There are so many reasons why people starve. Some starve to lose weight, others for religious reasons. Others will starve as a result of sickness, strong emotion such as dead of a loved one, famine or war. Annoyingly some starve to show their anger or agitation. Unfortunately many have lost their lives in hunger strike.
The body is aware that there are periods when one will have to go without food. Either for necessary reasons or unnecessary ones the body will always try to keep you alive till you find the next food. The brain can just survive for seconds without oxygen. The body 5-10 minutes without oxygen, 3-8 days without water and within the range of 21-70 days without food. This is only possible due to some manoeuvres by the body which are discussed in three phases.



Phases of Starvation

First Phase-Glucose Phase of Starvation

Second Phase-Ketone Body Phase of Starvation

Third Phase-Protein Phase of Starvation



First Phase-Glucose Phase of Starvation

The body will use carbohydrate (glucose) for energy against fat and protein. Even when glucose is lacking, some parts of the body such as the brain will insist on any available glucose for energy. As one begins starving the body will quickly use up the glucose in the blood. This will make the blood glucose level to fall. Then the body will start making use of the glucose stored in the liver and muscles in the form of "glycogen". But the quantity of glucose stored in the body is usually small. It can only supply energy for the body perhaps for half a day. So except for the first few hours of an individual starves, the major source of energy comes from the use of fat and proteins. As the stored glucose is used up the body will start making use of the fats. Converting them into two compounds called fatty acid and glycerol. The fatty acid will be used as source of energy majorly by the skeletal muscles while the glycerol will be used to make glucose. because as earlier said the brain will insist on using glucose. Allowing the rest parts of the body to help themselves with whatever they have.



Second Phase-Ketone Body Phase of Starvation

At this phase most of the fats the body can easily use have been used up for energy. The body will then switch to proteins. Firstly, it will start breaking down proteins it can easily lay hold on- converting them to glucose by the liver. The brain rejoices as it now have glucose in abundance. But the joy will not last for too long. Because before you know it most of the proteins the body can easily make use of must have been “raped” (made use of). The easy fat and easy proteins the body can use are gone. But there is hope....the body still have an option. It will resume to massive breakdown of all fats in the body. The liver will convert the fatty acid from the fats to a compound called ketone bodies. The ketone bodies will become the major source of energy. The brain noticing that the reserved glucose has become very low will join the body to make use of ketone bodies. But that doesn’t mean it will leave off using glucose altogether “selfish brain”. Yes it will have to manage what is in abundance. However, it will not still last forever because the body have capitalized on the ketone bodies

Third Phase-Massive Protein Depletion Phase
At this phase almost all the fats have been used up. The only option the body has is to start breaking down every protein in the body for energy. The brain is happy again. But no need, because the body have started eating up itself. The muscles will begin to waste away. Even the vital organs will be affected. And death comes knocking at the door when about half of the body protein has been cannibalized. The body begins to have electrolyte imbalance, vitamins are lost. Cardiac diseases surfaces due to wasting away of tissues or poor electrical conduction in the heart. The immune system becomes weak. Giving room for other diseases to take opportunity. The individual goes to great beyond http://www.myhealthytip.net/starvation-what-you-need-to-know/