I have been wanting to do doTERRA’s 30 day Cleanse and Restore program for a couple of years and finally committed to it (well…kind of). I purchased the products that I needed, made my AM and PM supplement baggies and made a list of detox friendly foods. I went shopping and filled my frig with healthy foods (which basically means whole foods/non-processed) I started out super strong and was feeling amazing (mentally anyway) and then I went on a 7 day vacation. That kind of got me off track. Though I still continued to take the supplements as instructed, my food and beverage choices were not very “detox friendly”.
I plan to try this program again when I can commit to a full 30 days of eating right. When you combine the supplement program with a healthy eating plan, you can really reduce your toxic load and reach the maximum benefits of doing the cleanse & restore program.
What is Toxic Load Anyway?
Very simply, Toxic load refers to the accumulation of toxins and chemicals in our bodies that we ingest from a variety of sources, including the environment, the food we eat, the water we drink, and the personal care and household products we use.
As an avid user of doTERRA products, my personal care and household products are basically toxic free. For example, I use a diffuser with high quality doTERRA oils to freshen the house while providing health benefits. I use On Guard all natural cleaner as well as lemon oil, to clean the surfaces in my home. I use doTERRA lotions, hair care products and skin care products.
My weak spots are definitely my food and beverage choices which is why it was so important for me that I include healthy foods and plenty of water as part of my detox journey.
How do I Reduce My Toxic Load?
I recommend taking an internal and external approach when reducing toxic load. When I refer to “cleanse”, I mean true cleaning—a strategy that helps your body rid itself of toxins, not a 20lb weight loss in a week. By taking the supplements and making some lifestyle changes, the enzyme activity in your body will vastly improve and, in turn, nourish the body’s most important detoxifying organs—the liver, the lungs, the kidneys, and the colon—so they can do their jobs better and more efficiently.
According to the doTERRA Blog, Cleansing and Detoxifying Your Gut, when functioning properly, our body is a very efficient toxic load minimizing machine. The key to maintaining these protecting mechanisms and internal organs is three-fold: minimizing exposure, supporting vital organs, and protective processes through a healthy diet and regular detoxification.
An annual “spring cleaning” is a simple way to address your immediate detoxification needs and support the vital organs that work daily to keep you healthy. I actually recommend doing this every 6 months to keep your gut healthy and to help reduce the toxic load in your body.
Lifestyle Changes to Reduce Toxic Load
Avoid fish that are high in mercury. Swordfish, shark, marlin, sea perch and catfish are a few.
Eat organic foods when possible. Non-organic foods expose you to pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, fertilizers, antibiotics, hormones, artificial flavors and sweeteners.
If you cannot buy all organic, focus on foods that commonly carry the most toxins (see the 2020 Dirty Dozen chart) and always wash your produce thoroughly. It is also helpful to rinse non-organic rice, grains and legumes before cooking.
Switch to green cleaning products. Replace bleach with vinegar. Add essential oils to vinegar (Tea Tree, On Guard, Lemon) I love doTERRA’s On Guard Concentrate!!
Hydrate well. Water helps to dilute and flush out toxins. I add 1-2 drops of Lemon Essential Oil to my water to help flush toxins and cleanse the kidneys and liver.
Improve the quality of your air. Invest in an air purifier and houseplants. One houseplant can clear up to 100sqft. Peace lilies, pot mums and snake plants have the widest range of toxin elimination. You can also use essential oil to help purify and cleanse the air. (Purify, Tea Tree, Citrus oils)
Toxins can enter through your skin. Choose natural, organic cosmetic and beauty products. I love doTERRA’s skin care products. We have 3 lines to choose from. And my 2 favorite make-up brands are Younique and Acti.
My Experience
I kept a journal during my 30 days doing the Cleanse and Restore program. I have been taking some of the supplements regularly for 3 years so my level of detox was not as harsh as some might experience. I never had flu-like symptoms or felt sick. I did, however, spend a good portion of the first few days in the bathroom. TMI I know, but I want to keep it real in case you decide to give it a try. I actually had to cancel a playdate on day 2 of the detox due to my body’s new love affair with the bathroom…
My goal was to start by drinking at least 60oz of water per day and progress throughout the 30 days until I reached 100oz per day. That was not realistic for me. Maybe if I was exercising daily and working out more it would have been easier. But with my sedentary job, drinking that much water didn’t happen. The most I drank in a day was 72oz and that only happened a couple of times. I would love to drink more water, but realistically, I find that 40-60oz is more doable for me. Clearly, that is something that I need to work on!
The first week I had some stomach cramps, bloating and discomfort. I had a few mornings when I felt a little nauseous, but nothing too crazy. Like I said earlier, I did spend a good portion of the first 5 days running to the bathroom, but that is to be expected when you start a cleansing program. The toxins have to be released somehow.
I got my period on Day 11 and I had ZERO PMS symptoms. I had to check my period app to see when I was due because I didn’t experience any of the usual “tells”. Normally, I know when it’s coming because of how my body reacts. Not this month. No cramps, no mood issues, no cravings. That might have been the best part of the detox experience for me.
On Day 19, we left for a 7 day vacation. I continued to take the AM and PM supplements. I drank lemon water. However, I did not stick to the detox food list and I did drink sugary adult beverages. Though a whole food diet is not technically part of the program, I highly recommend it in order to get the most out of your 30 day commitment.
Overall, this detox was easy on the body. (although if you have never taken Lifelong Vitality Supplements before, you might have a different experience) I feel confident that my gut has been cleansed of toxins and replenished with helpful bacteria. I was desperate for a reset and I got one! When all was said and done, my weight loss was 2.5lbs. However, my goal was not weight loss, it was to give my body a reset. (Though I was secretly hoping to lose more weight…)
Now that I have reset myself, I plan to focus on food choices and exercise. We know that our gut flora changes when our diet changes. If you want to maintain your microbiome after completing the Cleanse & Restore program, your best bet is to feed it with whole foods and continue taking the LLV Supplements.
What is the Cleanse & Restore Program?
doTERRA’s Cleanse & Restore Program is a 30-day supplement plan designed to support healthy digestion and metabolism, support vital organs, cleanse the intentional tract, and support healthy immunity and cellular function. The supplements change slightly every 10 days as you progress through the program.
Days 1-30
Lifelong Vitality Supplements (foundational health)
Support Healthy Digestion and Metabolism
- DigestZen TerraZyme®: 1-3 capsules with meals daily
Cleanse
- Lemon Essential Oil: 1-3 drops in water 3-5 times daily
- Zendocrine® Detoxification Complex: 1 capsule 2-3 times daily
Days 1-10
Support Filtering Organs
- Zendocrine® Softgels: 1 softgel 2-3 times daily
Days 11-20
Cleanse Intestinal Tract
- GX Assist®: 1-3 softgels a day with meals
Days 21-30
Support Healthy Digestive Function and Immunity
- PB Assist®+: 1-3 capsules a day with meals
Support Cellular Health
- DDR Prime® Softgels: take 2 softgels daily with meal
If you decide to try the Cleanse & Restore Program, I would be happy to assist you with any questions or concerns. I have a handy printable so you can track when to take what. Please contact me using the contact form.
Have you tried the Cleanse & Restore Program before? If so, I’d love to hear about your experience.