The C-FAST Cycle

The Conditioned Food Avoidance and Sensitivity Trap (C-FAST) is model to explain this vicious cycle and show how conditioned food avoidance and sensitivity can develop. It usually starts with a few food restrictions and gets worse over time. Eventually, you find yourself stuck deep in the trap and cannot see a way out.

When you are stuck in the C-FAST cycle:

Food becomes a trigger for stress.
You think about food and your symptoms more than you want to.
You end up in a never-ending cycle of wondering what will make you sick and then feeling worse.
Your symptoms and food sensitivities keep getting worse.
Your brain sends false alarm signals about the dangers of food, putting the nervous system on constant alert.