What Does Starvation Mean?

Kekich Credo #85 - When it’s a matter of producing or starving, people don’t starve.

Producing is the present participle of the verb to produce which means to make, manufacture or create something of value. Starving is suffering or dying from hunger.

Given a choice to produce or to starve, people choose to produce.  

Here are three ways to make money so you don’t starve.  

• Do something for other people who will pay you money.  This is called a job.  

• Make something or provide a service and charge money.  This is called a business.

• Use your money to make money.  This is called investing.

Starving on the other hand means to suffer or die from extreme or prolonged lack of food.  An example of starvation is someone being trapped and not being able to eat for five days.

What is the difference between starving and hungry?  Starving is the lack or insufficiency of food for a long period of time while hungry is the lack of food for a short period of time.

Hunger is the body’s physiological need for food.  It is your body’s way of telling you that you need to eat.  A hormone called ghrelin is released by cells in your gastrointestinal tract when your blood glucose levels drop below a certain level and your stomach is empty.  Hunger is a signal created by the body to let you know that it is time to eat and once you eat, the hunger goes away. 

Malnutrition occurs when you do not receive the nutrients your body needs to support health and growth.  Some symptoms of malnutrition include a reduced appetite or lack of interest in food and drink.  Feeling tired all the time, feeling weaker, and getting ill often and taking a long time to recover are some other signs of possible malnutrition. Poor concentration, feeling cold most of the time, and wounds taking a long time to heal are some other symptoms too.

When you starve your body’s reserve resources are depleted.  The result is substantial weight loss, a wasting away of your body’s tissues and eventually death.  Your body fights back when faced with starvation. Anorexia is self-imposed. This is a serious, life-threatening disorder which usually stems from underlying emotional causes.  

How long can you go without food? Modern-day hunger strikes have provided insight into starvation.  Some studies found that the body can survive for 8 to 21 days without food and water and up to two months if there is access to an adequate water intake. 

Typical signs that you are not eating enough can include feeling tired, getting ill more often, skin problems and hair loss.  Low blood sugar causes people to feel irritable, fatigued and confused.  The body begins to increase production of cortisol which leaves us feeling stressed and hungry.  Skipping meals can cause your metabolism to slow down.  After eight hours without eating, your body begins to use stored fats for energy.  Fasts that last longer than 24 hours can lead your body to start converting stored proteins into energy.

This credo statement says when choosing between producing and starving, people don’t starve.  They choose to do something, to work, to produce so they find a way to pay their food bills or produce their own food so they can have something to eat.  

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