Anyone spending time hiking, cycling, or skiing, has experienced chapped lips. The condition of dry, chapped lips often starts as a minor annoyance. Left untreated, it can lead to painful and unsightly cracking and bleeding. A more severe condition called angular cheilitis (also called perleche) is a fungus that causes painful splitting at the corners of the mouth. Chapped lips are caused by a lack of moisture when the layer of oil naturally produced by the body to coat the lips dries up. Exposure to cold and dry air, intense exposure to the sun, and indoor heating are all major […]
Camp Tips
68 posts
Have you ever wondered if fresh food contains the same nutrients as its dried counterpart? Let’s examine what happens when food is dried. These four steps are involved in preserving food by drying: Harvesting Storing Processing Drying From the moment it’s harvested or picked, raw food contains the highest content of nutrients. The nutrients decline as the food gets exposed to light and air during handling and transport. Additional nutrient loss occurs when the food undergoes processing (peeling, slicing, chopping) and declines further once exposed to heat for either cooking, preservation, or storage. Maximum nutrient retention occurs when raw food […]
Why sacrifice a decent meal when you are on the trail? Eating well on the trail tastes better and gives you the right types of food to enhance your performance and give you the gusto to go a little further. Eating well does not have to be gourmet or cost a fortune. Learn how to compare packaged foods to determine if the meal is worthy of stashing in your pack for your next outing. Start by following these tips. Should I buy this common backpacking meal? The product displays the following ingredients: 1. Decode the Ingredient List Here is an […]
How can you determine if a company is attempting to sell you a low-quality product despite its health claims? Food labels assert healthful claims on packaged products to get you to purchase them. Knowing what to look for in the ingredient list allows you to determine its worth objectively. There is a great deal of conflicting information available. Most people with special dietary needs are adept at reading labels to determine if the food contains hidden ingredients or allergens. Even if you don’t have any dietary restrictions, it’s beneficial to understand the ingredients in your food. There is an increasing […]
Do you ever notice your lips tasting like salt or feel grainy salt crystals on your face after hiking in hot weather? Maybe your eyes burn as sweat drips off your eyelids. Those are electrolytes—what is left when the water component of sweat evaporates. They need to be replenished by drink and diet. An electrolyte imbalance is not just a theoretical concern. It can lead to muscle cramping and fatigue, especially during prolonged activities like backpacking or hiking. This imbalance, caused by the loss of water through sweat or elimination, can result in muscle cramping and heart palpitations if you do […]