Page 82 - Eat Stop Eat by Brad Pilon PDF Program

Specifically, the researchers were interested in the glucose metabolism of subjects
who had a history of what they considered to be hypoglycemic episodes (becoming
irritable or feeling ‘shaky’ in the absence of food).

Eight people who reported a history of hypoglycemic episodes were compared to eight
people who have never experienced any form of hypoglycemia. Both groups completed
a 24-hour fast while their blood sugar levels were monitored.
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During the study none of the subjects in either group had any periods of documented

hypoglycemia. In fact, after closer investigation it was apparent that when the group
that had a history of ‘hypoglycemia’ reported periods of ‘feeling hypoglycemic’ their
blood sugar levels were at normal levels.

Both groups had a decrease in insulin and an increase in body fat being used as a
fuel during the 24-hour fast.

The researchers concluded that there is no doubt that some people may find eating
less to be more stressful than others, but as long as no other metabolic disease is
present, the ability to maintain blood glucose in the normal range does not seem to be

affected during a 24-hour fast.

They then speculated that the symptoms of hypoglycemia could in fact be related to
anxiety and stress over not eating, as opposed to being caused by low blood sugar.

This anxiety could be over fear of becoming hypoglycemic, fear that they are doing
something unhealthy by not eating, or even a drug-like withdrawal response to not
being able to eat when they wanted to.

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