If you're worried about power failure for ten days then I recommend buying a $20 portable camping stove and three bottles of gas for about $1 each. Each bottle burns on high flame for about 80 minutes, so you'll be able to heat baked beans or cans of stew for a hot dinner.
Also buy some tea light candles, a torch and a small portable radio so you can listen to local broadcasts about what is happening. The cheapest tea lights burn for at least two hours, but you can get better quality, taller once that burn for eight hours.
If you're new to prepping, I'd recommend you buy cans of baked beans or stew or chili con carne, some canned vegetables like peas and carrots, ramen noodles, peanut butter, milk powder, breakfast cereal, instant coffee. Instant gravy with instant mashed potato with a pinch of white pepper and a slice of buttered bread makes for a quick meal too.
Rice is good, but you'll need to learn how to cook it using the camp stove. This is how I do it, but measurements will vary based on the size of your pot and if the lid has a steam hole and your stove: for one serving, combine 50g of dry rice with 100g of cold water in a pot. Cover, bring to the boil and immediately reduce the heat to VERY low (10%) for 16 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat but don't open the lid and allow it to finish absorbing the water for 20 mins and then break it up with a fork. Experiment a few times unlit you get the measurements right to there's no rice stuck to the bottom (you need more water) and it's not to mushy (you need less water). 16 minutes of flame might seem wasteful, but it's only at 10% lowest flame so it's the equivalent of less than 2 minutes.
I only mention rice because it stores well, can be cooked with very little gas and it'll bulk out most meats like canned stews and soups.
Ultimately, 95% of Americans could go on a 10 day fast with nothing but water and come out better for it.
People need fresh water. People need a way to regulate temperature, and some may require a way to generate electricity for a health condition. Other than that, cooked food is a far luxury.
Proper nutrition mandates you consume food. Your body will slow down its functions and metabolism, which has many effects.
Yes, there is evidence that controlled fasting is good... But we also have proof that long term fasting causes Muslims to go on a Ramadan killing spree.
Your metabolism is important. It's not just about how fast you digest food. You need a good metabolism for many bodily functions, and if you slow that down you weaken yourself.
Additionally, your brain needs glucose. You can get it from gluconeogenesis via protein, but you need to actually consume that protein. Without this, your mental acuity will drop as will your energy levels.
Further, there is no point to weakening your bones and muscles by missing vital vitamins.
Basic biology is not hard to grasp or understand. You need food. You would not "come out better for it" on a water-exclusive 10 day fast. You may not even lose as much weight as you think, if that's what you're implying, because only undereducated silly people still think that weight loss is as simple as calories in vs calories out -- your metabolism is very important for this, and if your body goes into starvation mode then you are not efficiently losing weight.
Finally, you need carbs, protein and calories to build muscle. Without those, you will not build.
At least stock up on good quality meal replacement bars too. They're packed full of stuff, and are better for you than canned food for every meal.
TL;DR: There is basically no way most people come out of a 10 day water only fast better than before.
If you're worried about power failure for ten days then I recommend buying a $20 portable camping stove and three bottles of gas for about $1 each. Each bottle burns on high flame for about 80 minutes, so you'll be able to heat baked beans or cans of stew for a hot dinner.
Also buy some tea light candles, a torch and a small portable radio so you can listen to local broadcasts about what is happening. The cheapest tea lights burn for at least two hours, but you can get better quality, taller once that burn for eight hours.
If you're new to prepping, I'd recommend you buy cans of baked beans or stew or chili con carne, some canned vegetables like peas and carrots, ramen noodles, peanut butter, milk powder, breakfast cereal, instant coffee. Instant gravy with instant mashed potato with a pinch of white pepper and a slice of buttered bread makes for a quick meal too.
Rice is good, but you'll need to learn how to cook it using the camp stove. This is how I do it, but measurements will vary based on the size of your pot and if the lid has a steam hole and your stove: for one serving, combine 50g of dry rice with 100g of cold water in a pot. Cover, bring to the boil and immediately reduce the heat to VERY low (10%) for 16 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat but don't open the lid and allow it to finish absorbing the water for 20 mins and then break it up with a fork. Experiment a few times unlit you get the measurements right to there's no rice stuck to the bottom (you need more water) and it's not to mushy (you need less water). 16 minutes of flame might seem wasteful, but it's only at 10% lowest flame so it's the equivalent of less than 2 minutes.
I only mention rice because it stores well, can be cooked with very little gas and it'll bulk out most meats like canned stews and soups.
Ultimately, 95% of Americans could go on a 10 day fast with nothing but water and come out better for it.
People need fresh water. People need a way to regulate temperature, and some may require a way to generate electricity for a health condition. Other than that, cooked food is a far luxury.
Not true. Survival is different than health.
Proper nutrition mandates you consume food. Your body will slow down its functions and metabolism, which has many effects.
Yes, there is evidence that controlled fasting is good... But we also have proof that long term fasting causes Muslims to go on a Ramadan killing spree.
Your metabolism is important. It's not just about how fast you digest food. You need a good metabolism for many bodily functions, and if you slow that down you weaken yourself.
Additionally, your brain needs glucose. You can get it from gluconeogenesis via protein, but you need to actually consume that protein. Without this, your mental acuity will drop as will your energy levels.
Further, there is no point to weakening your bones and muscles by missing vital vitamins.
Basic biology is not hard to grasp or understand. You need food. You would not "come out better for it" on a water-exclusive 10 day fast. You may not even lose as much weight as you think, if that's what you're implying, because only undereducated silly people still think that weight loss is as simple as calories in vs calories out -- your metabolism is very important for this, and if your body goes into starvation mode then you are not efficiently losing weight.
Finally, you need carbs, protein and calories to build muscle. Without those, you will not build.
At least stock up on good quality meal replacement bars too. They're packed full of stuff, and are better for you than canned food for every meal.
TL;DR: There is basically no way most people come out of a 10 day water only fast better than before.
I do a couple of 10 day water fasts and prayer every year. I will consume water, salt, coffee with a little cream, bone broth, and tea.
I spend that time reading the bible and praying. I can tell you I come out better every time.
salt, coffee, cream, bone broth and tea. That is not a 10 day water fast.