Fasting -- where do my micronutrients come from?

#1

When I fast, I understand that my energy requirements are met by my fat stores. But, don’t my bodily functions require micronutrients, and if so, from where are these drawn?

Reason I ask is that I’m currently at hour 52 of my first 72 hour fast and I feel GREAT. I’ve been OMAD for 2 months with a handful of 24 and 48 hour EF’s. I would expect that I’d be deficient of some micronutrients and be feeling fuzzy as a result. On the contrary, my physical energy, mental sharpness and sense of well being are high, opposite of what I’d expect if I had a deficiency. How does this work?

#2

I expect it takes more than a few days to become nutrient deficient - we have pretty decent storage capacity. Eg: vegans can go for quite a while without supplementing before they become B12 deficient.

#3

@anon54735292 – thanks. I’m assuming I have that storage capacity, but I’m curious where the micronutrients are stored and how they are liberated. For example, does my fat tissue also contain essential vitamins and minerals?

(Katie the Quiche Scoffing Stick Ninja ) #4

Interesting question.
I always take a multivitamin supplement regardless of fasting.

#5

I’m guessing the fat soluble ones are - fat stores a lot of stuff - & B12 is stored in the liver. Maybe we just don’t need as many if we’re in autophagy/recycling mode? The others must be stored somehow I guess otherwise we’d all get scurvy when we were off our food due to flu or the like.