Re: How long before body starts using own proteins?

Yes. I like biochemistry. It is complicated but very interesting.

I think it will be difficult to find an exact answer because the amount of protein that is broken down depends on several factors. For example, the sooner your body enters full ketosis, the less protein will need to be converted to glucose because many of our cells can run on ketones only. And the amount of protein broken down will also depend on individual metabolic needs. The higher your metabolism, the more glucose your body will need. And if you are engaged in physical and intellectual activity during the fast, that will increase your glucose requirement as well.

During a fast, the body will use much less protein than the RDA. From what I have read (I can't remember the source) at the end of a long fast, the body has used up only a few ounces of its own tissue. If our bodies used up the RDA of protein of it's tissues every day during a fast, we would die very quickly. Are you concerned that your body will break down so much protein that too much arginine and ammonia will accumulate in your blood? Tweet