The three most common fears about fasting—losing muscle, entering starvation mode, damaging metabolism—are all based on misunderstandings. During short fasts, growth hormone surges to protect muscle, metabolic rate increases (driven by norepinephrine), and the body burns stored fat as designed. These fears confuse fasting with starvation.
This companion examines each fear, the research that refutes it, and the common thread of confusing brief fasting with chronic starvation. (4 min read)