The Effects of Starvation on the Body: How Long Can You Survive Without Food?

2023-07-25 12:51:00

The body of a healthy adult can about 60 days without food Survive However, the Effects on every cell in the body For example, they are shrinking immensely organsto maintain brain function

Therefore we need food: Without food, our body functions less effectively. If you starve for a longer period of time, the body’s own functions shut down more and more – the body works on the back burner and tries to use as little energy as possible. A healthy adult can survive about 60 days without eating – then it becomes critical.

This is what happens to the body when you stop eating

When you stop eating, your body functions on the back burner. Bodily functions such as body temperature, blood pressure and heart rate decrease noticeably. This is to prevent the body from consuming too much energy too quickly. In addition, the body tries to get energy from the protein in the muscles. Then the organs go to pieces: These are gradually broken down so that the brain’s function can continue to be guaranteed. It is possible that the organs can shrink to half their original size.

How long can you survive without food?

A person of normal weight can do that 60 Roofs endure before inevitably the Starvation-death from a lack of protein entry. The prerequisite, however, is that vital nutrients can be absorbed through the water drunk. A starving person loses around one kilogram of body weight per day, and around 500 grams at a later point in time. However, it takes about a week for the body to break down the body’s own fat, and the muscle tissue is only touched after about two weeks. The following explains how extreme hunger affects the heart, brain, gastrointestinal tract, and hormone balance.

Cardiovascular effects

If you starve, it affects every last corner of your body. Very extreme on that too cardiovascular system. As the body tries to get energy from within its own system, it also taps into muscle tissue – including that myocardial tissue. As a result, both the pulse and blood pressure drop so that as little energy as possible is used for the heartbeat. In the worst case, this leads to a heart defect and the heart stops.




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Effects on the gastrointestinal tract

Also the Gastrointestinal tract is strongly affectedwhen we are starving, what sometimes result in painful symptoms may have. This can cause abdominal distension, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. There is also a risk of contracting a bacterial infection. Fluctuations in blood sugar levels are also likely. If you starve for a long time, you will probably also suffer from constipation, since the muscles are weakened – including those of the intestine. Another consequence can be a Inflammation of the pancreas which in turn leads to pain, nausea and vomiting.

Effects on the central nervous system

Of course that stays central nervous system not spared: Normally, our brain uses about a fifth of our energy. However, if we starve, our body goes on the back burner, which is why less energy is available to the brain. Possible consequences are difficulty concentrating and sleep disorders.

Effects on hormonal balance

Hormones are also said to play a very important role in how our body functions. They are produced in one of the many glands (for example in the pituitary gland, the ovaries or the testicles) and travel through the blood to the organ in which they take effect. They play a major role in growth processes and also in reproduction. The respective glands need fat and cholesterol for the production of the hormones. For example, the hormones estrogen, testosterone or thyroid hormones can then be produced.

If there is not enough energy available because we are starving, our hormone system no longer functions properly. This can lead to women menstrual disorders come – in an emergency, the period stops completely. Also, bones can become very weak and metabolism can slow down. Body temperature can also drop, leading to a hypothermia can lead. All this is reflected, for example, in dry skin, brittle hair or hair loss. In addition, a Hair fluff form as the body attempts to warm itself.

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Without food, the starvation metabolism sets in

If we suffer – voluntarily or involuntarily – from hunger, the so-called hunger metabolism kicks in. Among other things, he volunteers at the Fasten* or at one anorexia provoked. Because the body has fewer calories than usual, it switches to the back burner. This means that the metabolism goes into a kind of resting phase, causing it to work more slowly. A grown man needs about 1,800 kilocalories per day due to the starvation metabolism.

The hunger metabolism is particularly problematic in pregnant women. This shortens the pregnancy and the weight of the child at birth is also lower. The likelihood of developing a disability is also greatly increased.

What factors affect survival without food?

There are some influencing factors that can affect survival without food. These are:

Age Gender Height Body weight Physical fitness General physical health Current activity level Experts suspect that fluid intake is also relevant: regular sips of water are said to prolong survival without food.

Water: That’s how long we can go without drinking

It is much more fatal when we have no drinking water available: without water, a person can only survive about four days. A child is much more at risk in this respect. Since our body consists of around 60 percent water, nothing works without water and a healthy adult has to be around every day 1.5 liters of liquid consume. The more you sweat and the greater the stress you are under, the faster you die of thirst. However, body weight does not play a role – unlike starvation.

Symptoms of severe dehydration include lethargy, loss of consciousness, and a very dry mouth. Also, extremely dry skin that gives way when pressed with a finger. In addition, both the pulse and blood pressure continue to fall and very little or no urine is produced.

Conclusion: Without food, the body works on the back burner

If we stop eating, it affects our entire body – it only works on the back burner. This affects, among other things, the hormone system, the gastrointestinal tract, the central nervous system and the cardiovascular system. A healthy adult can survive without food for about 60 days – then things get critical and death can occur.

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