Nutrition

This question was just recently posed in our Forum regarding my last blog entry:

"I've just finished reading the "Starvation Mode" blog mentioned in the newsletter from Ori. In it, Ori states the following, something which he has mentioned many times: 'Protein utilization in the muscle, after fasting or undereating, increases by twofold.' I believe this to be true, but is there actual empirical data pertaining to humans that verifies this assertion? Just curious. And if so, does this imply that consuming 100 grams of protein following a 20 hour fast is assimilated by the body in such a fashion that this portion of food actually equals 200 grams of protein?"

I've addressed these questions already in my protein articles (see Protein and the Rule of Three - Parts 1 - 4). Studies on the effects of fasting and low protein intake on protein utilization have shown clearly that not only does protein utilization increase dramatically, but surprisingly, there is also an inhibition of protein breakdown in the working muscles. Much of the database came from studies by the Food and Agricultural Organization during the '70s and later on in various universities worldwide. More information and references in Maximum Muscle, Minimum Fat – North Atlantic Books, coming next spring. As for the practical terms, I believe that when properly incorporating meals right after undereating or fasting and exercise, one can utilize twice as much protein from the meal than otherwise. (see more information in my Recovery Meal article).

Question: I love the idea of a "diet" being more of a lifestyle. I like the idea of the warrior lifestyle, and have done it before. My problem is not losing body fat when I am on it, but I know why (food choices). My biggest problem before I start it seriously is the whole idea of "starvation mode". I have always struggled with the fear of losing hard-earned muscle. I guess I have played right into the hands of those who oppose this type of eating style. Can you give me the low down on this starvation mode? Will your body go into starvation mode in a few hours or does it take days, and does starvation mode really exist?

The so-called "starvation mode" is one of the most misleading concepts among mainstream nutritionists. The idea that the body shifts into a starvation mode after a few hours of fasting is preposterous. If this concept were true, the human species would not have survived the primordial conditions that existed thousands of years ago. The truth is quite the opposite. When food intake is low the body will try to compensate for the lack of food by triggering an anabolic mechanism that inhibits protein breakdown in the active muscles while recycling protein from old tissues, broken muscle fibers, and damaged or sick cells into new tissues. There is growing evidence that humans can substantially benefit from periodic fasting and surprisingly rejuvenate tissues. Protein utilization in the muscle, after fasting or undereating, increases by twofold. In the Warrior Diet and the Anti-Estrogenic Diet, we take advantage of this survival mechanism via our recovery meal plan, and thus maximize protein utilization for muscular development - after exercise, as well as after the main nightly meal. Note that the cycle of undereating and overeating is critically important. Chronic or prolonged fasting (over 24 hours), as well as chronic low calorie diets, may cause adverse symptoms of a metabolic shutdown.