If you stop eating enough nutritious food to support your metabolism, your body cells begin to starve. The foods you eat and supplements you consume contribute to your body's supply of protein, vitamins, minerals, fats and carbohydrates, which it uses for muscle, brain, heart, lung and other functions. When your intake of these nutrients dwindles while you are ill, dieting or otherwise restricted from eating, you may face serious physical consequences, including death.
Calorie Restriction
The number of calories you consume is an indicator of your overall dietary profile. In general, the lower your caloric intake, the fewer vitamins and minerals you consume. Protein intake may also be reduced, a primary cause of muscle loss when this condition becomes chronic. Limiting calories and accompanying nutrients may be voluntary, as in dieting or in response to chemotherapy side effects, or caused by underlying conditions such as anorexia nervosa. The U.S. Department of Agriculture considers normal intakes to be at least 1,600 calories per day for adults.
Nutrient Deficiencies
The further your caloric intake drops below the healthy norm, the more likely you are to get too little of vitamins A, B, C, D, E and K and calcium, iron and other minerals. A shortage of protein and carbohydrates, nutrients used for cellular energy and growth, triggers the body to burn its stores of fat and skeletal muscle. As these diminish, so do stored vitamins and minerals, with a variety of consequences. A lack of protein and B vitamins, for example, affects your blood count.
Loss of Function
Low red blood cell count can affect every part of your body as less oxygen reaches different groups of cells. This anemic condition creates muscle fatigue and weakness, which can affect your lungs and breathing. Vitamin deficiencies can damage your eyesight and your immune system, and reduce your body's ability to repair wounds and control bleeding. Inadequate carbohydrates and protein lead to reduced body mass, muscle wasting and loss of mobility and mental function.
Starvation
Starvation occurs following no intake of food for eight to 12 weeks, reports the Merck Manual Home Health Handbook. Lack of immunity may invite fatal infections. Your digestive system, with nothing to process, may produce severe diarrhea, which often causes death. Your circulation and breathing may slow or finally fail. If you stop eating completely, the complications from vitamin and nutrient deficiencies will affect your organs until your body finally shuts down.
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