ll need a well-cared-for non-stick pan.

Combine all the ingredients to make a smooth batter (I find it comes together best when I use my electric hand beater).

Heat some butter / coconut oil in your pan, on low-medium heat.  Spoon in mixture to whatever size. Warning: they will cook quickly! So cook them on a lower heat and keep your eye on them.  You want to avoid too much colour, and you definitely don’t want them burnt.  Flip them as soon as they’re slightly golden.

I recommend you eat them immediately! They’re best when they’re still warm; once they start to cool down the texture isn’t quite as good

Serve with lemon and sugar, maple syrup and blue berries, honey and greek yoghurt, homemade marmalade, stewed apples and ice cream, lemon curd, fruit compote and mascarpone …

Obviously you can double or triple the recipe.  It’s great to make a couple of day’s worth of mixture and have it on hand in the fridge so it’s ready to grab at breakfast (or anytime of the day).  The mixture will get thicker the longer it’s left, so if it’s too thick just whisk in an extra splash of milk to thin it.

nutrition numbers:  Although I could easily eat a whole batch, half of this recipe makes enough for a (more conservative) serving for one, and provides about 19g of protein, 30g of carbohydrates and 3g of fat (with additional fat from the fat you cook them in), as well as (among other micronutrients) a hefty 560mg of calcium … a good portion of a healthy 2000mg daily quota.

variation: Ricotta Hotcakes  - Just add 1/3 cup ricotta and the zest of half a lemon into the mixture.

Ray makes mention of milk powder pancakes at 27:30 into this KMUD radio interview here

I like Danny Roddy‘s version too. His recipe here.

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Disclaimer:  My posts are not meant to be individualised treatment plans, protocols, etc.  I share what I research and use, and that is it. They are meant to spark thought based on the normal anatomy, physiology and biochemistry of the body.  The information contained in this blog should not be used to treat or diagnose disease or health problems and is provided for your information only.

Joe:

Wavelengths

The most unique feature of our lights compared to others are the specific wavelengths used. Every major red light therapy provider uses the common wavelengths of 630nm, 660nm and so on for their products. These are just the cheapest and most readily available wavelengths in terms of LED technology, and while still somewhat effective, aren’t optimal in terms of biological stimulation. We know from the T. Karu et al studies (see here) that the peak wavelengths in the red range are closer to 615 nm  and 675 nm, and light at these wavelengths is up to 40% more efficient at biological stimulation than your standard red lights. In the future all light therapy products will focus on these ranges, as the mainstream catches up with the science, but for now we are the only ones targeting the optimal wavelengths.

Single wavelength vs multiple

In addition to this, most clinics and other devices are using monochromatic light, meaning they only focus on a single wavelength for the whole device. For example you can find LED panels and lasers that only output 660 nm light, with every single diode being the same. While there are still benefits to this type of monochromatic build, studies are showing that combination lights that target more than one absorption peak may have a more beneficial effect, which is what you’ll find in most of our products. We still offer monochromatic devices though, if you want to perfectly replicate some effective study conditions at home. (More on penetration of wavelengths here.)

Cost

It’s also worth mentioning the practical difference between having your own light therapy device at home vs going to a clinic every time. First of all the cost is a lot cheaper staying at home. Clinics are notorious for charging a fortune which makes little sense when buying your own premium high powered device costs about the same as only 2 or 3 clinic sessions. Clinics are also only open at normal business hours in general – the same hours most people are themselves working.

Emma: For localised benefits to the skin, how do you recommend red light to be used (how close to the face for example, for how long, and any other tips).

Joe: For using a red light device on the face, I recommend using one at 0 – 30 cm from the face for 2 – 20 minutes, depending on distance. This can be done every day, even several times a day for general use. It’s especially helpful to use the light as soon as possible after things like excess sun exposure, shaving, showering, cuts/bruises, city pollution exposure and even irritating makeup use.

As the red light is intensely bright, you can use red light blocking glasses to shield the eyes if you want to. Infrared light also works well for using on the face, since it doesn’t stimulate the eyes.

Emma: And for more general systemic benefits?

Joe: While most low powered light therapy devices, including low level lasers, have a mostly local effect wherever they are applied, it is possible to get beneficial systemic effects. There are a few ways to achieve this, such as:

• Longer exposure – applying the light for a much longer period of time. This ensures that enough light energy penetrates deeply into the body.
• Specific exposure – Targeting key areas of the body with light enables systemic effects. The thyroid gland in the neck (pictured below) or testes in men are two examples. (Study link here regarding benefits to the Thyroid).
• Stronger light – using high powered devices such as our red or infrared light device can project a good strength of light over a wide surface area of the body.

There are several potential mechanisms for systemic anti-stress effects. Using on specific glands of the body improves hormone production in those glands, which are passed to the rest of the body via the blood. The blood itself is also a vehicle for the benefits. Red blood cells themselves actually don’t have mitochondria, but platelets, white blood cells are other components do. Some studies have been done where the light is applied to a vein on the side of the neck or other area, resulting in positive outcomes elsewhere in the body such as improved female fertility (study link here). Even bone marrow is a proven carrier of benefits, as studies show applying light to bones in the feet and legs can improve heart health and speed up healing in other areas. Infrared light is perhaps better than visible red if you are looking for general systemic benefits as the penetration rate through tissue is greater than red.

Emma: For someone with no major health concern, how can light therapy be of benefit to them?

Joe: 

Using light for general health

Even for people without a specific ailment, red/infrared light therapy will improve quality of life and wellbeing, in addition to first aid uses. It’s fairly similar to if you improve the quality of your diet, make an effort to get more sleep, or reduce work-related stress – you can expect to simply feel better and be happier in general. This can have an effect on those around you and ultimately leads to a better life.

Quality of life

Improving energy production and reducing stress with light therapy, much like other positive lifestyle choices, enables your body to function optimally, leading to better; mental function, sexual function, exercise performance, strength, endurance, digestion, longevity, sleep and several other daily life type things.

Using a red/infrared light first thing in the morning and before bed is a good protocol for general anti-stress effects. Using after any sort of injury or just randomly throughout the day is good too.

First Aid

In addition to the anti-stress effects, I also consider red light as an essential first aid device too. Any time you get a cut, sunburn, skin irritation (from any source, i.e shaving, body hair removal, harsh chemicals, etc.) and any sort of minor/serious injury, it’s great to have a red light handy. It cuts the pain and inflammation down, kick starts the healing response, and ensures speedy healing without scar tissue.

I have no doubt that sources of red/infrared light will be built into our houses in future, to give passive exposure in places like showers, beds, even in our cars.

Emma: Nutritionally, you advocate the kind of way of eating that I also recommend.  In terms of general skin benefits (regulating collagen production, increasing/preserving elastin, promoting cell turn over, etc.) what do you see to be some of the most important dietary factors?

Joe: Like you, I try to base my diet on the same principles as what I aim to gain from light therapy – that is to reduce stress and improve energy production in the body. Having said that though, the field of nutrition and diet is one of the most complicated and least understood areas of modern science. I fully expect to reassess my opinion on certain foods in the future. As a society we probably know more about quantum physics than we do about diet.

Diet consensus

It doesn’t help that people are very emotionally attached to their diets, with certain foods being very polarising. Sugar, salt, saturated fat, cholesterol and such are all examples of what I mean. There’s a strong bias in society towards the status quo of conventional nutrition wisdom, which unfortunately seems driven by marketing and is very slow to change. Governments, big business, doctors and educational establishments all reinforce the bad advice (and sometimes good advice) in a very authoritarian way, without empowering an individual to self-educate. I’m talking whole grains, ‘cholesterol-lowering’ margarines, low-salt or low-fat foods, no-added-sugar foods and so on.

Specific foods

If I was to recommend specific dietary factors, it would be to consume foods containing enough glucose (fruit, sucrose) and protein (dairy, fish, etc) and avoid foods containing liquid oils.  I think an even split between carbs/protein/fat is desirable for the average person, with a lowering of fat if you have a good metabolism and want to lose weight.

Supplements

For supplements I subscribe to the same philosophy of improving energy/metabolism, and find niacinamide, vitamin k, and others to be useful. Though I don’t use any supplements with great regularity, besides red and infrared light.

See Part 1 of our interview here. 

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Disclaimer:  My posts are not meant to be individualised treatment plans, protocols, etc.  I share what I research and use, and that is it. They are meant to spark thought based on the normal anatomy, physiology and biochemistry of the body.  The information contained in this blog should not be used to treat or diagnose disease or health problems and is provided for your information only.

I also highly recommend you read the information Joe already provides on his site, and that you follow his Blog too.

Emma: How did you first get into light therapy and what inspired you to get into the business of making your own lights?

Joe: I’m not quite sure where I first came across red/IR light therapy. I think it’s one of those things many people have heard of, but usually dismiss outright as woo-woo and unscientific. The dodgy marketing pervasive in the industry doesn’t help with that. Plus it can be expensive, inconvenient and with no obvious mechanism behind it.

I first started to take it seriously when I saw Danny Roddy doing blog posts about it with regards to hair loss. His explanations of the mechanism from a bioenergetic perspective really made sense. Going from there I discovered the field of photobiomodulation (which is basically the scientific name for red/IR light therapy) and delved into the literature/studies done using low level lasers and LEDs. I found tens of thousands of high quality studies (start with this one) on both animals and humans, treating everything from superficial wounds to severe infertility, and it quickly became evident to me that red/infrared light is a fundamental factor in cellular metabolism and health, across all species. Some of the key researchers I’ve learnt from are Dr Michael Hamblin, Dr Tiina Karu and Dr Ray Peat.

That was several years ago now, and having not found any good light therapy products at a reasonable price, we founded Red Light Man and went from there.

Emma: How does ‘red light’ differ to sunlight, and how does it affect us differently, to increase metabolism and at the skin level to prevent, rather than promote, skin ageing?

Joe:  

Light Basics & Light Therapy

What we consider ‘light’ is a part of the electromagnetic spectrum, more specifically – photons travelling through space with certain wavelengths. Human eyes can see these photons, providing they are between the wavelengths of 400nm (blue) and 700nm (red). Beyond that on either side you have the invisible ultraviolet and infrared – our eyes just don’t have receptors for these. The wavelength of the photon determines the colour our eyes perceive.

Sunlight

Sunlight contains photons of a wide variety of wavelengths/colours (250nm – 2000nm) and the exact spectrum at any given time depends on the solar elevation. Sunlight at sunrise and sunset for example is dominated by the red end of the spectrum, so is quite valuable, whereas midday sunlight (and twilight) contains more of the blue light. If you were to look at the sun from outer space, it would appear totally white. The atmosphere has a big impact on the light reaching the surface of earth, due to an effect called Rayleigh scattering (which also explains why the sky is blue).

Sunlight vs. light therapy

Red (& infrared) light, as used in therapy, refers to the wavelength range 600nm – 950nm, which is a narrower range than sunlight, but contained within it. So is it possible to use the sun for red light therapy? Sort of but not really. This is because the power density (photons per area) of red light contained within sunlight falls just below the established density required to give direct effects on mitochondrial function, especially deeper in the body. This isn’t to say that sunlight is without benefits, but just that appropriate red light therapy from artificial sources has different benefits to it.

Midday sunlight in excess can lead to sunburn and photoaging due to the damaging effects of blue and ultraviolet on the skin. Red light therapy however actually works to prevent photoaging, plus soothe and heal sunburn; it has been shown to stimulate, heal and restore the quality of skin (see here).

Light therapy for energy

The reason red and infrared light are good for the skin (or brain or muscles etc.), is thought to be due to the effects on mitochondrial energy production. The light is absorbed by a protein called Cytochrome C Oxidase, which exists inside our mitochondria and is intricately involved in the final stage of respiration – producing ATP (energy), carbon dioxide and water.

This ATP is essential for all functions of life. It is thought that the light removes an inhibitory/stress molecule called nitric oxide, therefore restoring the normal function of processing oxygen again. From this perspective, red light has a unique anti-stress effect. Other hypotheses state that different wavelength ranges (peaks: 620nm, 670nm, 760nm, 830nm) hit different parts of Cytochrome, leading to different effects on electron flow, or alternatively that the light has nothing to do with mitochondria and exerts its benefits by changing the structure and surface tension of cellular water.

I believe that all of these hypotheses could be true, but whatever the actual mechanism, red light indirectly normalises energy production, which downstream enables our body to perform all of its normal functions optimally; from quicker cellular repair/healing to normalised collagen production.

Emma: Speaking of collagen, I’d love to know your thoughts on the misconceptions surrounding this topic, particularly in the beauty industry.  We hear about ‘anti-ageing’ products and treatments that claim to tout the ‘benefits’ of “stimulating collagen production, for more youthful, wrinkle-free skin…”  However this is a contradiction, since it’s the overproduction of collagen that occurs with ageing, replacing the more flexible elastin, that actually creates wrinkles.

This becomes even more confusing when people are encouraged to increase their dietary consumption of gelatin (cooked collagen) and gelatinous meats for regenerative and pro-metabolic benefits. I recently asked Biologist Ray Peat to elaborate on this distinction, and this was his response:

“Collagen is a stress-resisting component of connective tissues, and various kinds of stress cause cells to produce more of it—pressure, stretching, high estrogen, hypoxia, nitric oxide, lactic acid, etc. Several of the amino acids in gelatin have antistress effects that probably often protect against excessive collagen synthesis.” – Ray Peat PhD

Joe: 

Collagen & Skin

Yeah, it’s one of the most misunderstood topics in the health and beauty world.  A lot in the red light therapy industry focus on how light benefits wrinkles and ‘stimulates collagen production’. That’s true in some ways and untrue in others though – too much collagen formation is actually the root cause of wrinkles, fibrosis and scars. You can see this more obviously in animals. For example meat from a lamb is tender and easy to chew, but meat from an older sheep is harder and chewy (usually needs slow-cooking) – simply due to the accumulation of collagen over time. Layers of healthy cells that give flexibility, elasticity and normal function are replaced by hardened collagen deposits. Some even think this phenomena on the scalp is one of the primary causes of pattern baldness. In general it seems to be an adaption to local and systemic stress, making an organism ‘tougher’ but less versatile. Acne scars are a good example of too much collagen formation.

(pictured: A seasoned truck driver showing advanced collagen formation on the right side of face, but smooth skin on the left.)

Gelatin/collagen protein?

I suppose the fact that some gelatin/collagen protein powders are actually healthy to consume makes the topic more confusing. The common perception is that gelatin/collagen powder or gelatinous broths and such help to ‘stimulate collagen production’ by providing the raw amino acid materials for better joints/firmer skin or something. In fact though, consuming dietary collagen helps to give a pro-thyroid hormonal effect from the glycine content – improving sleep and reducing inflammation. In stressed individuals, consuming dietary collagen will therefore actually reduce their internal collagen production.

Collagen, metabolism and light

You ideally only want a minimal amount of collagen deposited around the body to act as a framework for healthy cells to be housed in – have too much and there’s no more room for metabolically active cells anymore – with scars being the best example of this, but also wrinkles, fibrosis, and general lack of flexibility over time.

So a stressed metabolism leads to greater collagen production, and that’s a bad thing if you want to look youthful. Inflammation is the cause of the excess production.

A perfectly healthy metabolism leads to normal collagen production. Red light, by supporting a healthy metabolism (through improved energy production), gives the normal collagen production that you want.

Basically light works against all of the stress hormones that cause inflammation and excess collagen production. So red light most certainly does prevent wrinkles, by normalising collagen production. It is also proven to prevent and reduce scar formation after surgery or other wounds. We have more information on the topic here.

Read Part 2 here – Getting started with light therapy at home, and how to use light for maximum effects.

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Disclaimer:  My posts are not meant to be individualised treatment plans, protocols, etc.  I share what I research and use, and that is it. They are meant to spark thought based on the normal anatomy, physiology and biochemistry of the body.  The information contained in this blog should not be used to treat or diagnose disease or health problems and is provided for your information only.

Ray Peat PhD, quotes on Naringenin:

“Orange juice contains the antiinflammatory chemicals naringin and naringenin, which protect against endotoxin by suppressing the formation of nitric oxide and prostaglandins (Shiratori, et al., 2005).”

“Orange juice contains naringenin which is effective against melanoma, and guavas contain apigenin, also effective. A diet consisting of milk, orange juice, guavas, cheese, and some eggs, liver, and oysters, with aspirin would be protective against the spread of the tumor.”

“Substances that inhibit inflammation are likely to also inhibit excessive collagen synthesis, serotonin secretion, and the formation of estrogen. Besides aspirin, some effective substances are apigenin and naringenin, found in oranges and guavas. These flavonoids also inhibit the formation of nitric oxide and prostaglandins, which are important for inflammation and carcinogenesis (Liang, et al., 1999).” – from his article ‘The Cancer Matrix‘ 

“When I get sour oranges I make marmalade from the peels, if they are organic. Shred, soak, cook slowly simmering in water for about an hour before adding sugar, and letting that simmer without boiling until it thickens a little. When it’s cool it thickens more. The peels are rich in antiinflammatory chemicals, more than the juice, and the marmalade is a good way to get sugar with the cottage cheese or parmesan.“

* After asking Dr Peat for further clarification on his marmalade-making-methods, this is the recipe I pieced together:

Ray Peat’s marmalade (my interpretation):

1. Get a 3kg bag of organic oranges (mine contained 14 large oranges).
2. Halve them and juice them (save juice).
3. Scoop out the remaining pulp with a spoon (dump pulp).
4. Rinse them, then shred them finely in a food processor.
5. Put in to a large bowl filled with water and leave to soak overnight in the fridge.
6. Drain then transfer to a heavy based pot, cover them in clean water and simmer uncovered for 1.5 -2 hours, checking regularly and topping up with a little of the orange juice or water if water level starts to run too low.
7. Add 3 cups of white sugar, stir, and keep simmering gently (not boiling), for another 4 hours (or more, until peel is very tender), continuing to check regularly if more fluid is needed. Note: you do not want the sugar to caramelise and go brown, so make sure you regularly check it doesn’t start to bubble too furiously or the fluid doesn’t get too low.
8. When the peel is soft enough and the liquid has thickened slightly, turn off the stove and allow to cool down before refrigerating.

Note: you can sterilise jars and preserve it (if you’re good at that) but we go through this within a week or two usually so I just keep it in a container in the fridge. You could definitely double the recipe.

Delicious on slices of cheese, ricotta, cottage cheese, thick greek yoghurt or home made vanilla ice cream.

Further reading regarding naringenin:

‘Protective Effects of Citrus Flavanoid Naringenin’ by Rob Turner of Functional Performance Systems - http://www.functionalps.com/blog/2013/11/19/protective-effects-of-citrus-flavanoid-naringenin/

And more research references here:

There’s a brilliant new topical naringenin product available.  It’s by boutique supplement company idealabsdc.com called ‘MelaNon’ and is primarily for applying on and around moles.  Here the creator (Georgi) discusses its uses and benefits and lists related clinical studies on naringenin: https://raypeatforum.com/community/threads/melanon-dietary-supplement-for-skin-spots-moles-etc.8473/

Also, acknowledgement and thanks to my friend Dodie Anderson

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Disclaimer:  My posts are not meant to be individualised treatment plans, protocols, etc.  I share what I research and use, and that is it. They are meant to spark thought based on the normal anatomy, physiology and biochemistry of the body.  The information contained in this blog should not be used to treat or diagnose disease or health problems and is provided for your information only.