A system and method for producing white light in an adjustable light emitting diode (LED) illumination device is provided. The system and method varies the “off” time for one of multiple sets of light emitting diodes (LEDs) or channels in succession in order to compensate for and stabilize the color-shifting or degradation that gradually occurs in LEDs. Each channel corresponds to a different color. By varying the “off” time of only one channel at a time, the system efficiently utilizes the majority of the LEDs, thereby enabling the production of a more stable white light with fewer LEDs.