Fasting
For many people living with autoimmune issues or chronic illness, fasting can offer a surprising sense of relief. When symptoms flare and things feel “triggered”, giving the digestive system a pause can sometimes create space for the body to calm down. Even a short fast — such as 12 to 24 hours — may feel like a reset during those intense periods.
Fasting can also offer something just as important: a sense of control. When pain or inflammation seems unpredictable, choosing to pause food intake for a short window can be grounding. It becomes a conscious experiment rather than another thing happening to you.
There’s no single “right” way to fast. Some people try 12 hours. Others explore 18, 24, or occasionally 48 or more hours. Think of it as a personal experiment — not a test of willpower, and never a punishment. Simply a tool you can explore with curiosity.
If you choose to fast, a few things matter:
Stay hydrated.
Water does not trigger inflammation, and staying hydrated helps your body move through the fast more comfortably. You can also include herbal teas or warm water if that feels soothing.
Choose a gentle day.
If possible, pick a day when you don’t need to do anything physically demanding or mentally intense. Energy can ebb during a fast, especially at the beginning.
Breaking your fast.
Break your fast with a small, simple food such as broth, scrambled eggs, or gently cooked vegetables, letting your digestive system “wake up” before adding heavier proteins or fats.
A simple approach for flares:
If symptoms spike, you might choose to eat dinner, then allow the next day to be water-only. Notice how your body responds. Sometimes the reduction in symptoms comes surprisingly quickly.
Fasting isn’t always easy. Hunger will show up, and that can feel uncomfortable. But hunger is not an emergency, and reminding yourself of that can be empowering. You’re not harming your body; you’re giving it a temporary break. You might even discover that getting through those hunger waves strengthens your confidence — a reminder that you can do hard things, and that you are not powerless in your healing.
