Clean 21 repairs and restores your essential functions at their core — your gut. Rejuvenate your life with the acclaimed 21-day program created by Dr. Alejandro Junger.
More powerful than any detox or meal plan, Clean 21 is a functional health program that is MD-designed to deliver highly effective results. You’ll redirect your body’s energy and nutritional resources to help repair your gut, detoxify, and boost metabolic functions, allowing your body to restore functional balance. An easy-to-follow daily protocol features Clean organic nutritional shakes, targeted supplements, and whole-food eating guidelines designed to heal and empower you with lasting health habits. Your journey to lifelong wellness begins here.
Dr. Alejandro Junger is a cardiologist, New York Times best-selling author, and founder of The Clean Program. Recognized as “The Father of Detox,” Dr. Junger's programs have been embraced globally in the health and wellness space.
The immune system can triggerinflammation to protect the body, remove harmful pathogens, and begin healing. Initially, it’s a very good thing. However, extended periods of inflammation within the body can create significant issues. Let’s find out more about the Defense system of the body.
Defense – a complex system
Our bodies are incredibly smart and powerful machines that work to send healing to the distressed area – without us even thinking about it. Inflammation can exist in various places in the body. Unfortunately, we brush up against multiple inflammation-causing sources in our day-to-day lives, like processed foods, air pollution, overexertion, and stress. When inflammation is up, immunity often gets run down – and vice versa. Inflammation can look like puffiness, joint pain, or even trouble digesting certain foods in our bodies.
Defensive digestion
The digestive process is among the most energy-intensive in the human body. When the body is busy sending healing to a damaged area, the capacity to digest food fully decreases – it’s simply too overwhelmed. Take the nervous system, for example; when we are in “fight-or-flight” mode, the digestive process slows because the body goes to save energy to flee from danger.
The lining of our digestive tract is one single cell layer thick. These cells form a barrier between our bloodstream, immune system (which governs inflammation), and the outside world. In a healthy body, these cells are closely locked together, forming “tight junctions.” These tight junctions form a protective barrier in the gut, ensuring that everything we eat is adequately processed and well-assimilated nutrients. When they break down, we develop what is called leaky gut syndrome. With space between these tight junctions, bacteria and toxins, undigested proteins and fats, and waste leak out of the intestines into the bloodstream. This can trigger inflammation in the body.
The connection between inflammation and digestion goes both ways. Poor digestion can cause inflammation, and inflammation can cause poor digestion. Fortunately, the 21-Day Clean Program is created to dampen inflammation, ease digestion, support immune function, and help the body back to a balanced state. By dampening inflammation in the body with the 21-Day Cleanse, we allow our body to better fight off pathogens and increase our immune function.
In addition to our signature 21-Day Clean Program, here are some of our favorite products for strengthening the Defense system by building immune capabilities and fighting inflammation:
Ancient medicinals
Fortify is an herbal immune support blend, delivering a proprietary blend of Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine herbs, including concentrated andrographis and amla for supporting the immune system. Andrographis is an herb native to South Asian countries that has long been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic Medicine. Andrographis is rich in compounds known as andrographolides. These compounds have anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antioxidant properties.
Andrographis supports immune system health at the onset by supporting healthy levels of immune cells in the blood. Amla is one of the most important medicinal plants used in Ayurvedic Medicine. One amla fruit contains as much vitamin C as 20 oranges. It also provides antioxidant support, which allows for it to support a healthy inflammatory response. Its high vitamin C content and polyphenols support healthy tissue integrity, average cellular growth, and healthy immune response.
Essential C
Our bodies don’t make vitamin C, but we need it for immune function, bone structure, iron absorption, and healthy skin. Vitamin C is an essential micronutrient and a potent antioxidant. Antioxidants are molecules that boost the immune system.
Vitamin C contributes to immune defense by supporting various cellular functions of both the innate and adaptive immune systems. It supports epithelial barrier function against pathogens and promotes the oxidant scavenging activity of the skin, thereby potentially protecting against environmental oxidative stress—vitamin C deficiency results in impaired immunity and higher susceptibility to infections.
Guard is our scientifically developed vitamin C to help increase your resilience. This ultra-potent vitamin C features a unique blend of metabolites designed to enhance absorption and utilization. Vitamin C both supports immune health and acts as an antioxidant to protect cells from free radical damage. Guard’s ultra-potent formula promotes natural killer cell and white blood cell activity. Guard also contains buffering agents that help prevent potential stomach upset associated with vitamin C.
Immune system gatekeeper
Zinc is a “gatekeeper” of your immune function. It’s a key player in the signaling between your body’s immune tolerance and defense systems, aka when it should signal for help or can handle the load. Zinc also has antioxidant properties, and it’s essential in developing T-cells, your body’s guards against antigens.
It’s involved in every step in wound healing, from repairing cell membranes to managing oxidative stress, tissue generation and scar formation. Our zinc formula, Shield, is a highly absorbable, Gi-friendly zinc. It features zinc as an amino acid chelate with arginine and glycine designed to be easily absorbed and well-tolerated, so it won’t upset your stomach.
Antioxidants for a boost
Revive is a vegan superfood greens powder that supports cleansing, energy, and rejuvenation. This greens powder boasts a delicious flavor that acts as the perfect added ingredient for smoothies or in a glass of water. With Revive, you’ll get various antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals added to your diet with every serving to support immune defense and decrease inflammation. This is also incredibly helpful in a world with depleted soil and shelves stacked with nutrient-poor, processed foods.
The sunshine hormone
Vitamin D deficiency is estimated to affect almost 50% of the population worldwide. An estimated 1 billion people worldwide have a vitamin D deficiency across all ethnicities and age groups. Vitamin D helps us maintain healthy teeth, a healthy brain, a healthy nervous system, and strengthen immune defenses. Optimized vitamin D levels have been linked to increased immune function and a reduction of inflammatory responses.
Shine, is a dose of 2500 IU of D3 and K2 in a single serving. We designed it to replenish and maintain vitamin D status in a complete way for most people, coupled with vitamin K2 for maximum efficacy.
Cacao-Nut Delight: Sugar-Free Clean Chocolate Superfood Bark with a Nutty Twist
Nicole Varon
Indulge guilt-free with this sugar-free clean chocolate bark recipe. Made with mindful ingredients, it's perfect for Keto, diabetic, or low-sugar diets.
If you want a 3-day reset following clean diet guidelines, check out these recipes in a 3-day meal plan to help reset your gut and enhance your detox processes.
The Bright Lentil Beet Salad You'll Make On Repeat
Shopify API
When you’re really hungry, just having a salad can be risky. While fresh and nutritious, many salads lack the fiber, protein, and fat that will keep you satisfied until your next meal. The challenge of building a hearty and filling salad can be especially tricky if you eat a plant-based...
A Matcha Smoothie With Superfood Greens For Real Energy
Shopify API
Have you ever had a cold brew, only to feel like your nervous system is pumping the brakes, you have the shakes, and wind up with a “cold brew hangover”? Get a boost of healthy and sustainable energy with this swap!
This Gluten-Free, Vegan Gingerbread Loaf Makes a Delicious Holiday Treat
Connie Cambre
Traditional gingerbread gets a makeover with this healthy recipe. Gluten free, vegan, and full of warming spices, this gingerbread makes the perfect, cleanse-approved holiday treat.
Experience radiant skin with our Hydrating Pomegranate Smoothie! Packed with antioxidants, vitamin C, and hydration from pomegranate, cherries, cucumbers, and coconut water. Boosted with mint for digestion, healthy fats, and protein from avocado, chia seeds, and Clean Daily Shake. A delicious and nutritious morning treat!
A Simple Carrot Turmeric Cauliflower Soup With Immunity-Boosting Ingredients
Connie Cambre
Stay warm and cozy this winter with a simple immunity-boosting turmeric carrot cauliflower soup. This anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting soup is a perfect addition to your help Inter soup repertoire. It is also naturally dairy and gluten-free, making this a perfect addition to the eater's menu.
Celebrate the Season With This Festive Fall Harvest Salad
Connie Cambre
This hearty salad delivers all the fall flavors you crave while nourishing you inside out. Enjoy an abundance of seasonal favorites like butternut squash, apple, kale, and pumpkin seeds, drizzled with a creamy turmeric tahini dressing.