Today is Mardi Gras, otherwise known as Fat Tuesday. This holiday is most often associated with New Orleans and represents the last day before Lent. In other words, it’s a time for feasting, masquerading, dancing, and generally over-indulging before the big fast begins.

Originally, though, Mardi Gras emerged from ancient Roman springtime and fertility festivals, Saturnalia and Lupercalia. When Christianity was adopted in Rome, these pagan holidays were blended into the new religious calendar rather than abolished — much like what happened with Christmas and Easter.

So, before being transformed into the Mardi Gras celebration period that starts on Epiphany, January 6th, and ties into Ash Wednesday and Lent, it’s important to recognize that its roots run much deeper.

In many ways, Mardi Gras mirrors a common human tendency: the desire to indulge before a period of restriction. It’s a pattern I’ve noticed not only in historical traditions but also in modern health practices — especially when it comes to cleansing or fasting.

Anyone who knows me knows what a big advocate for spring cleansing I am. But I’ve observed how often people, before starting a cleanse, slip into a period of overindulgence — almost like a personal Fat Tuesday.

Why do we do this? Sometimes, we seek permission to indulge, either to escape guilt or to preemptively sabotage our efforts. It’s like one last hurrah before we tell ourselves, “No more.”

But what if we rethought the whole idea of cleansing or fasting?

For me, it’s easy because it’s personal. My liver needs it, and I want to help “Livia” (yes, I named my liver) out. For you, it may not be as simple. Let’s be honest — most people don’t want to give up the foods they love. Deprivation doesn’t sound fun.

However — and here comes a bit of a rant — we have to acknowledge the truth. As a country, we’re becoming more obese, more diabetic, and more prone to heart disease. Our food choices are hurting us, and yet we often turn a blind eye.

The rise of convenience and highly processed foods since the 1950s has had a direct impact on our health. That’s not opinion — it’s fact.

I recently had a friend tell me, while sipping a diet cola (a neurotoxin, by the way), that she only drank one a day and had few other vices, so she was fine. But here’s the thing: it’s the daily habits — the small, seemingly harmless choices — that either build or break our health over time.

I didn’t try to persuade her because she wasn’t open to hearing it. And that’s okay. Change has to come from within.

If anything, the pandemic has been a harsh reminder of just how important it is to care for our health and immunity.

So, where does that leave us with cleansing? In my experience, it’s one of the most effective ways to reset destructive food habits, nurture gut health, boost immunity, and create a foundation for long-term wellness.

A cleanse doesn’t have to be extreme. Depending on your health goals, simply avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and sugar for a few weeks can be a powerful reset. Or, you might want to go deeper — the choice is yours.

Either way, if you celebrate Mardi Gras, enjoy it. Savor the food, the fun, and the festivities. But remember — Spring is coming.

And with it, an invitation to step into a healthier, more vibrant version of yourself.

Blessings to you, Goddess.