WATER & WATER CONTENT TRIVIA
Brazil is home to 18% of the world's available freshwater resources in its rivers, lakes and aquifers.
Agriculture accounts for about 70% of all water use in the world.
Americans drink an average of 30 gallons of bottled water per person each year (2010). In 1980 the average was about 1 1/2 gallons.
It has been estimated that about 1/3 of the tap water used for drinking in North America is used to brew coffee.
There is no scientific basis to support the recommendation to drink 8 glasses of water a day. We probably need about that much water intake daily, but we get much of that from the food we eat.
You can drink too much water. Drinking significantly more water than we need can lead to 'water intoxication,' which can lead to fatal cerebral and pulmonary edema. Some amateur marathon runners have died in this manner.
According to United Nations estimates, it takes a minimum of 528 gallons of water to produce a day's worth of food for one person.
One pound of rice takes about 240 gallons of water and one pound of grain fed beef takes 1,680 gallons of water.
A loaf of bread and a bottle of wine each require more than 200 gallons of water to produce.
It is estimated that in 2009 it takes about 1,200 tons of water to produce a ton of wheat, and 2,000 to 5,000 tons of water to produce a ton of rice.
Potatoes require less water to grow than other staple foods such as wheat, rice and corn.
In 16th century Europe beer and wine were the staple drinks at all meals including breakfast, even for children as young as 8 years old. English lawyer and statesman Sir Thomas More (1478-1535) was unusual because he drank water.
Of the following:
• a) fresh carrots,
• b) fresh tomatoes,
• c) whole milk, and
• d) fresh celery ---
Whole milk contains the LOWEST water content at 87%. Fresh carrots contain 88%; Fresh tomatoes 93%; and Fresh celery 94%.
Vegetables that are boiled actually lose some of their water content. They will weigh less after boiling in water than they did before. This is caused by the heat, which breaks down the cell walls and allows some of the water to leak from the plants cells.
Watermelons and lettuce are 97% water.
According to the U.S. Geological Service, irrigation accounts for almost 40% of all freshwater usage in the United States. World wide, agriculture accounts for about 70% of freshwater use.
Lean young veal may be as much as 80% water, and fully fattened beef may be about 50% water.
1 out of 10 American adults say they do not drink any water daily.
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