Body stages Stage 7 of 11
48–72 h
Deep ketosis and adrenaline lift
Ketones are high, stress hormones like noradrenaline rise, and resting metabolism is slightly higher, not lower. Growth hormone pulses are larger.
In Nesteia. The last stage of any unsupervised plan.
What studies measured
74% exceed BHB 2.7 mmol/L by 72 hours; noradrenaline about doubled; resting energy expenditure up 14% by day 3; growth hormone pulses about 3x by day 5.
How it may feel
Alert but easily tired; sleep may be lighter.
What to do
The last stage of any plan to 72 hours. Plan your refeed now.
Sources
- Service and O'Brien 2005Increasing serum betahydroxybutyrate concentrations during the 72-hour fast: evidence against hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia. J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2005.
- Zauner 2000Resting energy expenditure in short-term starvation is increased as a result of an increase in serum norepinephrine. Am J Clin Nutr, 2000.
- Ho 1988Fasting enhances growth hormone secretion and amplifies the complex rhythms of growth hormone secretion in man. J Clin Invest, 1988.
What studies measured in healthy adults, not a reading of your own body. Stop and seek help if you feel unwell; the signs to stop for are listed under Stop signs on the safety page.