5 Basic Food Ingredients for Survival

Overview

There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing foods for your survival kit. Survival foods should be high in energy, easy to transport, require no refrigeration or cooking, and most importantly, provide necessary nutrients. Whether you're packing survival foods for a hike, camping trip or your home emergency disaster kit, there are a few staples you should include.

Fats

One of the best ingredients for survival is fat. Fats are good for energy, and they also provide insulation under the skin from extreme temperatures. Fat provides needed energy -- gram for gram, fat provides more energy than carbohydrates. Good portable sources of fat include sardines, peanut butter, nuts, dried coconut and certain food bars, such as Organic Raw Omega-3 food bar, which contains 13 grams of healthy fat.

Carbohydrates                                                                                                                                                                                         

The body gets energy from carbs by breaking them down into glucose to use for fuel. In most survival situations, you burn more calories and reach exhaustion faster than normal. Carbohydrates provide readily accessible fuel for physical performance. Quick and easy sources of carbs include instant oatmeal, fruits and granola bars.

Protein

Protein is a very important nutrient for survival, but not just protein, but complete proteins, which contain all the essential amino acids -- the building blocks of protein. Protein is needed to repair muscle tissue; the more active you are, as in a survival situation, the more protein you will need. Quick and easy protein sources include canned tuna, dehydrated meats, nuts and pemmican, a dried, concentrated mixture of protein and fat.

Water and Electrolytes

Water is one of the most important ingredients for survival; you can go weeks without food, but only a day or so without water. But drinking plain water, especially in extreme temperatures in which you might perspire more, can cause an electrolyte imbalance. Symptoms of an imbalance or deficiency include drowsiness, weakness, nausea, confusion and disorientation. Electrolytes help minimize these symptoms and prevent muscle cramps. Gatorade is a common choice, but takes up space in your survival kit or backpack. However, electrolyte tablets are very compact and easy to transport.

See original article here: http://www.livestrong.com/article/371448-5-basic-food-ingredients-for-survival/