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Lebensmittel Nr. 1

English translation: our primary nutrient

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:Lebensmittel Nr. 1
English translation:our primary nutrient
Entered by: roneill

06:32 Apr 21, 2006
German to English translations [PRO]
Marketing - Food & Drink / Water
German term or phrase: Lebensmittel Nr. 1
"Unser Lebensmittel Nr. 1" is water.

But does anybody know if there is a similar standard flowery description of H2O in English? I don't think I've ever heard water described as "Food No. 1" - but I could be wrong :)

Thanks in advance, David.
David Willett
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:28
our primary nutrient
Explanation:
Our most essential nutrient or our most important nutrient are also possibilities.

Nothing wrong with the other answers.

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Note added at 7 hrs (2006-04-21 13:40:46 GMT)
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http://www.nutritionnewsfocus.com/archive/WaterImport.html

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Note added at 7 hrs (2006-04-21 13:42:48 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Water is the most important nutrient primarily because we are basically sacks of water, a few other ingredients, and bones holding us up. Two-thirds of our bodies are water. While we can go for extended periods without most nutrients, the limit without water is only a few days. You often hear that you need to drink eight glasses per day. Well, this amount includes fluid from all sources and many foods have high water contents. Factors that affect how much water an individual needs include age, physical activity and environmental temperature. The elderly and young children are more susceptible to dehydration. Infants drinking from bottles should generally not be given water because they need the calories from formula or milk; many cases of failure to thrive have been attributed to providing water in infants’ bottles.

Although the government claims our water systems are safe, some people are concerned about levels of chlorine or other contaminants in water. Simple activated charcoal filters will remove most of these substances. But if you keep water around for days, say in a pitcher in the refrigerator, you might be better off with chlorinated water. Chlorine is added to kill bacteria in water pipes. This sometimes leads to a bad taste and there are some concerns about cancer-causing chemicals when chlorine reacts with other substances in water, particularly in the summer when more chlorine is added to water supplies (since the warmer water allows better growth of bacteria). This is primarily a potential long-term hazard; the benefits of chlorine in preventing acute bacterial infections are well established. The chlorine in water will evaporate if you leave a tray of water for a few hours; why do you think people with swimming pools have to constantly replace the chlorine?

Selected response from:

roneill
United States
Local time: 01:28
Grading comment
Thanks to all for your suggestions - wish I could split the points, etc. I plumped for this in the end because I found it, or similar, on a number of English (not translated) websites.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +3Water - our no. 1 foodstuff
Alan Johnson
3 +2Water: the stuff of life
Kari Foster
3 +1most important item in our diet
Ian M-H (X)
4the base of life
ELisabeth Luhrs
4our primary nutrient
roneill
3most important commodity
Sabine Tietge
3water is our no. 1 staple
AnjaR


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


39 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
most important commodity


Explanation:
Water is the single most important commodity

just an idea...

Sabine Tietge
Local time: 13:58
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12
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46 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
Water - our no. 1 foodstuff


Explanation:
Another workaround. Or how about:

Water - our most wholesome foodstuff?

Or something along those lines. I've come across the German phrase before, but can't remember the solution I used at that time.

Alan Johnson
Germany
Local time: 10:28
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Ian M-H (X): both good options
12 mins
agree  Cetacea: "water is our number one foodstuff". After all, that's exactly what it is, nothing flowery about that.
3 hrs
agree  roneill
6 hrs
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38 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
most important item in our diet


Explanation:
Or "most important part of our diet" or even "number one component" - I think it helps to put the "number one" first.

"the most important thing we eat or drink"

"number one drink"

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Note added at 57 mins (2006-04-21 07:29:26 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Given your note re. keeping pollutants out of the water, maybe something with "precious"? Depends how 'flowery' you want to get and how far you can stray from the original...

The most precious liquid known to humankind

Nature's most precious gift

Ian M-H (X)
United States
Local time: 04:28
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  roneill
6 hrs
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
Water: the stuff of life


Explanation:
Even more 'flowery' than the original!

Kari Foster
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:28
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Ian M-H (X): nice
18 mins
agree  Ingeborg Gowans (X): I like that, it has umph!
5 hrs
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
the base of life


Explanation:
Water is the base of life, without it we could not survive

ELisabeth Luhrs
Australia
Local time: 18:28
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in EnglishEnglish
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
our primary nutrient


Explanation:
Our most essential nutrient or our most important nutrient are also possibilities.

Nothing wrong with the other answers.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 7 hrs (2006-04-21 13:40:46 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

http://www.nutritionnewsfocus.com/archive/WaterImport.html

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 7 hrs (2006-04-21 13:42:48 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Water is the most important nutrient primarily because we are basically sacks of water, a few other ingredients, and bones holding us up. Two-thirds of our bodies are water. While we can go for extended periods without most nutrients, the limit without water is only a few days. You often hear that you need to drink eight glasses per day. Well, this amount includes fluid from all sources and many foods have high water contents. Factors that affect how much water an individual needs include age, physical activity and environmental temperature. The elderly and young children are more susceptible to dehydration. Infants drinking from bottles should generally not be given water because they need the calories from formula or milk; many cases of failure to thrive have been attributed to providing water in infants’ bottles.

Although the government claims our water systems are safe, some people are concerned about levels of chlorine or other contaminants in water. Simple activated charcoal filters will remove most of these substances. But if you keep water around for days, say in a pitcher in the refrigerator, you might be better off with chlorinated water. Chlorine is added to kill bacteria in water pipes. This sometimes leads to a bad taste and there are some concerns about cancer-causing chemicals when chlorine reacts with other substances in water, particularly in the summer when more chlorine is added to water supplies (since the warmer water allows better growth of bacteria). This is primarily a potential long-term hazard; the benefits of chlorine in preventing acute bacterial infections are well established. The chlorine in water will evaporate if you leave a tray of water for a few hours; why do you think people with swimming pools have to constantly replace the chlorine?



roneill
United States
Local time: 01:28
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 14
Grading comment
Thanks to all for your suggestions - wish I could split the points, etc. I plumped for this in the end because I found it, or similar, on a number of English (not translated) websites.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
water is our no. 1 staple


Explanation:
*

AnjaR
Germany
Local time: 10:28
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



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