Why Quick Fixes Don’t Create Lasting Health
You don’t fix a crack by painting over it. Foundations come first.
At this time of year, when many people are feeling motivated to make health changes, I notice there’s a lot more discussion around quick-fix approaches — especially online.
Detoxes.
Cleanses.
Parasite protocols.
Someone mentioned to me recently that I must be very busy helping patients with detoxes in January, because that’s what her social media feed is full of right now. And honestly, I understand why these ideas are so appealing.
There’s a very human tendency to want the quick fix. It can feel easier to commit to a cleanse for a couple of weeks than to make big-picture improvements that take months, years, or ongoing effort.
It’s often more exciting to focus on the next “thing” than to do the deeper work of optimizing how your body actually functions — supporting digestion so nutrients can be absorbed more effectively, regulating the nervous system so you can sleep better and feel less anxious, or rebalancing cortisol and other hormones that affect energy, mood, and metabolism.
But here’s the truth about those short-term approaches.
Quick fixes rarely create meaningful or lasting change. And once they’re over, most people end up right back where they started — not because they failed, but because nothing underneath actually changed.
That’s why I don’t market detoxes or parasite cleanses.
Not because they’re inherently harmful, but because lasting health doesn’t come from a week or two of restriction. It comes from what you do consistently, over time.
What does work is starting with realistic, repeatable actions that create foundational change:
• Eating enough protein
• Strength training consistently
• Supporting digestion with a gentle bowel clean-out so nutrients can actually be absorbed
• Using targeted supplements based on blood work (not guesswork)
• Improving sleep so your body has the capacity to adapt and heal
• Creating routines you can actually maintain
I often think of it like this: doing a cleanse without addressing the foundations is like painting over a wall that has a crack — or worse, a leak behind it. The paint might look good for a while, but the problem hasn’t actually been fixed. Eventually, it shows up again.
And just like it took time for your body to get to where it is now, it takes time — and the right support — to move it to a healthier place. When we focus on optimizing key systems like digestion, hormones, and the nervous system, the changes can be profound.
This is why, in my naturopathic practice, we work at a pace that feels doable for real life, while always keeping the bigger goal in mind: making changes that truly move the needle for your health.
If you’re looking for deeper, individualized support — whether that’s around hormones, digestion, energy, or overall health around menopause — I do still have openings available for naturopathic appointments this month. You can book one of the remaining spots here:
https://drjenniferhaesslernd.janeapp.com/
And a gentle reminder: you don’t need to be doing everything perfectly before booking your follow-up.
Follow-up appointments aren’t about checking boxes or getting graded. A big part of that time is coaching — helping you focus, reframe, troubleshoot what’s been challenging, and decide what actually makes sense to work on next.
Rarely does progress look perfect. It’s often messier than we expect — and that’s okay.
If you’re ready for support that doesn’t rely on extremes or quick fixes, I’m here to help you make steady, sustainable changes that truly improve your health.