The TRUTH about starvation mode, clearing the confusion

I am here to clear the air of the starvation mode theory.

I have posted a few links in the past which dismisses the theory of starvation mode. I have written a topic called "the myth about starvation mode." I recieved a lot of critics. It's mostly due to malformed interpretation of it. I believe that things in life are on a spectrum, each end of the spectrum counteract the other. I call this the zero theory. Everything always goes back to zero. For example, Is water healthy for people? Yes it is. Is it dangerous to people? Yes it is. What about oxygen, is oxygen healthy for people? Yes it is, is it dangerous for people? Yes it is. So which one is right, and which one is wrong? Depends on your perspective on it. No one is right, no one is wrong.

How can water be dangerous? You can drown in 1 inch of water. If you drink too much, you can get water poisoning and also die. Obviously too little oxygen would lead to death. Too much oxygen can lead to suffocation. If you're getting a ton of air blown in your face. It would be moving to fast to even absorb it.

So does starvation exist? Yes and No.It depends on the situation like anything else. For the clarity the definition of starvation mode is when, you don't have enough calories to support your bodily function and your gets stripped from the body slowing your metabolic rate.

To understand this process, we have to understand how carbs and protein work in the body.

Below is directly posted out of my blog.



Protein- Protein gets broken down to amino acids; amino acids are used as building blocks for muscles, organs, tendons, things of that sort. Without amino acids our bodies can’t repair itself. What is the most important thing we need to consume for human survival and what is our body most made out of? Its water, what is second? Its protein, hopefully this drives home the importance of protein. The more our body is made up of something, the more our bodies need it.



Biochemical response of protein - Consuming protein breaks down the protein to amino acids which are used to repair our body. When protein is consumed, it increases insulin and glucagon in the body. Insulin is a storage hormone, which stores carbs in the muscle; if the muscles are full it will store the carbs in to fat. When glucagon is in the body what it does, releases fat from the body to be used as energy; it also releases carbs from the muscle which can be used for energy. Insulin does the opposite. Glucagon is to release fat and glycogen (what carbs turn in to and is stored in the muscle). Insulin stores glycogen in to the muscle and stores it as fat if the muscles are already full of glycogen.

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Carbohydrates – Are breads, pastas, cereal, fruits, vegetables etc. They are built up monosaccharide, what amino acids are to protein, monosaccharides are to carbohydrates. Monosaccharide’s are the most basic and simple form of sugar. All carbohydrates are sugars. They are linked together in different lengths. The longer the chain of monosaccharide the more complex the carbohydrate is. The smaller the chain the easier they’re broken down in to blood glucose (blood sugar). The quicker the carbohydrate gets broken down, the faster sugar gets in to the blood stream and the faster insulin rises. From this we can get that the more complex the carbohydrate is the slower blood sugar raises. The simpler the carbohydrate is the faster blood sugar will rise. There are manufactured (man made) carbohydrates and natural carbohydrates. Man made carbohydrates are a simpler form of carbohydrates than natural carbohydrates. Meaning that a man made carbohydrate will raise insulin faster than a natural carbohydrate. The more cooked, processed, and refined the carbohydrate the simpler it is. For example, mashed potatoes will increase your glucose level faster than a microwave one. The softer the carbohydrate is, the easier it is to digest and the quicker the raise in insulin. Fiber plays a critical role in how fast a carbohydrate gets broken down. Fiber makes it harder to digest the carbohydrate, making it increase your insulin slower compared to an easily digestible carbohydrate.


Biochemical response of carbohydrates - Ingesting carbohydrates increase insulin in a healthy individual.


This is because when we ingest carbohydrates they get turned in to glucose in the blood stream. When our blood glucose level raises above 110mg insulin is released by the pancreas to create homeostasis in the blood stream. The job of insulin is to clear the blood stream of glucose so it’s back to normal 70mg – 110mg. What the insulin does to your glucose depends on the state of your muscles. If your muscle is full of glucose it will turn the glucose in to fat. If the muscles aren’t full of glycogen (what glucose gets converted to) it will be stored in the muscle. When blood sugar is around 70mg glucagon is released by the body releasing glucose back in the blood stream trying to create homeostasis by increasing blood sugar back to normal. Once the glycogen is depleted from the muscles it will release bodyfat. This is what the entire Atkins diet is based on. Lower your insulin level below 70mg by eating a high protein diet so your glycogen stores get depleted, beyond that point you will just burn fat for energy.


Starvation mode theory can be created on a low calorie diet that is high in carbohydrates. The immune system needs amino acids which protein is broken down to. If you don't get enough protein guess where your body gets it from? It gets it from the muscle in your body. This slows down your metabolic rate. Viola Your starvation mode.

Can you lose weight eating low calories and high carbs and lose weight(fat)? Yes you can, you have to exercise to keep your glycogen stores empty which will cause your body to lower insulin and increase glucagon which releases fat. Exercise is a critical component in this method.

If you eat a high protein low carb diet. Your brain needs carbs. It will get it from the protein you eat, protein can be converted in to carbs. If you use resistance training it helps preserve the muscle and preventing the break down. You can eat a low calorie diet high in protein with resistance training with out loss of muscle mass. No starvation mode theory. Here is the scientific research to support this.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10204826

Do I advocate a high protein diet or a high carb diet? No, do I recommend VLCD(very low calorie diets?) NO. What do I recommend? An adequate protein moderate carb diet with a slight caloric deficit for beginners.