(Natural News)—Sugar is a pantry essential that is used in everyday cooking. Foremost a sweetener, sugar is one of the most useful ingredients to have in the kitchen. But did you know that sugar also has many survival uses and can be a lifesaver in times of emergencies?
One of the greatest advantages of sugar is its long shelf life. When stored properly, sugar can last indefinitely, making it an excellent emergency item to store in bulk. For long-term storage, keep sugar in dry, opaque, airtight and moisture/odor-proof containers, such as polyethylene or Mylar bags, food-grade plastic buckets, glass canning jars or #10 cans. (Related: Sugar: Cheap, effective wound treatment with a long shelf life.)
Here are some emergency uses for sugar you may not know of: (h/t to FoodStorageMoms.com)
Accessible source of energy
Sugar can provide quick energy when you need it most. A form of carbohydrate, swallowing even a small amount of sugar can give you enough calories (about four calories per gram) to keep you going. In fact, sugar provides the same amount of energy (16 kilojoules, kJ) per gram as other sources of carbs, such as bread, pasta, rice and fruits.
Natural food preservative
When you use sugar in your homemade jams and jellies, it serves a dual purpose: Not only does it add sweetness, but sugar also helps preserve their color, texture and flavor. Sugar works naturally as a preservative by absorbing water from foods; by reducing their moisture content, sugar creates a less suitable environment for food-spoiling microorganisms to grow. (Related: Food preservation techniques: Keep your pantry stocked for any crisis.)
First aid for wounds
Sugar’s ability to inhibit bacterial growth can also come in handy for treating wounds. Since ancient times, healers have been using sweetening agents like honey, molasses and syrups to clean wounds, prevent infections and promote faster healing. Today, granulated sugar is used in clinical settings to deal with various types of wounds. Sugar, when used to fill a wound, dissolves in tissue fluid, lowering water activity in the wound area which prevents the growth of bacteria.
Emergency hydration
Sugar and salt naturally stimulate cells to take up more water. This is very useful in times of illness when rehydration is needed. If you need to replenish lost electrolytes, you can make an emergency rehydration solution at home by mixing 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of salt, two tablespoons of sugar and juice from half a lemon or orange with four cups of water. The salt will provide sodium while the citrus fruit will provide potassium. Sugar will encourage water uptake and make the solution more palatable.
Excellent barter item
Because of its versatility, sugar makes a great item for trading and bartering when SHTF. Stock up on this valuable commodity so you’ll have plenty to use to your advantage in survival situations. (Related: Bullets, batteries and more: 13 Bartering items to stock up on while preparing for the financial crash.)
Bait for insect traps
Mosquitoes, flies and many other insects are attracted to sugar, making it an excellent bait for homemade insect traps. To deal with pesky mosquitoes without using chemical sprays, set a simple trap using an empty plastic soda bottle and sugar dissolved in water as bait. You can also use sugar water to entrap pesky flies. Alternatively, you can mix a bit of sugar with petroleum jelly in small containers and place these in areas around your home where bugs are most likely to roam. This is a simple yet effective way of dealing with ants and cockroaches.
Fermentation fuel
Fermentation is one of the oldest food preservation methods known to man. It is also a useful natural process that transforms raw food into different kinds of products. You can make healthy ingredients like yogurt and miso, side dishes like sauerkraut and kimchi, or beverages like kombucha and root beer by fermenting the right combinations of fruits and/or vegetables. All you need is a starter culture and sugar to kick-start the fermentation process.
Natural exfoliant
Sugar is often used to make DIY face and body scrubs. Experts say that sugar is an excellent exfoliator that can “slough off dry skin and help with acne,” and is commonly used together with a humectant for moisturizing and a fragrant essential oil with skin-supporting properties for extra benefits and aromatherapy. For a simple scrub that you can use on your lips, simply mix two tablespoons of superfine granulated sugar with one tablespoon of almond oil and one tablespoon of raw honey. Gently massage this mixture across your lips then rinse. (Related: Skincare hacks: Use homemade sugar scrub for radiant-looking skin.)
Energy source for animals
For preppers who are raising livestock in their backyards, sugar is a great emergency food to give to animals if you run out of feed. Just a small amount is enough to keep your animals’ energy up in times of emergency. Apart from being economically advantageous and being a good binding ingredient for animal feed, research also suggests that adding sugar to the diet of cows helps with their digestion and results in higher quality milk and meat yields.
Fertilizer substitute
If you have flowers or vegetables in your home garden that are suffering from nutrient deficiencies or poor sunlight, you can use table sugar as a fertilizer substitute to aid with plant growth. Sugar helps by acting as a food source for beneficial soil microbes to encourage mineralization of nitrogen and other nutrients. This process makes nutrients more available for plant uptake, thus helping revive withering plants. To apply, mix one part table sugar with four parts lukewarm water and lightly dampen the area around the base of the plants to be treated. Use moderately as too much sugar could harm weak roots.
Sugar is a versatile survival item to have in your prepper pantry. It can last indefinitely when stored properly and can be incredibly useful in times of emergencies. Learn more about other items like sugar that are worth stocking up on at Preparedness.news.
Watch this video to learn about the surprising uses of sugar in the garden. This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
Reducing daily sugar intake to less than 6 teaspoons found to benefit overall health.
Stockpiling tips: How to store white and brown sugar for the long term.
Natural sweeteners: Healthy alternatives to sugar and artificial sweeteners.
Natural sugar alternatives: How to grow Aztec sweet herb, stevia and sugar cane.
Exploring the best natural sweeteners to enhance your survival stockpile.
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- Extension.USU.edu 1
- FoodStorageMoms.com
- BetterHealth.Vic.au.gov
- Ohioline.OSU.edu
- Ragus.co.uk
- TAndFOnline.com
- ClinicalHerbalism.com
- Extension.USU.edu 2
- BackwoodsHome.com
- HomeTalk.com
- IFST.org
- Healthline.com
- Sugars.com
- Extension.UMN.edu
- HouseDigest.com
- Brighteon.com
Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.