Fats are stored in the body as globules. During fasting, they are utilised for energy and over time will shrink in size. This explains why people lose weight when they fast.
There is a downside to using fats as an energy source : a by-product, called ketones, is produced. Ketones are acids and an excess of these can lower the pH of body fluids. This pH lowering can affect the fine-tuning of most metabolic processes in the body. When pushed to the extreme, the person suffers from ketoacidosis.
Fortunately, ketoacidosis seldom results from religious fasting because it takes about 14 hours after the last meal before fats are called upon to produce energy. By the time a person breaks fast, hypoglycaemia is still under control.
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