如果你停止進食會怎樣？：英語精讀講義

Food is a favorite pastime for many, 表達脈絡

對許多人來說，吃東西是最喜愛的消遣之一，

which is convenient because we need it to live.

這倒很方便，因為我們得靠食物活下去。

But what would happen to you and your body if you were to completely stop eating food right now? 文法

但如果你從現在起完全停止進食，你和你的身體會發生什麼變化？

In the first 6 hours,

在最初的6小時內，

all is fairly normal.

一切都還算正常。

Your body begins to break down glycogen, 片語動詞

身體會開始分解肝醣，

which stores energy in your body,

肝醣能在體內儲存能量，

into glucose,

並被轉化成葡萄糖，

which your cells use as fuel. 片語搭配

供細胞當作燃料。

Around 25% of energy generated this way is used for your brain alone, 文法

以這種方式產生的能量中，約有25%光是大腦就會用掉，

while the rest goes to muscle tissue and red blood cells.

其餘則供給肌肉組織和紅血球。

But after about 6 hours,

但大約6小時後，

this method of energy production halts as the glycogen stores deplete,

隨著肝醣儲備耗盡，這種供能方式也會停止，

which can lead to the notorious hangry or hungry and angry feeling 用詞

這可能會引發那種出了名的「餓怒」感，也就是又餓又氣，

that many of us know too well. 片語搭配

這種滋味許多人都再熟悉不過。

At this point, 表達脈絡

這時，

your body enters a state called ketosis as it begins to fast or starve. 用詞

隨著身體開始禁食或挨餓，它會進入一種稱為「酮症」的狀態。

Because there's very little glucose in your blood,

由於血液裡的葡萄糖所剩無幾，

your body must begin to break down fat for energy.

身體只好開始分解脂肪來取得能量。

This fat is in turn broken down into fatty acids. 表達脈絡

這些脂肪接著會被分解成脂肪酸。

However,

然而，

your brain can't use long-chain fatty acids,

大腦無法利用長鏈脂肪酸，

which is a problem.

這就成了問題。

Because there's no more glucose and the fats are too large to cross the blood-brain barrier, 用詞

因為葡萄糖已經用完，而脂肪分子又太大，無法穿過血腦障壁，

your brain changes modes and begins to use ketone bodies for energy,

大腦便會切換模式，開始利用酮體供能，

which are short-chain derivatives of fatty acids.

酮體是脂肪酸的短鏈衍生物。

This works for the time being, 片語搭配

這暫時行得通，

but ultimately only 75% of the brain's energy requirements can come from ketones.

但大腦最終只有75%的能量需求能由酮體滿足。

It still needs glucose,

大腦仍然需要葡萄糖，

which means your cognitive functioning becomes impaired. 講解

這表示你的認知功能會受到損害。

Now,

不過，

it's important to mention that you don't have to be starving to be in ketosis. 講解

必須說明的是，不一定非得挨餓，身體才會進入酮症。

Many people enter this phase if they're on a low-carb diet 片語搭配

許多人採用低碳水化合物飲食時，會進入這個階段，

or professional athletes who use all their carbs for an extended period of time, 片語搭配

而長時間用盡所有碳水化合物儲備的職業運動員，

like marathon runners,

例如馬拉松跑者，

will be in this state as well.

也會處於這種狀態。

However,

然而，

beyond 72 hours,

超過72小時後，

not only will your mood and energy suffer, 文法

受到影響的不只是你的情緒和精力，

but your brain will start to break down your body's own protein.

大腦還會開始分解你身體本身的蛋白質。

The proteins release amino acids,

蛋白質會釋放出胺基酸，

which can be converted into glucose, 片語搭配

而胺基酸可以轉化成葡萄糖，

which is great news for your brain, 表達脈絡

這對大腦來說是個好消息，

but bad news for your body.

對身體來說卻是個壞消息。

Basically,

簡單來說，

your body is cannibalizing itself by destroying your muscle mass. 講解

身體會破壞肌肉組織，等於是在吞噬自己。

In women,

對女性而言，

undernutrition often shuts down the menstrual cycle 片語動詞

營養不足常會讓月經週期停止，

as the body tries to reduce energy expenditure. 片語搭配

因為身體會試圖減少能量消耗。

Bone density diminishes,

骨質密度會降低，

and both men and women may experience loss of libido. 用詞

男女都可能出現性慾減退。

Within a few weeks,

幾週之內，

the body's immune system will be so weakened without any vitamins or minerals that many will die from disease. 文法

由於完全得不到維生素或礦物質，身體的免疫系統會變得極度虛弱，許多人將因疾病而死。

Otherwise,

即使沒有病死，

it will continue to use up all energy sources 片語動詞

身體也會繼續耗盡所有能量來源，

until there is no glucose, fat tissue, or muscle mass left. 文法

直到葡萄糖、脂肪組織和肌肉全部消耗殆盡。

One of the more common causes of death is cardiac arrhythmia or heart attack 文法

較常見的死因之一是心律不整或心臟病發作，

due to the tissue degradation in the heart,

這是因為心臟、

diaphragm, and body.

橫膈膜和身體其他部位的組織退化所致。

This is fairly common in those suffering from anorexia. 片語搭配

這種情況在厭食症患者中相當常見。

Of course,

當然，

the body experiences severe organ failure all around.

全身各處的器官也會嚴重衰竭。

Starvation can lead to death in as short as 3 weeks or up to 70 days 文法

挨餓最快可能在3週內致死，也可能長達70天才致死，

as documented during the Irish hunger strikes in 1981. 講解

1981年的愛爾蘭絕食抗議就留下了相關紀錄。

Though,

不過，

the duration of survival is greatly influenced by how hydrated you are 文法

一個人能存活多久，很大程度上取決於身體的水分是否充足，

and the amount of fat reserves your body has,

以及體內儲存了多少脂肪，

which in some ways is incredible that the body can sustain for so long with no food.

從某種角度來看，人體不進食也能撐這麼久，實在令人驚嘆。

And yet, 表達脈絡

然而，

approximately 795 million people around the world have to deal with this reality. 片語搭配

全球約有7.95億人不得不面對這樣的現實。

The good news is that the seven richest countries have pledged to lift 500 million people out of hunger and malnutrition by 2030, 講解

好消息是，全球最富裕的七個國家已承諾，要在2030年前幫助5億人擺脫飢餓與營養不良，

but we need to hold them accountable. 片語搭配

但我們必須督促它們兌現承諾。

We're working with an organization called Global Citizen to do just that,

我們正與一個名為Global Citizen的組織合作，推動這件事，

and here's a really easy way that you can help out too.

而你也可以用一個非常簡單的方式幫忙。

By sharing this video and then heading to the Global Citizen website form here,

分享這支影片，再前往這裡的Global Citizen網站填寫表單，

you'll be adding your voice to an important educational movement towards ending hunger worldwide. 慣用語

你就能為這場旨在終結全球飢餓的重要教育行動發聲。

You can click the screen or use the links in the description.

你可以點擊畫面，或使用說明欄中的連結。

It really only takes a few moments. 語氣意圖

真的只需要幾分鐘。

And subscribe for more weekly science videos.

也別忘了訂閱，收看每週更新的更多科學影片。