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Valerie's avatar

Glycine nor magnesium glycinate doesn’t work well for me because of my glutamate excitatory issues, which many neurodivergents face. Taurine, however, is calming and works well for me before bed.

Also, a heads-up: California-grown produce may be contaminated due to the toxic lithium plant fires. I would recommend avoiding all produce from California for now. It’s tragic, but it’s better to be safe.

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smhatina's avatar

So good to know about this, I get pins and needles from glycine and mag gly.

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Kristen Christy's avatar

Thank you, Valerie!

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Nancy W's avatar

Apparently, the battery plant fire was near San Jose (northern/central CA) and is reported to have dramatically affected the soil, but only within a 2-mile radius: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/01/28/moss-landing-lithium-plant-fire-soil/78001629007/

So, thankfully, very little, if any, California produce should be affected by this. (Whew!)

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Valerie's avatar

Independent journalist Tina-Desiree Berg is LIVE ON-THE-GROUND in Northern California to speak with Brian Roeder and Matthew McFaul, two effected residents near the massive Vistra Lithium Battery Plant fire that erupted for days in mid January, 2025. Since then, local residents as far as 50 miles away have been sick, dealing with nosebleeds, lung burning, respiratory issues, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, metallic taste in mouth, and more. Making matters more alarming, the toxic chemicals released from the fire have very likely contaminated the "Salad Bowl of America"—the surrounding farms that produce 70% of America's vegetables including lettuce, broccoli, spinach, artichokes, cauliflower, celery (and also lots of fruits including strawberries and blueberries). Residents have largely been left to deal with this on their own; many of their doctors don't know what chemicals to test them for or what tests to conduct. Meanwhile, like in other environmental disasters we have covered, the EPA has claimed they are not finding worrisome levels of chemical contamination—which residents do not believe. We are the ONLY national media outlet currently ON-THE-GROUND covering this important story. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT to stay out ON-THE-GROUND covering these important stories the corporate media COVERS UP.

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Andrea Prickett's avatar

My husband makes a green juice for us. It started 6 1/2 years ago when I had Stage3 Endometrial Cancer. I had the surgery but declined the other offered treatments.

His juice has the following...(I don't know the percentages)

Romaine - Kale - Parsley - Cilantro - Cucumber - Carrot - Celery - Small Garlic - Small Turmeric Root - Small Ginger - Lemon and a bit of Olive Oil. (about half a bunch each 24 oz)

At first it was a large amount every morning. After a couple years it seemed to lose it's boost for us so we stopped for a while.

Now he makes it Monday night and Tuesday morning - and - Thursday night and Friday morning.

Freshly bought and it makes about 10-12oz for each of us. It has the old magic again at this frequency and amount.

Hope this is helpful :-)

PS - We have it with a pastured steak in the evening!

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Theresa Cushing's avatar

I do something similar : )

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Anastasia Dosov's avatar

Theoretically, if you take glycine supplement, can/should you take the reasonable dosage of p5p to prevent the oxalate formation?

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Chris Masterjohn, PhD's avatar

I’ll write more about it later this week.

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Tyler's avatar

I was just about to ask a similar question. I remember from one of your old podcasts that you said oxalate formation is not a major fate of glycine. Quoting from memory so I hope I got that right. I hope you will address this in your follow-up article. Thanks!

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Chad Johnson's avatar

Looking forward to this. Guessing some glycine & NAC in addition wouldn’t hurt.

In addition: Anyone have a recommendation for orange juice juicer/press? Tired of buying juice. Thanks

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Michael Hood's avatar

I have one of these and it really gets all the juice out of oranges!

https://a.co/d/46180uU

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Ozan's avatar

There is massive oxidation going on with that blender unless under a vacuum. The Angel Juicer or Pure Juicer juice with minimal oxidation and the pulp is so dry that I doubt there is any nutrition left in the leftover pulp. Dr. Max Gerson is likely the worlds leading expert on the therapeutic effects of juicing (even after his death). He insisted that the juice be extracted after being masticated by a hydraulic press for his patients (formerly known as the Norwalk). The modern and current major hydraulic combo juicer is the Pure juicer, pricy, but you save a lot on the produce because it extracts so much more juice, up to 30% more than a normal juicer. Plus, I can see the romaine fibers being irritating to the intestines in the long run. Max Gerson said that his patients who used hydraulic press juicers had a much higher rate of remission (cancer) than those who used other juicers. It is also required of patients that they drink all juices immediately, but even more so the green juice. Gerson was known for his green apple and carrot combo, but unless one is on the actual therapy they likely don't know that he also insisted on 2-4 green juice a day and "Hippocrates soup". He was against cooking in added water (as to not dilute or dump the nutrients) and was very strict in the way the food had to be prepared for compromised cancer patients. Here is Gerson's green juice recipe, time tested.

Dark green lettuces: ¼ to ½ of a head (depending on the size of the lettuce): red and green leaf lettuces, romaine, endives.

Escarole: 2 or 3 leaves Beet tops (young inner leaves): 2 to 3 leaves

Watercress: 5 or 6 leaves

Red cabbage: 2 or 3 leaves

Green bell pepper: ¼

Swiss chard: little

Green apple: 1

Gerson was very ahead of his time. If the reader or Chris hasn't read his and his daughters books, I highly recommend it. I think its the logical basis for any protocol for cancer and many other ailments.

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ripconfiguration's avatar

Been doing this for years. This also has the benefit of lowering blood pressure due to nitrates converting to nitric oxide via salivary bacteria. Similar to beet juice. Butterhead lettuce is even better for this effect.

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Michael Hood's avatar

Going to break out my juicer that has sat in storage! So hard to keep up your past practices when you adopt new ones!

By the way I think there is a minor typo where ‘by’ might have been intended to be ‘my’:

“…creatine massively helped my sleep, yet it also increased by startle reflex…”

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Chris Masterjohn, PhD's avatar

Correct thanks!

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Energetica's avatar

And is there anything wrong with just eating Romaine Lettuce?

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Chris Masterjohn, PhD's avatar

Look at the table.

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Energetica's avatar

I just wonder. Is juicing so much different than chewing something to juice and pulp yourself? What exactly causes TNF to form while juicing it?

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RT's avatar

did you try just eating it raw? and notice a difference?

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RT's avatar

im also wondering why juicing makes a difference. if you chew throughly why wouldn't the effect be same?

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Energetica's avatar

What do you think about 5-MTHF supplements?

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Chris Masterjohn, PhD's avatar

Will be writing more soon.

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Andra Townsley's avatar

So interesting! Does it matter what time of day you consume the green juice for sleep benefits? Is later in the day better or does it matter?

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Chris Masterjohn, PhD's avatar

I don’t think so, but if it did matter you’d want it in the evening. It’s plausible the timing would matter more when you first start.

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mauricio's avatar

What do you mean when you said that methylfolate and folinic acid make the problem worse? Do we require the giant influx of natural THF, that intermediate THF from 5MTHF cant provide?

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RT's avatar

also curious about this since i think i've experienced these issues and trying to recover still.

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Brad Crawford's avatar

Can you give detailed instructions on how you prepare the romaine lettuce concoction? Do you mix the lettuce in the blender with water, and if so, how much? And does it need to be a Vitamix or are there "good enough" alternatives for less than the $300+ for the Vitamix?

And thanks for the great post!

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Chris Masterjohn, PhD's avatar

I think it should have to liquify it. Water doesn’t matter just helps facilitate it breaking down effectively. I do 300 g romaine 100 g tomato 100 g strawberry 300 g water, 5-6 setting for a minute.

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Brad Crawford's avatar

Thanks, Chris - that's just what I was asking for.

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Joe Zastawny's avatar

I bought a chefman blender for $100 and it liquifies it just fine.

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Joe Zastawny's avatar

Smoothie recipe not bad! I think I'm sleeping better already.

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Michael Hood's avatar

I’m have to try this recipe!

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Joe Zastawny's avatar

Chris, may I have permission to copy your recipe for patients I work with?

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Chris Masterjohn, PhD's avatar

Yes but send them a link here please.

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Joe Zastawny's avatar

My job won’t allow me to link to anyone who’s for medical freedom lol

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Sana Fatima's avatar

Thanks for this.I started avoiding plant fibre after peating but have a strong startle effect which I want to try this protocol for. Would you recommend adding glycine as a supplement before bedtime along with this juice?

2) aren't tomatoes skin and seeds bad for us?

3) should we sieve this juice and remove the Fibre?

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Rachel Colorado's avatar

I avoid tomatoes but love them. When I do have them I use Muir Glen sauce because they told me they remove the seeds and skins.

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Bill Ward's avatar

What is the best way to determine how much glycine you need? What do you consider a safe upper limit?

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Sana Fatima's avatar

Would adding lemon instead of tomatoes cause degeneration? What possible combos can be used

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Brad n's avatar

Thanks for the info.

Does dosing with gelatin have same issue as glycine? And I had same question as Austen.

I asked online about a sweeter version of romaine and little gem/butterhead is available but has half the amount of folate.

Lettuce Type,Folate Content (µg)

Romaine Lettuce,136

Little Gem Lettuce,60–84

Parris Island Cos,Data not specified

Butterhead Lettuce (Bibb/Boston) ~73 mcg

Green Leaf Lettuce ~38 mcg

Iceberg Lettuce ~29 mcg

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Chris Masterjohn, PhD's avatar

Gelatin does have oxalate risk. You need to equate calories for the lettuce to control for water content.

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Austen Hughes's avatar

Would you get similar nutrition in this regard just be eating a lot of Romain, or does the liquifying process give additional benefit?

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Michael Hood's avatar

I can tell you that eating a large volume of greens makes you so satiated that you may under eat.

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