It’s also a challenging one – your body and mind alike will have to suffer for those views! So, as you are educating and preparing to fill your frame with the countless physical needs of this insane Everest Base Camp Trek, two of the most crucial elements you will forget about, with the intention of playing a primary role in determining your safety and success on the mountains, are hydration and power. At altitude, your frame’s needs trade notably, and what serves you perfectly well at sea level does not quite cut the mustard in the Khumbu. Staying well-fed and hydrated is the best comfort, but it is a crucial strategy to fend off altitude illness & make sure you have enough gas inside the tank for the final leg of your EBC Trek.
This full guide dives into the hydration and nutrition science of the Himalayas, so you’ll have a clear action plan to remain energetic, healthy & strong while travelling to Everest Base Camp.
The Science of Thirst:
Why does it so often fail to do the trick? Originally published in our Afghanistan issue. Now thirst can also buy itself scads of sugary hydration, or dire hangovers from Dragon’s Teeth boiled concoctions.”
This distinction within the environment has a substantial effect on your body. You breathe more to get in greater oxygen, and your breathing fee increases, and a certain amount of water vapor comes out of the lungs while you breathe quickly. Further, in low-humidity environments, water evaporates more quickly out of your skin. Adding insult to injury, “high-altitude diuresis” causes you to pee more. All of this can lead to dehydration, whether you feel particularly thirsty or not. The danger is that a dehydrated body has so much lower a resistance to altitude sickness that only one strategy wins: rehydration.
Can we find clean water on the trail?
This is your primary source of drinking water at the teahouses along the way to Everest Base Camp. The idea is to give you boiled water, which is good and certainly kills the bacteria/virus. A great many trekkers will also be able to carry their own water purification device, such as water purification tablets or a portable water filter system. There’s bottled water (though the local government warns against it, to protect the delicate Himalayan ecosystem from plastic pollution). Choosing boiled water or taking your own purification system is not only more eco-friendly but could also save you money in terms of the cost to climb to Everest Base Camp.
Fueling Your Engine – Nutrition and Cycling
Just as important as hydrating is fueling your body with the proper food. Metabolism at high altitude changes. Your body prefers to burn carbohydrates because breaking down carbohydrates for energy demands less oxygen than metabolizing fats. Finally, low oxygen levels may decrease your appetite and therefore you won’t eat enough calories to cover the high energy needs. Tactics: AA’s high-calorie diet, and particularly rich in carbohydrates, is the approach to follow. And it’s essential to eat even when you’re not terribly hungry to maintain your energy levels.
Carbs Are Your Best Friend
You should eat a lot of carbohydrates, as it is the product that makes you move all day. Among other things, the teahouse menus here are well-designed for it. Local staple food, namely Dal Bhat – lentil soup with rice and vegetables, and just what you need. The good old traditional Nepali dish provides a fine mix of complex carbohydrates that burn for a long time and are easy to burn within the next couple of hours, as well as the necessary protein from the lentils for muscle recovery. The best part is that in Teahouse, they can still Dal Bhat you to infinity, without experiencing any difficulties in recharging for the new day. Sherpa stew, fried rice, and anything cooked with potatoes are also excellent choices for dinner/lunch/snack if you are a fan of carbohydrate-rich food.
The Power of Snacking
Even if you eat meals the size of your head, you may need to recharge in the daytime at a place between each teahouse. Therefore, all high-energy snacks should be in your daypack to avoid the inevitable mat sink. Just grab and carry snack bags; there are many. Simple, convenient snack sachets that you can grab and carry on. Breakfast snacks. Snacks to avoid sugar fluctuations during the day.y The best things to pack are nuts, dried fruit, energy/snack bars, and dark chocolate. All of this is quite light, low in calories, and convenient to consume in the process. Even in Kathmandu or larger towns like Namche Bazaar, you can get some of those, but the higher you go, the more it costs to transport goods.
Final Conclusion: The Foundation Of A Good Trek
Everest Base Camp Trek modifies your existence and requires complete physical, mental, and emotional coaching. How you rehydrate and refuel holds the important thing to frame and thoughts instruction. Through taking a proactive method in your hydration, weight loss program, and paying attention to your frame, you could make a huge difference, not only in increasing the likelihood of a high-quality hiking experience, but also in enabling yourself to get out there and take advantage of all that first-rate scenery. Simply live fed and allow your body and the mountains to take you on one of the adventures of your lifestyle.
