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{{Merge|famine response|date=April 2008}}
{{Merge|famine response|date=April 2008}}
'''Starvation mode''' is a state that the body supposedly{{weasel-inline}} enters when caloric intake is reduced to low levels. It is hypothesized that{{Who|date=April 2008}} in this mode, the body becomes more efficient at absorbing calories from food and drink and begins burning lean tissue and muscle in order to conserve fat reserves.<ref>[http://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/calories/burning_calories/starvation.htm Dieting and Metabolism<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Thus, it is often believed to be counterproductive to cut calories below a certain level if the goal is weight loss.<ref>[http://www.webmd.com/content/chat_transcripts/1/108026.htm The 3-Hour Diet<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
'''Starvation mode''' is a state in which caloric intake is reduced to unhealthy low levels. The body becomes more efficient at absorbing calories from food and drink and begins burning lean tissue and muscle in order to conserve fat reserves.<ref>[http://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/calories/burning_calories/starvation.htm Dieting and Metabolism<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> If one's goal is weight loss, it is counterproductive to cut calories below a certain level.<ref>[http://www.webmd.com/content/chat_transcripts/1/108026.htm The 3-Hour Diet<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


Ordinarily, the body responds to reduced caloric intake by cleansing itself of toxins and burning fat reserves first, and only consumes muscle and other tissues when those reserves are exhausted. Specifically, the body burns fat after first exhausting the contents of the digestive tract along with glycogen reserves stored in muscle and liver cells.<ref>[http://www.healthpromoting.com/Articles/articles/therap.htm Therapeutic Fasting<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> People who practice [[fasting]] on a regular basis can prime their bodies to abstain from food without burning lean tissue.<ref>[http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/37350.htm Ask an Expert: Fasting and starvation mode<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
==Criticisms==
{{undue weight}}
However, some health advisers, especially advocates of [[fasting]], believe that the opposite is true &ndash; that the body responds to reduced caloric intake by cleansing itself of toxins and burning fat reserves first, and only consumes muscle and other tissues when those reserves are exhausted. More specifically, the body begins burning fat reserves after first exhausting the contents of the digestive tract along with glycogen (sugar) reserves stored in the muscle and liver cells.<ref>[http://www.healthpromoting.com/Articles/articles/therap.htm Therapeutic Fasting<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> It is even argued that the "starvation mode" theory helps promote the interests of the [[diet industry]], which would not be able to sell as many products (e.g. [[Slim Fast]], [[diet pills]], etc. along with the panoply of "light" foods and beverages) if people lost weight simply by fasting.<ref>[http://www.naturalphysiques.com/faq/279.html How do I avoid "starvation mode?"<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Escott-Stump S. K. Mahan opins that people who frequently fast may prime their bodies to abstain from food without burning lean tissue.<ref>[http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/37350.htm Ask an Expert: Fasting and starvation mode<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


Sometimes it is questioned, If the body goes into starvation mode after only several hours' abstinence from food, then would we not go into this mode during sleep? Indeed, the body does show some symptoms similar to fasting during sleep.<ref>[http://www.freedomyou.com/fasting_book/Fasting%20_vs_starvation.htm FREEDOMYOU FASTING Fasting vs. Starvation<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 08:15, 4 July 2008

Starvation mode is a state in which caloric intake is reduced to unhealthy low levels. The body becomes more efficient at absorbing calories from food and drink and begins burning lean tissue and muscle in order to conserve fat reserves.[1] If one's goal is weight loss, it is counterproductive to cut calories below a certain level.[2]

Ordinarily, the body responds to reduced caloric intake by cleansing itself of toxins and burning fat reserves first, and only consumes muscle and other tissues when those reserves are exhausted. Specifically, the body burns fat after first exhausting the contents of the digestive tract along with glycogen reserves stored in muscle and liver cells.[3] People who practice fasting on a regular basis can prime their bodies to abstain from food without burning lean tissue.[4]


See also

References

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