At first sight, the answer is obviously “Water is a drink”.
However, as it makes up a massive part of all of the food we consume, especially in food production, it has been defined as food by the FDA.
So, that begs the question – is water food, or is it a drink?
Let’s take a deeper dive into this topic and see if we can find some clarity on this complex question.
What is Water?
Water is a chemical compound with the chemical formula H2O. It is one of the most abundant molecules on earth, so it’s no wonder that water covers 71% of the earth’s surface.
Water is also found in other parts of space because it has been released from comets and also from meteorites as those meteorites have fallen to earth.
In its liquid form, water covers 71% of our planet’s surface and makes up about 55% of our own weight. We can’t live without it really as we need at least 8 glasses per day for our body to function correctly.
Be careful though not to drink too much as this can be just as bad for you, albeit in a different way.
What is the Difference Between a Drink and a Food?
A drink is a liquid and food you chew, in its most basic definition. Another example of this would be orange juice, which comes from food but is considered a drink.
On the other hand, a food usually has some sort of nutritive value whether it’s high in protein or high in carbohydrates.
Fruit juice is another example of something that doesn’t fit into this category, which brings us back to the original question: Is water food or drink? As mentioned earlier it’s both!
Ice is water that has frozen. So by our earlier definition, ice would be considered food as you can chew it, and you can’t drink it.
Fruit and vegetables contain high amounts of water because they are made up of about 95% water. Cucumbers contain 95% water, while fruits like oranges, apples, grapes, and strawberries are all about 90-95% water. Water is also an important ingredient in many prepared foods including bread, dairy products such as milk or yogurt, soups stock cubes, or even baby food.
Water is one of the most important ingredients in the world because it is essential for life. Every single cell in the human body needs water to survive.
It is vital for maintaining bodily functions such as temperature control, transporting nutrients, getting rid of waste products, and allowing muscles to contract. Water also helps protect tissues from damage by acidity or alkalinity, which ensures that they remain healthy enough to function properly.
A person can go without food for several weeks but only several days without water, making it vital for survival. Although we need water to live, it is still important to drink in moderation, as too much can be just as bad for you.
Water is food and a drink because it contains all the properties of both! It’s amazing that such an ordinary substance has so many functions, but then again, if we didn’t have this ordinary substance, our world would be a totally different place.
How Water Aids In Food Production
Water aids in food production by being an essential ingredient of many foods. In addition, water is essential to the preparation and cooking of most commercially prepared foods. In this way, water is a key element in the process. The impact of this can be seen in the daily diet and on a larger scale.
Most of the dairy foods that we take for granted could not be produced without water. This includes the meats and vegetables we eat, as well as many other common foods.
Thus, without water in these products, they would not be sold to consumers at all. The impact of this is very important for people to consider when thinking about how much an average American consumer relies on food that depends on water production or processing through cooking with water.
What Happens When An Area Runs Out Of Water?
If the water is cut to an area, entire systems-such schools, hospitals, and businesses-will shut down. Sewage systems will fail because water treatment plants use vast amounts of potable water. Working fountains will stop providing drinking water for people in that limited region.
When you don’t have access to clean tap water, your only recourse becomes bottled or boiled yet this requires an increasing number of resources which are quickly dwindling in number around the world due to lack of rainfall and other means by which fresh supplies might be newly made available again.
Water shortages can also develop into a public health issue when proper hygiene becomes limited–threatening populations with outbreaks of previously eliminated diseases like cholera & typhoid fever.
Which Foods Use The Most Water To Grow
Did you know that the foods that use the most water to produce are beef and dairy?
Beef uses around 3600 gallons of water to make one pound and cheese products, like milk and yogurt, utilize an average of close to 1 gallon of milk per single ounce. On the other hand, fruit and vegetables use much less water because they contain about 95% water.
How People Use Water Around The World
The world population is constantly growing. More people mean more demand for clean water supplies.
Farmers in Brazil grow sugar cane for Brazilians, who consume it as a sweetener. Even with advances in irrigation techniques, sugar cane still uses ten times the amount of water needed by corn to produce a pound of sugar.
In Asia, a food staple that uses a lot of water is rice. It takes 120 gallons of water to produce a cup of rice.
According to the U.N., farmers in Asia, South America, and Africa are increasing crop yields by using less water through irrigation techniques such as drip systems and recycling wastewater for use on crops.
In South Africa, water is scarce. Many people have to carry it long distances from sources that are not always clean enough for drinking or cooking.
By 2009, the country had reached a crisis point where they were using more than 100 percent of their available surface and groundwater resources each year with no plan in place on how to deal with the drought conditions.
In Perth, Australia, there is a growing concern that the water will dry up. The city is building a desalinization plant to turn saltwater into potable drinking water. The hope is that the new facility will be able to pump out 150 billion liters of drinkable products annually.
In Dubai, they have reclaimed land to make beautiful man-made islands such as the Psalm Jumeirah. On this island, there is a resort with the world’s only underwater hotel.
In China, water use in agriculture has dropped from 80 percent to 33 percent since 1980 due to economic development and agricultural modernization that uses less water for irrigation systems.
In addition, government policies have turned farmers into entrepreneurs by allowing them to lease their land instead of working as the state.
How Do We Use Water To Eat?
You can use water to cook rice or noodles. Just add the pasta to boiling water, and keep it at a rolling boil until it’s al dente (usually about 10 minutes).
You can also create a soup with just water. Just put the vegetables in a pot of cold water on your stovetop, then bring to boil for 5-10 minutes, or until softened.
Other water-heavy dishes include stews and casseroles.
Water is not only a drink but an important part of our daily food too. You can’t cook any dish without water or other liquids. You wouldn’t even have any food to eat if there wasn’t water to help grow it.
Is Water Food or Drink?
Ever wondered what “H2O” stands for? It is simply the symbol for water. Did you know that water is actually classified as food in the US? This means that it is an essential part of many foods and is also needed when preparing most commercially prepared foods.
It is the lifeblood of our entire food chain, which is why it is so important to be mindful of our water consumption. We all know that drinking enough water on a daily basis helps keep us hydrated, but what else does it do for us?
Water can help reduce your risk of certain diseases, including obesity and heart disease. Drinking plenty of pure non-fluoridated water also keeps your skin healthy and glowing.
Water is an important part of many foods, so it’s not surprising that it can help us stay hydrated while helping to reduce our risk for certain diseases at the same time! The next time you drink water out of a bottle or pour yourself a glass from the tap, remember what H20 really stands for…