New Year Nutrition: To Cleanse or not to Cleanse
By Lisa Christie
Adding nourishing soup to your diet can be an easy win
Writing this between Christmas and New year, I am reminded of the felt need to get back to something that feels healthier in the New Year. Many people do Dry January or set New Year resolutions around exercise, both of which I recommend.
However, it’s important not to set yourself up for bust and burn by aiming for unsustainable targets. Slow and steady is always a better approach for supporting the body’s systems - especially the gut microbiome and detoxification pathways.
Building strong foundations over time works really well for the body. Instead of focusing on what you can remove, consider what you can add.
Adding a high-quality probiotic can do wonders for health, as can small but meaningful dietary changes—protein at breakfast, more vegetables, or drinking extra water.
There’s a strong urge to make big changes at the start of the year to shake off the Christmas slump, but drastic shifts rarely encourage long-term compliance. They often end up as a short-lived “white-knuckle ride.”
From a naturopathic perspective, mid-winter is not the ideal time for intense cleansing. Naturopathy aligns seasonal energy with body support: spring, when energy and light are increasing, is the optimal time for more structured cleanses. Pushing the body into a detox in January can place unnecessary strain on the liver and other detoxification pathways.
If someone feels a full cleanse is essential, there are stronger techniques that can be used safely by those experienced with them. However, for most people, it’s better to avoid harsh cleanses in winter and instead support the body gently. Practices such as Epsom salt baths, sauna sessions, linseed tea (recipe attached) and the odd enema if you know how to do them.
Making two or three intentional changes can make much more of a difference long term.
Daily habits such as drinking more water, eating more vegetables, enjoying nourishing foods like soups made with chicken stock, soaked seeds, and seaweed, along with supplements such as probiotics and magnesium, can be beautifully supportive.
Keeping things consistent is key. Introduce probiotics and magnesium daily and feed your gut microbes steadily rather than sporadically, with fibre and foods that suit your constitution.
Keep it simple in the New Year: build, don’t cleanse.
In February, you might consider removing one extra element, such as refined sugar or cheese, using the shortest month of the year as a gentle, manageable challenge.
By March, your system will be ready for the next step—whether that’s a supported fast, a more structured juice cleanse, or simply adding another healthy habit. The key is making health a consistent, enjoyable practice rather than a stressful imposition.
Linseed Tea
🌿 A handful of linseeds with litre or 2 of filtered water in a large pan, bring to the boil and then turn off and leave for several hours i.e. overnight.
🌿 Slice up a turmeric root or 2 and add that along with
🌿 A good thumb of sliced ginger,
🌿 6 peppercorns,
🌿 3 star anise,
🌿 3 cloves,
🌿 A cinnamon stick or two,
🌿 2 tablespoons of cardamon (roughly ground in a pestle and mortar),
🌿 2 teaspoons of coriander seeds (roughly ground too)
Bring back to a slow simmer for an hour or so and sieve and enjoy this deliciously nourishing, hydrating, grounding, magical tonic. Keep in the fridge and re-heat as desired. Beware it’s a bit slimy but that’s what the colon loves, we call it lip balm tea!
Photo credit: Taylor Kiser on Unsplash