Re: How long before body starts using own proteins?

If you are planning a water-only fast, then you should ingest nothing but water and water contains no protein.

Your body must use some of it's own protein stores during a fast. But it uses a very small amount, because a Water Fast is protein sparing. During a water fast, the body will break down old, damaged and diseased tissue to use for protein first. Also, the body recycles amino acids very well.

Even when you do not fast, your body often uses it's own protein reserves. When carbohydrates and glycogen are low, your body will break down protein to turn the amino acids into glucose. This occurs during sleep and between meals. Without that ability, we would die because some of our cells, like the brain and red blood cells, are obligate glucose burners.

Unless a person is severely undernourished and emaciated, most people can fast at least thirty days before the body begins to break down healthy tissue.


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