What if I told you that trauma doesn’t just reside in the body—it reshapes your biology, influencing everything from your metabolism to your immune system? What if fasting isn’t just about food or its absence, but a powerful tool for unlocking and releasing what’s been trapped at a cellular level? Stress doesn’t just leave you feeling overwhelmed; it can actually become a toxin within your body, disrupting your biology in ways you may not have considered.
These aren’t just abstract concepts—they’re backed by research. And they highlight why fasting could be the missing link in trauma healing.
Trauma: more than just a memory
Dr. Gabor Maté famously said, “It’s not what happened to you; it’s what happened inside you.” Trauma isn’t just the event itself; it’s the physiological and emotional imprint it leaves behind. Overwhelm, especially in childhood, prompts the body to develop survival patterns—fight, flight, or freeze. When these responses persist, they don’t just affect your thoughts; they reprogram your biology.
The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study, one of the largest public health studies ever conducted, reveals a clear connection between early trauma and long-term health outcomes. People with high ACE scores are:
- 2 to 4 times more likely to develop chronic illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders.
- 2 to 3 times more likely to experience mental health challenges like depression and anxiety.
- 2 to 5 times more likely to develop addictive behaviours.
These findings underscore the profound impact early trauma has on long-term health, making it essential to address trauma at its root cause.
But why does this happen? Trauma is a physiological event, not just a psychological one. It creates inflammation, hormonal dysregulation, and metabolic chaos—leading the body to stay in a constant state of stress.
When stress becomes a toxin
We often think of toxins as external—chemicals, pollutants, processed foods. But unresolved trauma and chronic stress create an internal toxic load. Here’s how:
- Inflammation: Trauma increases inflammatory markers like cortisol and cytokines, keeping the body in a constant state of alert.
- Leaky gut: The gut-brain axis plays a critical role in trauma responses. High stress weakens the gut lining, allowing toxins to circulate.
- Mitochondrial dysfunction: Energy production in cells becomes impaired, leading to chronic fatigue and brain fog.
- Stored emotional toxins: When emotions are repressed rather than processed, they get trapped in the nervous system, causing dysregulation.
So, if trauma is stored in the body and stress becomes a toxin, how do we clear this burden?
Fasting: A biological and emotional reset
While most people view fasting as a way to detox or lose weight, it triggers a deeper healing process that goes beyond just the physical. Fasting activates biological mechanisms that support trauma healing:
- Autophagy: Fasting promotes autophagy, a process where the body clears out damaged cells and regenerates healthier ones.
- Lowered inflammation: Fasting reduces inflammation, easing the impact of stored trauma on the immune system.
- Gut health: Fasting supports gut healing by restoring the gut-brain connection and healing leaky gut.
- Neuroplasticity: Fasting enhances neuroplasticity, helping the brain rewire old patterns linked to trauma.
- Balanced stress hormones: Fasting helps regulate the nervous system, moving the body out of survival mode.
Additionally, fasting leads to ketosis, which significantly reduces inflammation. Research shows that ketones act as signalling molecules, reducing oxidative stress, improving mitochondrial function, and regulating the immune system. This has profound implications for mental health, helping to reduce depression and anxiety by balancing blood sugar and reducing inflammation.
Why emotions surface during fasting
If you’ve ever undertaken a prolonged fast, you may have noticed that it’s not just physical hunger that emerges—old emotions, memories, and even unresolved grief often rise to the surface. While fasting is commonly associated with physical detoxification, it also triggers a profound emotional release, and this is not just coincidence; it’s rooted in how our bodies process stress, energy, and emotions.
Here’s why this happens:
- Shifting the nervous system out of survival mode
During a fast, especially a prolonged one, the body shifts from a state of fight-or-flight (sympathetic nervous system) to one of rest and repair (parasympathetic nervous system). This change in the body’s neurophysiological state creates an environment where the body feels safe enough to process stored emotions. When we’re constantly in survival mode—whether due to chronic stress, trauma, or even the daily demands of life—our bodies prioritise basic survival and often suppress emotional experiences. Fasting allows the body to relax, providing the space for unresolved emotional content to emerge. - Redirecting energy from digestion to deeper healing
Digestion requires a significant amount of energy. During a fast, as the body no longer needs to focus on digesting food, this energy is redirected towards healing and repair on a cellular level. This includes not only physical detoxification but also the emotional and psychological healing that may have been neglected. This shift in energy may make space for emotions that were previously buried or repressed, allowing them to resurface for processing. - Bringing us into an introspective, meditative state
Fasting has a way of quieting the mind and calming the body, which can lead to a deeply introspective, almost meditative state. This stillness often magnifies the internal experience and makes unresolved emotional pain clearer. The combination of mental clarity and the absence of food-related distractions creates an environment conducive to emotional self-inquiry. As the mind and body become more attuned to the present moment, memories, sensations, or emotions that were once pushed aside can rise to the surface, urging attention and release.
Many people who have fasted report feeling waves of grief, crying unexpectedly, or even reliving past experiences or traumas. This is not a sign of something “going wrong” with the process; rather, it is evidence that the body is beginning to release what has been stored at a cellular level. Emotional healing is a natural by-product of fasting when we allow ourselves to sit with the discomfort and honour the emotions that come up.
This emotional release is part of the body’s profound ability to heal itself—not just on a physical level, but emotionally and mentally as well. Just as the body releases physical toxins through autophagy during fasting, it also has the ability to release emotional toxins that have been stored in the body’s tissues and nervous system. This is why fasting is not only a physical detox but a holistic healing process that can reach into deep layers of emotional and psychological well-being.
Fasting as a trauma-healing tool
How do we use fasting intentionally to heal trauma? Here are a few steps to guide the process:
- Approach fasting with intention: See fasting as a tool for self-inquiry. Pay attention to what emotions surface and observe them without judgment.
- Support the nervous system: Before, during, and after fasting, engage in practices like breathwork, somatic movement, and vagus nerve stimulation to help the body process what arises.
- Know when fasting may not be appropriate: If you have a history of severe trauma or a dysregulated nervous system, it’s essential to work with a practitioner. Fasting can be powerful, but it needs to be done in a safe and supportive environment.
- Nourish the body post-fast: After a fast, nourish your body with whole, real foods. This helps rebuild your system from a place of strength.
- Work with a practitioner: Trauma-informed fasting can be highly effective, but it requires awareness and support. A practitioner can guide you through this process safely.
A new era of healing
The body keeps the score—but it also holds the key to healing. If trauma is stored at a cellular level, then healing must occur at that level too. Fasting is one of the most profound ways to access this healing, not only by clearing physical toxins but also by allowing emotional wounds to surface and be released.
With depression and anxiety at all-time highs and suicide rates increasing by 30% in the last two decades, it’s clear that a new approach to healing is needed—one that goes beyond symptom management and addresses root causes at the cellular level.
Fasting is not just about food; it’s about releasing what no longer serves you—physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Try this: The next time you fast, instead of focusing solely on the hunger, notice the emotions that arise. Journal about any memories, feelings, or thoughts that surface. Your body may be telling you something it finally has the space to process.