Famine has profound effects on nutrition and the environment. People faced with famine often must eat things unusual to their normal diet. Wildlife and livestock become potential food, as do other animals such as dogs, cats, mice, rats and birds. People have eaten tree buds, bark, corncobs, sawdust, flour pounded from dried leaves and horse manure, provided they have not yet eaten the horse.
Anatomy of a Famine
Famine is often caused by a shock or trauma to the community. This shock can be in the form of a natural disaster, such as drought, flood, hurricane or earthquake; an environmental disaster, such as a crop blight; or a social upheaval, such as war. The shock sends food prices skyrocketing as it becomes harder to obtain. People lose their jobs, hoard food, try to make a living with forms of self-employment, move out of the area altogether or stick around with the risk of starving to death.
Famine and Nutrition
Death is often the ultimate result of famine, either from malnutrition, starvation or a combination of the two. Food's role in sustaining life is providing sufficient nutrition and sufficient energy in the form of calories, both of which are lacking during famine. Malnutrition can begin fairly quickly after a food shortage, Encyclopedia.com notes, usually within several weeks. People become weak, lose weight, have no energy and are unable to work. A deficiency of vitamin A can lead to permanent blindness. Bellies bloat from lack of protein. It usually takes eight to 12 weeks for an adult to completely starve to death.
Anatomy of Starvation
Starvation occurs when the body begins to feed on itself. Vital organs first shrink and then become unable to function. Muscles shrink and become weak. Anemia and chronic diarrhea sets in, as does swelling from fluids trapped beneath the skin. The body temperature drops, sex drive diminishes and people become irritable and unable to concentrate. The final stages of starvation often include hallucinations, muscle pains, an irregular heartbeat and convulsions.
Famine and the Environment
Famine often leads to civil unrest which can wreak havoc on the environment. Urban areas can be faced with looting while rural areas can suffer the raping of the land to gather whatever morsel may be somewhat edible. Crime becomes rampant, especially robberies, violence and murder for food items. Disease rages due to people's weakened immune systems with the reduced resistance to fight it. Mass migrations are another result of famine, leaving the land barren and devoid of life, humans included.
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