Do You Have Enough Long Term Proteins?

Protein is something the body absolutely needs to have to maintain good health. If you aren’t getting enough, your body will actually begin to consume muscle to meet its protein needs. In a survival situation, you will be working harder than you may ever have before and will be burning not only more calories, but also using your muscles more.

Your body will need sufficient replacement to repair cartilage, produce new blood cells, and repair or build muscle tissue. Thankfully, there are numerous foods out there that are packed with protein that stores very well for the long term.

It is important to have a variety of sources because not all proteins are the same. There are side benefits to having more than just beans and rice such as overall food diversity and its ability to raise morale. If you’ve been eating salt and pepper pinto beans for a few days, a jar of home canned beef would be like a gourmet meal. Even if all you did was add the beef to the beans!

How Much Do I Need?

I went searching around the internet to find an answer to this one. What I learned is that it is very complicated and about the only thing most sites agree on is it has to do with weight. What they can’t seem to define is the formula to figure it out. I guess this explains why there is never a percentage given on the nutrition labels on your daily need of protein. (I always wondered why, now I know!).

The USDA says that all men and women over the age of 19 need 0.37 grams of protein per pound of weight.

WebMD.com says women need 46 grams and men need 56 grams of protein per day.

One thing everyone agrees on is that if you are really physically active, you will need more than the recommended amounts. The amino acids in protein are the real stars of the show when it comes to healing from strenuous activity.

Protein Sources

Here is a look at different kinds of proteins to consider adding to your stored food for emergencies.

• Canned fish – Absolutely packed with the best proteins out there plus all of the other benefits fish provides.
• Jarred, canned, or dehydrated meats
• Eggs – if you are lucky enough to either raise chickens or have access to farm fresh eggs, they will last for months in a cool place. If you buy from the store, you can extend the shelf life greatly by rubbing mineral oil around it. It recreates the ‘bloom’ that is washed off eggs during processing. It generally remains intact in farm fresh eggs.
• Pickled Food – You can pickle fish, eggs, and other sources of protein that also provide you with the benefits of vinegar intake.
• Nuts – Dried, roasted, and salted nuts can last for a long time in the proper conditions. Other ways to store nuts long term include mashing them down and dehydrating them. You grind or mash them down into a powder afterward. The powder can be mixed into all sorts of things to add protein and good fats.
• Cheese – Cheeses are aged like wines and when you wax them, they can last for many years. If you are able to make your own cheese, the whey is also an incredible source of protein.
• Rice and Lentils– While I joked about it above, these really are some of the very best proteins that easily store for decades. Yes, they can be stored for more than 20 years, if needed. Likely even longer! Time will degrade the nutritional value but some is better than none if you are starving or really deficient.
• Dehydrated Fruit – There are several fruits out there that carry a good amount of protein in them such as apricots, raisins, dates, prunes, and bananas. If dehydrated and vacuum sealed in a jar, they can last a long time. Be sure to keep them in a cool, darak, and dry location.

There are other sources of protein available but the ones mentioned above are more easily recognized than say, quinoa. I had to look up what it was after seeing it on a vegan protein source list.

Don’t Store Food You Don’t Already Eat!

Methods of Storage Makes a Difference

There are many ways to store your proteins and even though many sites claim to say their method is the “one right way,” I debunk that with one simple question: “What climate do you live in?” Even more important than that is “What kind of storage space do you have available?” Instead of telling you that you must do this or that, I will present the things that your food storage method of choice must protect against:

• Air
• Moisture
• Light
• Pests/Rodents
• High Temperatures

All of these things are the main threats to your long term proteins (and all stored food). Oxygen, moisture, and high temperatures are exactly what bacteria needs to thrive and spread. The light can heat the food up, degrade the nutrients faster, and bleach your food out. If there is airflow, it can and likely will attract bugs and rodents who are seeking their next meal. An improperly sealed bag or bucket would be the equivalent of setting up a home made out of food for these disease causing vermin. If you can make sure the list above is followed and multiple layers of protection is provided, then your food is sure to last until you need it in an emergency or rotate it in to your normal stocks.

Storage Options

There are numerous ways to meet the storage needs that will fit your budget and space to work with. Mylar bags with O2 absorbers, 5 gallon buckets with Gamma Seal lids on them (they are fantastic, we have 5!), and a vacuum sealer are just a few methods of keeping your long term proteins and other foods stored safely so they are there when you need them the most.