Katie Sanders, a dietitian verified on the healthcare review platform Doctify, shares her expert insights into the dangers of nutmeg this festive season. She said: “There’s something so cosy about Christmas spices — nutmeg on hot chocolate, cinnamon in porridge, cloves in mulled wine. They’re part of the season and part of the nostalgia. But here’s a surprising little fact that most people don’t know and it’s a great one to bring out in a Christmas quiz or over the dinner table! Nutmeg is perfectly safe in normal cooking… but in very large quantities it can become harmful. “This isn’t something to worry about in baking or a gentle sprinkle — those tiny amounts are absolutely fine. The issue only appears when someone consumes a big spoonful or two at once, which is unusual but can occasionally happen with highly spiced ‘aesthetic’ festive drinks or social-media trends. To put it in perspective: A light dusting on a drink or dessert = completely safe A teaspoon mixed into a whole Christmas cake = still fine A heaped teaspoon eaten in one go = that’s where trouble can start She continued: “The message isn’t ‘avoid nutmeg’… far from it! It’s simply a reminder that a little goes a long way, and that the joy of Christmas spices is in the flavour, not the quantity. If you’re adding nutmeg to hot chocolate, eggnog, porridge or cocktails this season, enjoy the sprinkle — just don’t be tempted to pile it on. Sometimes the smallest…
