And don't forget the Jello for hypothermia. That was a new one for me. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Sue

I don't think what Duckear posted reflects accurate medical biochemistry. At 300 cal/day you will be in a state of progressive malnutrition. The fat stores may spare (not stop) protein catabolism early on, but with time (weeks) the person will develop signs of marasmus after about 1/3 of protein stores are depleted. The attached handout is what physicians in training will learn.

http://www.uic.edu/depts/mcam/mcbc/lect_2004/lecture_41_43.pdf

Any chance you are willing to post a summary? :-)

-john

My point was that muscle protein catabolism isn't simply stopped at a certain calorie number. Yes, it is spared (less used) with adaptation to less food, to a certain point. That point will depend on the individual.

Any food is better than no food, as long as you have water also, as Doug's nutrition page states. A rough estimate for a person to maintain their body weight at rest is (body weight x 10 = calories/day needed to maintain body weight at rest). With physical exertion that number goes up. If you lose some weight, so what. Most of us need to anyway.

Slim Jims are packed with fat and protien

The have a Beef+Cheese thing that weigh's like 2 oz and is 150 cals. 2/3 fat and 1/3 protien. You see them near the checkout at walmart for about 85 cents

We used to drink hot jello while climbing mountains in the winter. It was like a quick energy boost. These days though, there are probably much better alternatives. Ah, the good ole days of hot cherry jello!!!

The liferaft rations in the Coast Guard were these compressed cornflake affairs with the consistency of cardboard and 4 soft candy packs with green,yellow,red and orange. This brownshoe ( aviation rating) decided he enjoyed them and secretely ate 3 C-130 supplies of the things in one week. He went to hospital with severe constipation. I dated this girl I really liked. She made tuna casserole, a meal I eat with reluctance, after 30 years of consuming a wretched recipe at an aunt's who relished the dish. This version was even worse, and was one of several reasons the relationship failed. A key component of any survival ration is to survive the meal. If you've never consumed a MRE, or sat down to Slim Jims, Twinkies and Cherry Jello an allready stressfull survival situation is no time for culinary exploration!

Well, that is what I learned during my surgical internship, but that was about 15 years ago, so it may have changed. Original work goes back to WWII studies. Most nutritional data, esp what is taught to physicians, is how to supply enough nutrition to be healing ie anabolic state. Life raft rations are to allow controlled starving. Not much call for controlled starving research in the traditional medical literature.

I very well may be wrong and would like info or links to correct my errors.


ETA

I reviewed the link, but my chemistry degree and my first years of medical school are a bit cloudier than I care to admit. While it all looks familiar, I don't have the time nor interest right now to wade through all that right now.


<img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Old Soldier - <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />Geez - you must be as old as I am! I used to hike, many moons ago, with a guy that lived mostly on Jell-o and beef jerky for days at a time! But then again I mostly lived on beer and raisins! Ah, to be young again.

10-4 Chris! Loud and clear - I'm already thinking I need a mixed bag. Some of this and that. Maybe some of this Datrex (once I've tried some!) plus MREs (BTDT) plus some preferred comfort food (jerky, nuts, grits, chocolate) and FIBER! (All-Bran, etc.)