A lot of people ask, “Can you drink distilled water?” It’s not a surprising question at all.
Distilled water, purified water, ionized water – with so many types of specialty water systems on the market, it’s hard to know what’s healthiest.
At first glance, distilled water sounds like it might at least be safe, but is it the best choice for you and your family? To know the answer, you have to learn more about it.
You’ll find individual bottles of distilled water for sale in supermarkets, as well as “countertop” machines for home use. How do they come up with it, though?
The process of distillation starts by boiling water. It leaves behind impurities as disposable solids.
The resulting steam is free of those “pollutants.”
After the boiling/separation step, the machine then captures the steam and condenses it so it goes back to being a liquid form. The process is similar to making certain spirits, such as rum or whiskey.
Some essential oils also come from a distillery.
For large-scale production, a distillery machine can take up entire buildings. Even home-use versions can be complex.
Why is water distilled? There are practical reasons for it.
Distillation removes contaminants from problematic water sources. That’s why some cities invest in the equipment.
For example, if a municipality relies on seawater, a distillery system can make the water safe for public consumption.
When it comes to uses unrelated to drinking, some people purchase distilled water if they are making soap or washing vintage fabrics. Distillation removes any impurities that can chemically interfere with the soap’s ideal pH levels or with delicate textiles.
Is Distilled Water Safe?
Can you drink distilled water? In the short term, distilled water is safe to drink.
In fact, many people use home distilled water systems as one of the several options to remove contaminants.
Distillation is one of the many ways of “purifying” water. It should no longer contain pathogens.
In other words, the process must make the water drinkable and safe.
Of course, there is always the chance the distillery equipment itself can be contaminated. When these circumstances happen, it renders municipal tap water or even commercial bottled distilled water unsafe.
There have been instances in which authorities weren’t able to detect the problem immediately.
In general, the answer to “Is it safe to drink distilled water?” is yes. If you’re traveling and are unsure of the water supply, for example, buying a bottle of distilled water is one way to keep harmful germs from entering your system.
Is Distilled Water Good for You?
Whether distilled water should be part of a healthy lifestyle is a different question altogether.
Many health advocates worry the process “goes too far,” in a sense. It removes not only the contaminants but also the water’s natural mineral content.
The boiling process used in distillation doesn’t distinguish between “good” and “bad” unstable agents. Distilled water may be free of pathogens but also has “unstable” elements such as minerals and electrolytes.
Here are a few health concerns associated with long-term distilled water intake:
1. No Minerals
Why is the lack of mineral content a concern?
Humans need them to thrive.
It’s one of the reasons doctors urge us to drink plenty of water each day. It’s not only for fluid intake.
The water also contains the life-giving properties the minerals provide.
Normally, water contains minerals like calcium, fluoride, and magnesium. These nutrients are crucial for healthy teeth, strong bones, and proper nervous system function, among many other things.
Unfortunately, distillation removes them.
The distillation process also eliminates electrolyte content.
Electrolytes enable us to take in nutrients, such as potassium, from the food we consume.
Proper electrolyte levels are also necessary to flush out toxins. This happens through urination, which depends on healthy electrolyte levels.
2. Higher Body Acidity
Distilled water has a neutral pH level. At first glance, this may seem unimportant.
Note, though, this is not the body’s pH level. Instead, it should be slightly higher than neutral. In other words, the body needs a slightly alkaline, rather than slightly acidic, pH level. It is between 7.35 and 7.45.
Drinking distilled water only may lead to a condition known as acidosis. People with it have blood pH levels that fall below the 7.35 threshold.
Among the dangers of acidosis are nutrient depletion, bloating, muscle cramps, fatigue, and headaches. People with severe acidosis may run the risk of organ failure.