As spring approaches, we may feel the urge to cleanse our bodies, it’s an urge that has been felt for generations. As spring came, our ancestors naturally increased their intake of fruits, vegetables and leafy greens which helped to flush out metabolic sludge after a long winter. Today our diet and lifestyle choices may contain unnatural and potentially toxic ingredients. In 2020, for the first time, scientists created a global inventory that lists more than 350,000 chemicals and mixtures of chemicals registered for commercial production and use, up to three times as many as is commonly estimated.^[1] Our body is designed to detoxify on its own, but the truth is, we’re living in a toxic world with increased stress on our elimination pathways because of exposure to chemicals that we eat, breathe, drink or put on our bodies.^{[2] [3]} Our bodies may struggle and show symptoms such as low energy or fatigue, digestive problems, skin flare ups, frequent headaches, chronic inflammation and immune system issues.^[4]

Herbal cleanses may help your body’s natural toxin and waste removal processes and support digestive health and regular elimination. Cleansing is simply another way to help your body stay healthy, like eating right and exercising.

For more than two decades, Renew Life^® has been an award-winning leader in herbal detoxification cleansing kits that are quality, purity and potency guaranteed. They are easy to take, and you don’t have to follow any harsh restrictive diets (of course, cutting out offending foods is always a good idea).

CleanseSMART^® is a two-part, 30-day herbal cleansing program specifically formulated to cleanse the entire body, with added focus on the body’s two main detoxification pathways, the liver and the colon. Designed to reduce the toxic load in your body and relieve occasional constipation, CleanseSMART^® contains silymarin, a mixture of flavonolignans isolated from the botanical seed milk thistle, an herbal ingredient traditionally used for liver protection.

Rapid Cleanse^® is ideal for those who want to do an effective full body cleanse that is short in duration. Rapid Cleanse^® is a three-part, 7-day cleanse that combines soluble fibre with herbs, minerals, and amino acids. It is helpful if you are struggling to find the time for a longer program.

Sometimes people may only want to focus on the colon or need extra help to keep the bowels moving regularly.

CleanseMORE^® is a colon support formula designed to help relieve occasional constipation and promote bowel movements. It contains Cape Aloe, Rhubarb and Triphala to help stimulate the smooth muscle contraction of the colon, magnesium oxide to draw water into the intestine and marshmallow root and slippery elm bark & bud to help soothe the intestinal tract. Note: do not take in conjunction with CleanseSMART^® or Rapid Cleanse^®.

Don’t Forget Your Fibre!

Fibre and water are important to keep things moving through your digestive tract which is especially important while cleansing. You can increase fibre intake by eating more fruits, non-starchy vegetables, whole grains, nuts and legumes or you can take a daily fibre supplement such as FibreSMART^®. FibreSMART^® is a flax based, dietary fibre supplement that can be added as a powder to water or juice to help support daily bowel health. It helps to keep the digestive tract running smoothly with naturally sourced ingredients such as Marshmallow Root and Slippery Elm Bark.

Preventative Steps to Reduce Toxin Exposure

Reevaluate your morning routine. Look at the toxic load that you have control over; the shampoo, conditioner, hairspray, body lotion, make-up and other products that you may use every single day. Use the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database to see what’s hidden in the products you use.

Clean out your kitchen and throw away foods containing suspicious ingredients, coloring agents, chemical additives, and preservatives.

Eat organic as much as possible. In 2022, strawberries topped EWG’s Dirty Dozen™ list. They found 22 different pesticides on a single strawberry sample! They list fruits and vegetables you should buy organic when possible. Can’t find organic in your local store? Check out EWG’s Clean Fifteen™ list of the fruits and vegetables that are least likely to have pesticide residues. Stick to this list when organic options aren’t accessible or affordable.

Consider planting an organic garden. You can even do it in small spaces and there are also indoor tower gardens. You can make it a fun family activity that kids can get involved in.

Switch to non-toxic cooking and storage wares. Avoid plastics, non-stick wares, and aluminums when you cook or store foods. Use ceramics, porcelain, glass, and natural parchment paper or beeswax wrappers to avoid harmful bisphenol A and other hormone disruptors found in plastic.

Use water filters or spring water. You can find a local spring near you.

Go room to room and get rid of toxic household products. Use all-natural, non-toxic alternatives with no synthetic fragrances which can disrupt hormones. You can make your own cleaning products or use environmentally friendly ones. I had a mold issue in my basement and got rid of it using thyme oil which was extremely effective. Baking soda and vinegar in your sink or toilet does wonders on clogs. If you want to keep dust mites at bay, use 10 drops of clove, eucalyptus, peppermint, or rosemary oil mixed with water in a spray bottle and lightly spritz your bed when you change the sheets and let it air dry.

Use plants in your home to help filter the air. Spider plants, aloe vera, chrysanthemum, fern, ivy, and philodendrons help filter toxins from the air and add oxygen.

Taking care of your health naturally through a healthy diet, adequate sleep, natural supplementation, positive attitude, exercise and relaxation can help your body to stay strong, vibrant and healthy.

By Caroline Farquhar, RHN, EMP, BA, National Training Manager for Renew Life^®

[1] Pelley, J. (2020). Number of chemicals in commerce has been vastly underestimated. [Online]. Chemical & Engineering News. Last Updated: 12 Feb 2020. Available at: https://cen.acs.org/policy/chemical-regulation/Number-chemicals-commerce-vastly-underestimated/98/i7 [Accessed 6 January 2023].
[2] Environment and Climate Change Canada (2018) Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators: Human exposure to harmful substances. Available at: www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/environmentalindicators/human-exposure-harmful-substances.html.
[3] Minkoff, D. (2020). Environmental Toxins & Their Health Danger. Available: https://www.lifeworkswellnesscenter.com/environmental-toxins/environmental-toxins-health-effects-dangers.html. Last accessed 10 Dec 21.
[4] Schmidt, M. (2015). Tired or Toxic? Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Environmental Toxicity. Available: https://www.ei-resource.org/articles/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-articles/tired-or-toxic-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-and-environmental-toxicity/. Last accessed 10 Dec 21.

About the Author: Caroline Farquhar RHN, EMP, BA, National Training Manager for Renew Life^®

Specializing in digestive care and cleansing, Caroline has been educating audiences through seminars, TV and radio appearances across the country on the topic of how to achieve better health naturally. Caroline has written and published articles for magazines and websites and has created educational programs and taught at the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition.