Humans can survive up to several weeks without food. And the more fat and muscle you have, the longer you can stay alive. But regardless, several days without food will impair your judgment, because your body needs essential vitamins, minerals, salts and sugars from new food to function properly, which helps with energy and morale.
Plants and Animals.
Food is classified into two basic categories...Plants and Animals.
Edible plants are harder to classify (poisonous or not), and easier to obtain and prepare. Animals are easier to classify, but harder to obtain and prepare. Both provide the calories and nutrients that you need to survive.
The average person needs 2000 calories per day. Younger adults on average need more than older adults though. If you do not get the proper amount of carbohydrates, fats, proteins… the body will naturally convert its own fat and muscle into energy…losing weight…and eventually leading to starvation.
Plants.
Plants are mostly rich in carbohydrates, the main and most immediate source of energy. Some plants, like nuts and seeds provide enough protein and fats to keep the body running at normal efficiency. Fruits, roots and green vegetables also provide enough natural sugars to keep the body running.
Plants are much easier to obtain than animals (because they don’t run away, hehe), but sometimes hard to classify if they are poisonous or not, so be very very careful! Only eat plants that you are certain are not poisonous (I will cover this in the next post).
You can dry plants with sun, fire or open air…to extend the time before spoiling.
Animals.
Meat is much more nutritious, calorie intensive and sometimes more readily available in some places, like in colder climates.
However, meat (an animal) is much harder to obtain because it either runs from you, or worse, they may want you for food…yikes!
Considering the bigger the animal, the harder it is to catch, kill, and prepare…obtaining animals such as insects, reptiles, crustaceans, fish and mollusks might prove easier while you are preparing weapons, snares and tactics to catch larger game.
AND ALWAYS COOK YOUR FOOD!
In Conclusion:
Food is essential because it provides essential vitamins, minerals, salts and sugars for normal body functioning.
Plants are easier to obtain but harder to classify if they're poisonous. Animals are harder to obtain, but easier to classify.
Always cook your food (kills most parasites) before consuming.
This was an introduction. The next posts will address classifying and preparing plants to eat for survival.
Sources: U.S. Department of Defense - Survival Handbooks, Army Field Manuals, Soldiers Guides and Personal Experience.
Stay frosty people.