Muscle preservation in a fast
Hi Chrisb1,
Very nice article and a couple of questions.
"Between 60 and 84 grams of protein are used on this second day, 2-3
ounces of muscle tissue. By the third day ketone production is sufficient to provide nearly all the energy the body needs and the body's protein begins to be strongly conserved. The body still needs a tiny amount of glucose for some functions, however, so a very small amount of protein, 18-24 grams, is still catabolized to supply it - from 1/2 to 1 ounce of muscle tissue per day."
Just wondering, is the body "smart enough" at this stage and throughout the fast to take the worst tissue first (dead or diseased, or the very weakest)... or does it take some good and some bad at random?
"From the third day onward the rate of the breakdown of fatty acids from adipose or fat tissue continues to increase, hitting its peak on the tenth day. This seven day period, after the body has shifted completely over to ketosis, is where the maximum breakdown of fat tissue occurs."
The way this is worded it sounds like day 11 and beyond, there is a decline in fat burning compared to day 10. If this is what you mean, do the protein grams burned in day 11 and beyond remain the same as in day ten, but fat burning is slightly diminished because the body is needing a bit less fuel?...
"As part of protein conservation, the body also begins seeking out all non-body-protein sources of fuel: nonessential cellular masses such as fibroid tumors and degenerative tissues, bacteria, viruses, or any other compounds in the body that can be used for fuel."
This is an extension of my first question, but does this happen right away (in the first couple of days) too, or does it only "begin" to happen at some point later? And as this is happening, is there zero healthy muscle tissue being burned as long as there is something unhealthy for the body to take instead?
Thanks as always :).