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Fasted State Physiology

Meaning

Fasted State Physiology describes the specific cascade of metabolic and hormonal adjustments that the body undergoes following the complete absorption of nutrients, typically after a period exceeding eight to twelve hours without caloric intake. The defining characteristic of this state is a fundamental shift from glucose-centric energy utilization to fat oxidation, involving a significant reduction in circulating insulin levels and a corresponding, coordinated increase in counter-regulatory hormones such as glucagon and growth hormone. This physiological state is critically important for maintaining blood glucose homeostasis and for initiating beneficial cellular repair and recycling processes, most notably autophagy, which contributes directly to cellular resilience and longevity.