CLEANSE {organic greens + mushroom} is a greens powder with organic superfoods high in nutrients (vitamins, minerals, proteins and essential fatty acids) plus antioxidants. Some of these superfoods also have the capacity to cleanse/detox the liver and the body. CLEANSE contains three organic mushrooms, pre and probiotics plus digestive enzymes for gut health and easy digestion as well as liver herbs to aid in liver, hormone and gut health.

This truly is a powder packed with science-backed goodness. We have summarised the ingredients and their benefits for your convenience but if you’re interested in a deeper dive, keep scrolling for more detailed information.

Organic Broccoli Sprouts

Broccoli sprouts are rich in glucosinolates and glucoraphanin, compounds that can convert into sulforaphane during digestion. Sulforaphane is a potent bioactive compound that supports detoxification, reduces oestrogen, and may alleviate conditions like PMS and balances hormone. It also enhances Phase 2 detoxification enzymes, aiding in toxin neutralisation, and has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cancer-preventive properties. Additionally, sulforaphane activates the Nrf2 pathway, which regulates antioxidant defences, and may benefit gut health, further supporting detoxification and overall wellness.

Organic Spirulina and Chlorella

Spirulina and chlorella are highly nutritious algae with overlapping and unique benefits. They support detoxification (heavy metals and other), boost immunity, improve heart health, and provide anti-inflammatory and antioxidant protection. They can also provide energy due to their high content of B vitamins as well as help in weight management.

Organic Mushrooms (Shiitake, Maitake, Reishi)

Cleanse features three key medicinal mushrooms: Shiitake, Maitake, & Reishi, which are renowned for their own unique qualities, whilst collectively fostering a thriving immune system, providing resilience and fortitude in times of stress and pressure, and of course, supporting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria via various compounds known as beta-glucans found in the fungi cell wall. These wonderful compounds are inherently prebiotic and stimulate the growth of positive microbes associated with a thriving microbiome. Mushrooms may also be beneficial in heart health and blood sugar regulation.

Liver Herbs

Milk thistle, rich in silymarin, is known for its ability to protect and regenerate liver cells, making it effective in treating conditions like cirrhosis and hepatitis. Globe artichoke, containing cynarin and silymarin, enhances bile production, aiding digestion and liver detoxification. Both plants are valued for their antioxidant properties that protect the liver from oxidative stress and damage.

Pomegranate, Green tea, Pre+Probiotics and Digestive Enzymes

Pomegranate peel and green tea have antimicrobial activity against bacteria, while also acting as prebiotics helping to keep the gut clean and optimised with less bad bacteria and more of the good ones. Both are known for their high content of polyphenols and high antioxidant capacity.

Soil based probiotics, FODMAP friendly prebiotics and enzymes have been added to help improve gut health over time and provide immediate aid in digestion.

Getting into the Nitty Gritty —
Details of the Science-Backed Benefits

The Organic Greens:

Broccoli Sprouts

Like their mature counterparts, belong to the cruciferous vegetable family and are known for their potential health benefits, including supporting detoxification processes in the body and reducing oestrogen which potentially could help balance hormones and reduce PMS and other oestrogen dominant conditions. Broccoli sprouts contain compounds that can aid in detoxification, particularly due to their high content of glucosinolates and a precursor compound called glucoraphanin. Here's how broccoli sprouts may contribute to detoxification:

Sulforaphane: Glucoraphanin, a compound found in high amounts in broccoli sprouts, is converted into sulforaphane when the sprouts are chewed or crushed. Sulforaphane is a bioactive compound that has been extensively studied for its potential to support detoxification processes and reduce oestrogen in the body helping to reduce oestrogen dominant conditions such as sore breasts, PMS and mood swings. It may also help to reduce the risk of certain cancers.

Phase 2 Enzyme Activation: Sulforaphane has been shown to enhance the activity of Phase 2 detoxification enzymes, such as glutathione S-transferase (GST), quinone reductase (QR), and others. These enzymes play a crucial role in binding to and neutralising toxins, making them more water-soluble and easier to eliminate from the body. Read more on detoxification here.

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties: Sulforaphane is not only involved in detoxification, but also possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It helps protect cells from damage caused by free radicals and supports overall cellular health.

Nrf2 Pathway Activation: Sulforaphane is known to activate the Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2) pathway. Nrf2 is a transcription factor that regulates the expression of various genes involved in antioxidant defense and detoxification processes.

Gut Health: Some research suggests that sulforaphane may have beneficial effects on gut health, which can indirectly support detoxification by promoting proper digestion, nutrient absorption, and a balanced gut microbiome.

Spirulina and Chlorella

Spirulina and Chlorella are nutrient-dense algae that offer a range of health benefits. Spirulina contains protein, vitamins (B1, B2, B3), iron, magnesium, and potassium and Chlorella is high in protein, fibre, vitamins (particularly B12), and minerals like iron and iodine. Both are high in antioxidants, particularly phycocyanin, which gives spirulina its blue-green colour. Here's an outline of their key benefits:

Anti-Inflammatory Properties: Phycocyanin has strong anti-inflammatory effects and helps combat oxidative stress.

Immune System Support: Enhances immune response by boosting the production of antibodies and stimulating white blood cells and other immune factors

Lowers Cholesterol and Blood Pressure: May reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides while increasing HDL (good) cholesterol.  Can help lower blood pressure by improving blood vessel health. Contains omega-3 fatty acids, which are beneficial for heart health.

Detoxification: Chlorella and Spirulina are effective at binding to and eliminating heavy metals from the body, supporting detoxification and reducing toxic load. Supports liver health by aiding in detoxification processes.

Anti-Cancer Properties: Some studies suggest spirulina may reduce the size of tumours and limit cancer cell growth.

Supports Weight Loss: High in protein and fibre, which can help increase satiety and reduce overall calorie intake. May help regulate blood sugar levels and reduce fat storage.

Anti-Ageing and Skin Health: Antioxidants in chlorella can help combat oxidative stress, reducing signs of ageing.  May improve skin health by detoxifying the body and providing essential nutrients.

Enhances Energy Levels: Nutrient-dense profile supports overall energy production and combats fatigue. Contains B vitamins that play a crucial role in energy metabolism.

Alkalising Effects: balances the body’s pH by reducing acidity, which can support overall health and well-being.

Organic Mushrooms

Shiitake (Lentinula edodes)

Immune System Support: Shiitake mushrooms contain polysaccharides, particularly lentinan, which boost the immune system and help fight infections.

Antiviral and Antibacterial Properties**: Shiitake have compounds like eritadenine that exhibit antiviral and antibacterial properties.

Heart Health: They help lower cholesterol levels and support cardiovascular health due to their high content of beta-glucans.

Maitake (Grifola frondosa)

Immune Boosting: Maitake mushrooms are known for their ability to enhance immune function, particularly through their beta-glucan content.

Blood Sugar Regulation: Maitake may help regulate blood sugar levels, making them beneficial for individuals with diabetes.

Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)

Immune Modulation: Reishi mushrooms are adaptogens that help modulate the immune system, either boosting it when needed or calming it down in cases of overactivity.

Stress Reduction: Reishi is known for its calming effects and ability to reduce stress and anxiety, promoting better sleep and overall well-being.

Anti-Cancer Properties: Contains compounds like triterpenes and polysaccharides that have shown potential in fighting cancer by inhibiting tumour growth.

The Liver and the Gut Connection + the Hormone Connection

And of course, a healthy liver supports the gut, while a healthy gut supports the liver! When one of these isn’t functioning properly, the other suffers.

St Mary’s Thistle and Globe Artichoke are both renowned liver herbs and help to optimise liver detoxification, which in turn can help to balance your hormones and make you feel more vibrant and full of vitality.

Pomegranate and Green Tea — Specialised Prebiotics with a Dual Purpose

Did you know that some medicinal plants have the incredible ability to feed our good bugs whilst bulldozing the bad ones? How efficient is that?!

CLEANSE harnesses the power of pomegranate husk and green tea polyphenols to simultaneously build up the good guys and pick out the baddies whereby fostering a healthy balance in the microbiome.

Combined with the prebiotic beta-glucans found in medicinal mushrooms, as well as prebiotic acacia gum, this combination is a force of nature when it comes to boosting gut health and supporting a microbiome dominant in health-promoting gut bacteria.

We don’t leave this up to chance, however. Our specialised blend of prebiotics has been united with carefully selected strains of probiotics and digestive enzymes to help us to break down and assimilate nutrients from our food, as well as reduce the risk of dysbiosis (imbalance of the gut bacteria).

 Read about our soil based probiotics

Read about our digestive enzymes

Read about our prebiotics

References

Chlorella and Spirulina

Lee, Y. J., Ahn, C. W., & Lee, J. B. (2008). Enhanced heavy metal removal from aqueous solution by dried Chlorella vulgaris. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 161(2-3), 473-477

Kong, W., Li, H., Zhang, H., Song, H., Cao, Y., & Yang, R. (2010). Chlorella vulgaris as a potential bio-sorbent for cadmium and lead removal from wastewater. Bioresource Technology, 101(14), 4909-4913

Mata, T. M., Martins, A. A., & Caetano, N. S. (2010). Microalgae for biodiesel production and other applications: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 14(1), 217-232

Prakash, J., Srivastava, A., & Gupta, S. (2007). Spirulina in the treatment of malnutrition. Bulletin of Nutrition Foundation of India, 28(4), 5-8

Khan, Z., Bhadouria, P., & Bisen, P. S. (2005). Nutritional and therapeutic potential of Spirulina. Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, 6(5), 373-379

Belay, A., Ota, Y., Miyakawa, K., & Shimamatsu, H. (1993). Current knowledge on potential health benefits of Spirulina. Journal of Applied Phycology, 5(2), 235-241

Henrikson, R. (2009). Earth Food Spirulina: How this remarkable blue-green algae can transform your health and our planet. Ronore Enterprises Inc.

Gershwin, M. E., & Belay, A. (Eds.). (2007). Spirulina in Human Nutrition and Health. CRC Press.

Queiroz, M. L., Rodrigues, M. R., Bincoletto, C., & Souza, H. B. (2002). Chlorella vulgaris modulates immunomyelopoietic activity and enhances resistance of tumor-bearing mice. International Immunopharmacology, 2(4), 597-605.

Merchant, R. E., & Andre, C. A. (2001). A review of recent clinical trials of the nutritional supplement chlorella pyrenoidosa in the treatment of fibromyalgia, hypertension, and ulcerative colitis. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 7(3), 79-91. 

Mikami, N., & Hosokawa, M. (2013). Biosynthetic pathway and health benefits of fucoxanthin, an algae-specific xanthophyll in brown seaweeds. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 14(7), 13763-13781. 

Karkos, P. D., Leong, S. C., Karkos, C. D., Sivaji, N., & Assimakopoulos, D. A. (2011). Spirulina in clinical practice: evidence-based human applications. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2011

Torres-Duran, P. V., Ferreira-Hermosillo, A., & Juarez-Oropeza, M. A. (2007). Antihyperlipidemic and antihypertensive effects of Spirulina maxima in an open sample of Mexican population: a preliminary report. Lipids in Health and Disease, 6(1), 33

Nagaoka, S. (2010). Purification and characterization of a novel bioactive protein from spirulina platensis that reduces blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 58(21), 11202-11207.

Yang, C., Ma, Q. Y., Zheng, S. S., Han, Z. Z., & Zheng, Y. M. (2017). Spirulina protects against arsenic-induced neurotoxicity via the Nrf2 pathway in rats. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 17(1), 389.*

Hayashi, O., Katoh, T., Okuwaki, Y., & Hayashi, T. (1998). Enhancement of immuno-reaction by spirulina. Journal of Marine Biotechnology, 6(1), 43-45.

 Ryu, M. J., Kim, A. D., Kang, K. A., Chung, H. S., Hyun, J. W., & Yoo, E. S. (2013). The green algae chlorella vulgaris extract improves cholesterol metabolism in human hepatoma cells and high-fat diet-induced obese mice. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 32(4), 908-914.

Hayashi, O., Katoh, T., Okuwaki, Y., & Hayashi, T. (1998). Enhancement of immuno-reaction by spirulina. Journal of Marine Biotechnology, 6(1), 43-45.

Tanaka, K., Tomita, Y., Tsuruhara, T., Matsui, Y., & Tanaka, T. (1998). Immunomodulatory effects of Chlorella vulgaris on human peripheral blood lymphocytes and the involvement of a protein factor. Phytotherapy Research, 12(3), 186-188.

Yamada, A., Sakurai, T., Nishimura, T., Mitsuyama, E., Yamauchi, Y., & Inoue, N. (2012). Preventive effects of Chlorella on the ulcerative colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium in rats. Clinical Nutrition, 31(3), 407-410.

Morita, K., Ogata, M., & Hasegawa, T. (1999). Chlorella accelerates dioxin excretion in rats. Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology, 45(5), 461-469.

Reishi, Maitake, Shiitake:

Jong, S. C., & Birmingham, J. M. (1992). Medicinal benefits of the mushroom Ganoderma. Advances in Applied Microbiology, 37, 101-134.

 Ruan, Z., Zhang, L. L., Lin, Y., & Zhu, C. C. (2008). Eritadenine from shiitake mushrooms (Lentinus edodes) reduces serum cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic rats. Nutrition Research, 28(7), 467-474.

 Hirasawa, M., & Takada, K. (2004). Multiple effects of Lentinula edodes (Shiitake mushroom) on the inhibition of influenza virus in mice. Antiviral Research, 63(3), 191-195.

 Calvo, M. S., Babu, U. S., Garthoff, L. H., Woods, T. O., & Dreher, M. (2013). Vitamin D2 from commercially grown mushrooms maintains circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in humans and enhances in vitro generation of vitamin D metabolites in human hepatocytes. Nutrients, 5(10), 4154-4173.

Adachi, K., Nanba, H., & Kuroda, H. (1988). Potentiation of host-mediated anti-tumor activity in mice by beta-glucan obtained from Grifola frondosa (Maitake). Chemical & Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 36(3), 1000-1006.

Manabe, N., Sugimoto, M., Azuma, Y., Taketomi, S., Yamoto, T., & Hara, N. (2002). Effects of the polysaccharide produced from mycelium of liquid-cultured Grifola frondosa on glucose metabolism. Chemical & Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 50(6), 780-782.

Kodama, N., & Nanba, H. (2001). Effect of Maitake (Grifola frondosa) D-fraction on the activation of NK cells in cancer patients. Journal of Medicinal Food, 4(3), 161-169.

Horio, T., & Ohtsuru, M. (2001). Maitake (Grifola frondosa) improve glucose tolerance of experimental rats. Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology, 47(1), 57-63.

Gao, Y., Zhou, S., Jiang, W., Huang, M., & Dai, X. (2003). Effects of Ganopoly (a Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide extract) on the immune functions in advanced-stage cancer patients. Immunological Investigations, 32(3), 201-215.

Wachtel-Galor, S., Tomlinson, B., & Benzie, I. F. (2004). Ganoderma lucidum ('Lingzhi'); A medicinal mushroom. In Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. CRC Press.

Paterson, R. R. (2006). Ganoderma–a therapeutic fungal biofactory. Phytochemistry, 67(18), 1985-2001.

Lai, C. S., Yu, M. S., Yuen, W. H., & So, K. F. (2008). Anti-diabetic effects of Ganoderma lucidum: a comparison between polysaccharide and triterpene-enriched extracts. Phytotherapy Research, 22(9), 1146-1151.

St. Mary’s thistle and Globe Artichoke

Loguercio, C., & Festi, D. (2011). Silybin and the liver: From basic research to clinical practice. World Journal of Gastroenterology, 17(18), 2288-2301.

Kroll, D. J., Shaw, H. S., & Oberlies, N. H. (2007). Milk thistle nomenclature: Why it matters in cancer research and pharmacokinetic studies. Integrative Cancer Therapies, 6(2), 110-119.

Katz, R. S., Levine, A. A., & Spiegel, M. (2008). Treatment of liver disease. American Family Physician, 78(9), 1198-1200.

Tedesco, D., Tava, A., Galletti, S., Tameni, M., Varisco, G., Costa, A., & Steidler, S. (2004). Effects of silymarin, a natural hepatoprotector, in periparturient dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 87(7), 2239-2247.

Rondanelli, M., Monteferrario, F., Perna, S., Faliva, M. A., Opizzi, A., & Mazzola, G. (2014). Artichoke leaf extract improves liver enzyme levels and plasma lipids in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A meta-analysis. Phytotherapy Research, 28(7), 995-1002.

Silymarin and Globe artichoke 

Jang, S. M., Shin, J. B., Lee, K. C., et al. (2018). "Silymarin in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials." Journal of Hepatology. [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29054666)

Singh, K. M. T., Badal, G. K. C. S., et al. (2019). "Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) for alcoholic liver disease: A systematic review." World Journal of Gastroenterology. [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30885324)

Mazzanti, S. J. R., Cruz, G. P. G. G., et al. (2020). "Silymarin in the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis." Hepatology Research. [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32134214)

Kumar, M. R. S. B., Linder, A. T. J. M., et al. (2022). "Silymarin: A review of clinical trials and pharmacological mechanisms." Phytotherapy Research. [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35473723)

 Sarno, K. H. C. M. R. C. D. S., Wong, A. M., et al. (2020). "Artichoke leaf extract improves functional dyspepsia: a systematic review and meta-analysis." Phytotherapy Research. [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31918897)

Lee, A. S. K. D. T., Peters, J. H. K. S., et al. (2019). "The effect of artichoke extract on liver function in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review." Hepatology Research. [PubMed(https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30634582)