Monday, March 8, 2010

Starvation. The Myth.


Starvation.  Starvation is a diet myth.  Trust me – even a Hollywood starlet could not survive a starvation diet. Why is that you might ask?  Well, the answer might surprise you.   The human body is a miraculous thing that is not only adaptable but also has a mind of its own.   You might even venture to call this “mind” a brain that takes over even when your willpower cannot.

Bears can survive winter hibernation due to the fact that their body’s processes have slowed to a snore in order to make it through the winter without a single morsel of food.  Ever wonder why they are so grumpy when they wake up?  I think you would be too, if you hadn’t eaten in months.   The same is true for the human body but in a less of a hairy and grouchy extreme.   Starvation is similar to hibernation only in humans the body adapts by slowing the metabolism in order to conserve calories for future use.  It is an innate feature in all of us – whether we are aware of it or not.
 
(Bear-inspired German Chocolate Cake)

Starving oneself will only cause the body over time to come to a sluggish halt – leading to fatigue, hunger, and a bear-like grumpiness.  Yes, weight will initially be lost and rather quickly as it takes some time for the body to adapt to a starved state but slowly the weight loss will slow to a terrifying halt.   The damage is not only a mental confusion but can do more physical harm than being mauled by a bear itself.  When the body does not have enough calories to burn it starts using muscle and then fat reserves for quick energy.  The result – muscle loss.  And well muscle, muscle is the only metabolic tissue in your body and therefore, your metabolism dwindles to a drool.

Starvation.  A body slowing truth.

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