TWP Quote: Don't put all your eggs in one basket, as-it-were.
Or Snickers bars, either. One of my sources, if I remember correctly, had the energy value (either BTU or joules) of a Snickers bar in their table.
I would much rather eat it to generate body heat than burn it, but it does have a similar, if not better effect.
One of the reasons many of my food lists, especially field and other outdoor and cold weather lists, include the means and supplies to have hot drinks, especially, but also hot foods. These help keep a person warm both by introducing heat into the body, as well as providing fuel for the body to generate heat through digestion.
I consider it mandatory for myself to have a warm drink before I go to bed when out in the field, or as has happened a few times, indoors, but without other heat sources. It makes a huge difference in how warm I stay during the night, but also how well I sleep, in part due to the warmth, but also from the other benefits.
I have debated on including my thoughts on what I am about to bring up. Selco mentioned an aspect of it in his article. And almost all First-aid and outdoor information sources are adamantly opposed to what I am going to suggest. Hopefully my explanation with give enough information for everyone to make their own decision. And this is one case where not only will it be my opinion, I urge everyone to not take the 'not-advice' (actually just information that can be verified, and then decisions based on the individual interpretation of the verified information). I simply like to provide factual information to others in situations where there is often incorrect 'common knowledge' in circulation. (For example, my post about mattress tags.)
So here goes. It is commonly accepted that drinking alcohol when exposed to cold temperatures is not only foolhardy, but highly dangerous. I do not dispute this in any way. I agree with it wholeheartedly. Not only will the alcohol additionally impair an already cold impaired brain, the feeling of warmth alcohol creates by the action of causing blood vessels to increase in size slightly, and move closer to the surface of the skin, can negatively influence people, causing them to do things counter-productive to staying warm, or to no even realize that their body temperature is dropping.
However, it is these same effects that alcohol has on the body, that allows it to be a help when a person can come into a warm area from a cold one, and needs to bring body temperature back up. As long as there is a heat source, a reasonable drink of alcohol can bring blood vessels to the surface of the skin, just as it does when out in the cold, where they radiate heat. But inside, exposed to a heat source, those veins will absorb heat and carry it throughout the body. Wearing some light clothing, staying near (but not too close) to a heat source, and having a drink of alcohol can help raise body temperatures fairly quickly and safely.
The same goes for taking a warm bath after having a drink of alcohol. That warmth will soak into the exposed veins very quickly.
With all that said, do not risk trying it without confirming what I have stated. I believe it all to be correct, but I am not willing to take responsibility for someone's life. Due your own research, and base your decisions on it, not what I have said here.
Just my opinion.