What Is Rabbit Starvation?

Rabbit starvation, better known as protein poisoning, is a dangerous health condition caused by the overconsumption of protein, in conjunction with a lack of fats, carbohydrates, and micronutrients.

The term "rabbit starvation" refers to the fact that this condition can be caused by a near-total subsistence on lean, wild game, such as rabbit. Unchecked, the disease can cause severe symptoms of malnutrition, and can lead to a fatal buildup of toxins in the bloodstream.

The discovery of protein poisoning is linked to early health studies and observations of various Native American groups. Tribes in Alaska and the polar region subsisted largely on game with a high amount of fat and carbohydrates, such as seals and whales, and rarely suffered from this form of malnutrition.

By contrast, Native Americans stricken with so-called rabbit starvation tended to come from forested areas where harsh winters resulted in a diet of primarily lean game. Rabbit starvation was first described by Arctic explorer Vilhjalmur Stefanssonn in the late 19th century, but it was also remarked upon by Charles Darwin in his journals.

The mechanics behind rabbit starvation are fairly simple:

In addition to straining the liver, protein overconsumption also causes various symptoms of malnutrition, including:

These symptoms occur because the body is being deprived of necessary nutrition that can only be provided by fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, and other micronutrients.

When an individual is experiencing rabbit starvation, symptoms will occur regardless of how many calories from protein he or she consumes, since the body is limited in its ability to process energy and nutrition from protein. Thus, a person can be eating an enormous amount of food, yet still experiencing weakness, hunger, and other malnourishment symptoms.

The possibility of rabbit starvation leads many health experts to counsel against certain protein-heavy diets. Although the exact upper limit for safe protein consumption is not widely agreed upon, some nutrition professionals suggest that protein poisoning becomes a concern if protein comprises more than 35% of daily calorie intake. Some suggest that high-protein diets should be monitored by a doctor or dietician to prevent rabbit starvation from taking hold.

Since a well-balanced diet is a key to good health, the best treatment for rabbit starvation is to change your diet. An appropriate diet change will require a decrease in your protein intake and an increase in other vital nutrients, including fats and carbohydrates.

To maintain a healthy lifestyle, you’ll need an adequate intake of fats, fiber, carbohydrates, and sugars each day. Although that may sound counterintuitive to a diet, these are critical elements of a well-balanced diet. 

Your first step is to determine your appropriate daily intake for each vitamin, mineral, and nutrient. Then, you can make adjustments accordingly. The amount of protein you need will vary based on age, sex, and other unique nutritional requirements. The National Institute of Health has a handy guide that can help you determine your appropriate protein intake.

If your case of protein poisoning is severe, you might want to change your diet under your doctor’s supervision. Your doctor will be able to ensure you don’t make any drastic changes that could cause further damage.

Rabbit starvation was a common affliction for hunter-gatherers and ancient humans who lived off the land. However, protein poisoning is still quite real. If you’re a fan of rabbit meat, you might be wondering how long you can live off rabbit meat before reaching critical protein levels. Here’s a bit more information to help you understand how much protein is safe.

The average person should expect to experience adverse bodily effects within 4-6 weeks. At that point, your body will begin showing signs of nutrient deficiency. Then, after a few more weeks, you’ll reach deadly protein levels. At this point, your symptoms would be so severe they could result in death.

So, if you plan to consume significant amounts of rabbit, be sure to intersperse it with fattier meats and fiber. You’ll still be able to enjoy your favorite protein but without the risk of severe side effects.

Although hunger is a common symptom of protein poisoning, it has some other harmful effects. In addition to the symptoms listed above, keep an eye out for dehydration, bad breath, and weight gain.

Since protein poisoning attacks your kidneys, it can become difficult to urinate and lead to dehydration. Acute symptoms of dehydration include dizziness, exhaustion, and nausea. Drinking more water and consuming raw vegetables can help rectify the imbalance.

Another effect of protein poisoning is bad breath. When your body breaks down protein, it creates ammonia. Typically, the ammonia is excreted in your urine after passing through your kidneys. Unfortunately, since protein poisoning can affect kidney function, ammonia can’t pass through your kidneys. That buildup of ammonia can lead to bad breath. 

An unexpected side effect of rabbit starvation is weight gain. Any protein you eat that your body can’t consume will get stored as fat. Add that to the fact that you constantly feel hungry, and you could see significant weight gain. 

You may have heard the terms “protein poisoning” and “protein toxicity” used interchangeably. Although poisoning and toxicity are similar, when it comes to rabbit starvation, they’re quite different. 

The main difference between protein poisoning and protein toxicity is their root causes. While protein toxicity can result from over-consumption, it typically has to do with preexisting conditions. Preexisting conditions that put you at risk for protein toxicity are:

If you have any of these conditions and consume too much protein, you could see a buildup of metabolic waste compounds. When these compounds build up, they can cause vomiting, seizures, and permanent kidney damage.

The best way to prevent rabbit starvation is by balancing your diet. Avoid overindulging in lean meats, including rabbit, white chicken meat, and other game. Instead, incorporate fattier meats into your diet, such as beef, duck, and pork shoulder. 

Although there’s no established upper limit to how much protein is safe, there are some general guidelines. On average, you should limit your protein intake to approximately 2.5 grams per kilogram of body weight. So, if you weigh 75 kilograms, aim for no more than 188 grams of protein per day.