Final answer:
Adaptation to starvation involves increasing lipid oxidation to preserve glucose for vital bodily functions, and elevating gluconeogenesis to maintain glucose levels when dietary carbohydrates are unavailable.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process associated with adaptation to starvation is increased lipid oxidation. During starvation, the body's primary concern is to preserve glucose for crucial functions, especially for the brain and red blood cells which are largely dependent on glucose for energy. Therefore, the body increases lipid oxidation to conserve glucose. Glycogen reserves are quickly depleted, following which the body turns to lipids as a major energy source by oxidizing fatty acids. This process also leads to an increase in ketone bodies which can be utilized by many tissues for energy, sparing glucose usage.
Moreover, increased gluconeogenesis also plays a significant role during starvation. This is the production of glucose from non-carbohydrate sources such as lactate, glycerol, and gluconeogenic amino acids which ensures a continuous supply of glucose for essential physiological functions when dietary carbohydrates are not available.