Why Pemmican Far Outshines Energy Bars and Meat Sticks: The Ultimate Survival Food

In today’s world of convenience snacks, energy bars, meat sticks, and jerky are often presented as practical, on-the-go options for busy lives or extreme conditions. They promise fuel, satiety, and energy, but the reality is far less appealing for those who’ve lived under challenging circumstances. Modern convenience foods often fail to provide real nourishment and can even cause harm over time. In contrast, pemmican stands out as a superior option. As a traditional food with a long history, it has sustained people for centuries with its incredible nutrient density, long shelf life, and portability. It isn’t just a snack—it’s a complete meal that supports health and vitality in a way modern foods cannot.[1][2][3]

Energy Bars, AKA Gut Bombs in Disguise

Energy bars are marketed as the ultimate fuel for athletes, hikers, and busy professionals, but they’re often little more than glorified candy bars. Packed with sugar, refined grains, and synthetic additives, they deliver a brief burst of energy followed by a dramatic crash. They wreak havoc on gut health, leaving your digestive system inflamed and struggling to recover. This is especially true in high-stress conditions where proper digestion and energy are critical.

Take it from someone who has lived off these bars while serving in the military under extreme conditions:

“I remember eating three Marathon bars in one sitting and feeling like I’d swallowed wet cement hardening in my gut. Seven Cliff bars left me physically bloated, with a sickeningly sweet aftertaste, doubled over in pain. They tasted good, sure—but they didn’t fuel me. They made everything worse. I ate these bars for meals, and I got very sick.”

These “energy bars” are high in sugar and often contain artificial sweeteners, preservatives, and low-quality proteins. They may provide calories but don’t nourish the body with proper fuel. Instead, they disrupt digestion, cause inflammation, and can even lead to long-term health issues like gut permeability.[4][5]

Typical Problematic Ingredients in Energy Bars 

• Refined Sugars: High amounts of refined sugar, such as glucose syrup or high-fructose corn syrup, can feed harmful bacteria in the gut, disrupting the balance of the microbiome. This imbalance can lead to inflammation, digestive discomfort, and even conditions like leaky gut over time.

• Artificial Sweeteners: Ingredients like aspartame, sucralose, and saccharin are often used to keep calorie counts low, but they come at a cost. These sweeteners can alter gut microbiota composition, causing bloating, gas, and long-term digestive disturbances.

• Processed Grains: Many energy bars use refined grains like rice flour or oat syrup solids, which are stripped of essential nutrients. These processed ingredients can spike blood sugar levels, irritate the digestive system, and contribute to systemic inflammation.

• Preservatives: Chemical preservatives like nitrates, sulfites, and benzoates are added to prolong shelf life but can irritate the gut lining. Over time, these additives can trigger inflammation and disrupt natural digestive processes.

• Emulsifiers: Additives like polysorbate-80 and carboxymethylcellulose improve texture and shelf stability but can damage the gut barrier. Studies show they thin the mucus lining of the gut, leading to increased intestinal permeability and chronic inflammation.

• Low-Quality Proteins: Energy bars often rely on inexpensive protein sources like soy protein isolate or whey concentrate, which are heavily processed. These proteins can be difficult to digest, cause bloating, and exacerbate inflammation in individuals with sensitive digestive systems.

Unlike pemmican, which provides slow-burning, sustained energy (without preservatives or emulsifiers), energy bars leave you feeling lethargic and bloated. They fail to deliver real nutrients and instead burden the body with inflammatory ingredients, making them one of the worst options for anyone seeking portable nutrition.[6] 

Jerky and Meat Sticks: Convenient but Compromised

Jerky and meat sticks are often considered healthier alternatives to energy bars, but they fall far short of a complete meal. While they contain protein, they lack the balance of fats and other vital nutrients needed to sustain energy and satiety. They are often heavily processed, loaded with preservatives like nitrates and nitrites, and frequently contain hidden sugars or artificial flavorings. This compromises their nutritional value and makes them harmful over time.[7][8]

Even high-quality jerky struggles to meet the demands of extreme conditions:

“I spent my own money on high-quality jerky and had it shipped to Afghanistan. Even then, it spoiled—turning sour and off. I ate some out of desperation, but it wasn’t satisfying. It was too lean, too wet, and it made me sick. Two privates with iron guts finished it off.”

Jerky’s high water content and lack of fat make it prone to spoilage, especially in extreme environments. Even when fresh, jerky is not designed to be a standalone meal. Without fat, it doesn’t provide long-lasting energy or satiety.

Typical Problematic Ingredients in Meat Sticks and Beef Jerky

• Preservatives: Common preservatives like nitrates, nitrites, and sodium erythorbate are used to prevent spoilage and enhance color. These chemicals have been linked to increased risks of cancer and chronic inflammation, particularly in the gut.

• Hidden Sugars: Many jerky products contain added sugars or high-fructose corn syrup to enhance flavor. These refined sugars can disrupt the gut microbiome by feeding harmful bacteria, leading to bloating, digestive discomfort, and systemic inflammation over time.

• Artificial Flavorings: Ingredients like monosodium glutamate (MSG), hydrolyzed soy protein, and smoke flavoring are frequently added to meat snacks. These artificial flavorings can act as excitotoxins, overstimulating the nervous system and potentially causing inflammation in sensitive individuals.

• Low-Quality Fats: Some meat sticks and jerky contain added vegetable oils like soybean or canola oil to improve texture. These oils are high in omega-6 fatty acids, which, when consumed in excess, can contribute to chronic inflammation and disrupt the balance of healthy fats in the body.

• Emulsifiers and Binders: Additives like soy lecithin or carrageenan are used to bind ingredients together but can irritate the gut lining. These substances may also alter gut microbiota, increasing the risk of digestive discomfort and inflammation.

These problematic ingredients undermine the health benefits of meat-based snacks, turning them into inflammatory, nutrient-deficient options that burden the gut and digestive system.

Meat sticks often fall short when it comes to convenience and nutrition. While they appear shelf-stable, they can still spoil and lack the nutrient density found in real, whole foods. With little fat to provide lasting energy, they leave you feeling hungry and unsatisfied not long after eating.

The Pemmican Advantage: Nutrition and Survival in One

Pemmican stands apart as the gold standard for portable, nutrient-dense food. Pemmican provides everything the body needs to thrive, made from a simple combination of rendered fat, dried meat, and sometimes dried berries. It is a perfect balance of protein, healthy fats, and fat-soluble vitamins, making it far superior to energy bars, jerky, and meat sticks. Pemmican is not only nourishing but also incredibly satisfying, keeping hunger at bay for hours.[1][2]

“Eating nothing but pemmican won’t hurt you in any way. Once you’re fat-adapted, you can eat as much as you like without negative effects. It’s nourishing, satisfying, and incredibly shelf-stable—nothing like the other options.”

Unlike modern convenience foods, pemmican digests easily, providing clean, sustained energy without bloating, inflammation, or gut distress. Another key advantage of pemmican is its shelf stability. Properly prepared pemmican can last years without refrigeration, even in harsh conditions. Pemmican is perfect for long-term storage, emergency preparedness, and survival situations. Unlike jerky, which spoils quickly, or energy bars that offer little nutrition and often upset the gut, pemmican holds its nutritional value and flavor for an impressive amount of time, even in challenging conditions.[1]

Benefits of Pemmican and How It Outshines Energy Bars and Meat Sticks

• Nutrient Density: Pemmican is made from dried meat and rendered fat, providing a concentrated source of high-quality protein and healthy fats. Unlike energy bars and meat sticks, it delivers essential vitamins like A, D, E, and K, along with minerals such as iron and zinc, all critical for overall health and energy.

• Balanced Macros: The combination of protein and fat in pemmican ensures a steady release of energy, keeping you satiated and energized for hours. Energy bars rely on sugar for quick energy spikes, while meat sticks are too lean to provide lasting fuel.

• Shelf Stability: Properly prepared pemmican can last for years without refrigeration, making it ideal for long-term storage and extreme conditions. Energy bars degrade in quality over time, and meat sticks are prone to spoilage due to their water content.

• No Inflammatory Ingredients: Pemmican is free of refined sugars, artificial sweeteners, and preservatives that disrupt the gut and promote inflammation. In contrast, energy bars and meat sticks often contain these harmful additives.

• Gut-Friendly: With no artificial emulsifiers, binders, or low-quality fats, pemmican supports a healthy gut. Unlike meat sticks, which may irritate the gut lining, and energy bars, which can disrupt microbiota, pemmican is easy to digest and gentle on the stomach.

• Satiating and Complete: Pemmican is a complete meal, combining protein, fat, and sometimes dried berries for additional micronutrients. Energy bars are calorie-dense but nutrient-deficient, while meat sticks are low in fat and not filling.

• Portable and Versatile: Lightweight and compact, pemmican is perfect for travel, hiking, and emergency situations. Energy bars and meat sticks are also portable but fall short in delivering real, long-lasting nutrition.

• Traditional Wisdom: Pemmican has been trusted for centuries by explorers and indigenous peoples for its ability to sustain energy and health in harsh conditions. Modern processed snacks like energy bars and meat sticks cannot match this time-tested reliability.

Pemmican stands in a league of its own, delivering unparalleled nutrition, long shelf life, and digestive health benefits, far surpassing the convenience and nutritional quality of energy bars and meat sticks.

The Hidden Dangers of Modern Convenience Foods

Modern convenience foods aren’t just inadequate—they’re harmful. Energy bars, boxed cereals, and sugary snacks are nutrient-deficient and can lead to serious health problems over time. One soldier recounted the widespread health issues caused by these foods during deployment:

“We lived in filth, barely did laundry, and ate trash foods until we couldn’t stand it. We were constipated and then had diarrhea. Nutrition was a big part of what was making us absolutely miserable. Even the local interpreters who ate our food got sick.”

These foods contain inflammatory ingredients like refined sugars, artificial additives, and processed grains. They provide empty calories that burden the digestive system without offering real nourishment. Over time, this can lead to systemic inflammation, poor gut health, and a weakened immune system.[9][10]

Pemmican: Hands Down the Best for Health and Survival

Pemmican offers the ultimate solution for anyone looking for real, portable nutrition that truly delivers. Unlike energy bars, which are gut bombs, or jerky, which lacks balance and spoils easily, pemmican is a complete meal that sustains energy, supports health, and lasts for years. It’s a testament to the wisdom of traditional foods, offering nourishment that modern snacks can’t replicate.

“If pemmican is a rope to escape with, energy bars are barbed wire, and meat sticks are twine.”

For those who value health, sustainability, and real nourishment, pemmican is the clear winner. Whether you’re in the field, on a hike, or simply preparing for emergencies, pemmican delivers everything you need—without compromise.

Citations: 

1. Survival World Editors. "Pemmican Is a High-Calorie, Easy-to-Make Survival Food You Can Stockpile—Here’s How." Survival World, 10 Feb. 2022, www.survivalworld.com/preparedness/pemmican-is-a-high-calorie-easy-to-make-survival-food-you-can-stockpile-heres-how. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

2. Simple Family Preparedness Editors. "How Long Does Pemmican Last?" Simple Family Preparedness, 5 Apr. 2023, www.simplefamilypreparedness.com/how-long-pemmican-lasts. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

3. News.com.au Editors. "Why Processed Meat Snacks Should Be Banned." News.com.au, Nationwide News Pty Ltd., 14 Jan. 2024, www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/eat/why-processed-meat-snacks-should-be-banned/news-story/65c693a654207a4656ee32f0ea4b50b5. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

4. Consumer Reports Editors. "Best and Worst Energy Bars." Consumer Reports, Consumer Reports, 10 June 2023, www.consumerreports.org/health/healthy-snacks/best-and-worst-energy-bars-a1145410603. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

5. Food & Wine Editors. "Emulsifiers in Food Could Pose a Health Risk, Study Suggests." Food & Wine, Dotdash Meredith, 18 Aug. 2022, www.foodandwine.com/emulsifiers-in-food-health-risk-study-8774344. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

6. Facts.net Editors. "18 Pemmican Nutrition Facts." Facts.net, 20 Apr. 2024, facts.net/lifestyle/food/18-pemmican-nutrition-facts. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

7. MD Anderson Cancer Center. "Eat Less Processed Meat." MD Anderson, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 15 May 2023, www.mdanderson.org/publications/focused-on-health/eat-less-processed-meat.h11-1590624.html. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

8. Eat This, Not That! Editors. "The Best Healthy Jerky and Meat Sticks, According to Nutritionists." Eat This, Not That!, Galvanized Media, 10 Aug. 2023, www.eatthis.com/best-healthy-jerky-sticks. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

9. Rupa Health Editors. "Pro-Inflammatory Foods: What to Avoid and Why." Rupa Health, 12 Sept. 2023, www.rupahealth.com/post/pro-inflammatory-foods-what-to-avoid-and-why. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

10. Health.com Editors. "Does Sugar Cause Inflammation? Here's What Science Says." Health, Dotdash Meredith, 5 Mar. 2023, www.health.com/does-sugar-cause-inflammation-8756517. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.