Heidi Skinner

“It’s amazing how hearing from someone with a different point of view reveals your blind spots.”
― A.G. Riddle, The Solar War

“more resources and a safer environment here. Please respond and acknowledge that you’re proceeding to our site.”
― A.G. Riddle, Winter World

“Don’t know yet,” I mutter. He squints at me. “What do you need in order to know?”
― A.G. Riddle, Winter World

“That’s good news,” Izumi says. “The other good news is that the human body is very adaptable. When it doesn’t get the calories it needs, it shifts its metabolism to buy us time to find those calories. The first thing it does is take the glycogen from our livers and convert it to glucose which goes into our bloodstream. When that glycogen is gone, the body starts using stored proteins and fat. Initially, these are broken down into glycerol, fatty acids, and amino acids, which lower the body’s need for glucose. The proteins that aren’t essential for survival will be used up first. If the body still isn’t getting the calories it needs, it shifts again. It starts relying on fat more, which it converts into ketones. And finally, when the fat reserves are gone, it begins cannibalizing the remaining protein. Muscles, our largest protein stores, are quickly depleted. That leaves proteins essential to cellular function. When the body begins using those, organ damage and failure follows. At this point, the immune system begins to severely degrade. Infectious diseases we might have fought off easily become deadly. Death from cardiac arrest is common at this stage. Most who live past those dangers die of one of two diseases: kwashiorkor and marasmus.”
― A.G. Riddle, The Solar War