“Can I drink distilled water?” As a blog concerned with water safety, we field all sorts of questions. Believe it or not, this is not an uncommon one.
After all, we’ve discussed lots of drinking- and chemical-related topics in the past -- from “can I
drink ocean water?” to “
is public pool water safe to drink?” We’ve even had an article that focused on whether you should
drink water after a wildfire.
Feel free to check out those posts. However, to save your time, the answer to the questions above, though sometimes complicated, is “No.”
As for whether you can drink distilled water? This one is actually a little more nuanced. The answer is “yes,” but read on to learn more.
What is Distilled Water?
First, let’s start by talking about what makes distilled water. There are lots of different types of water, such as tap water and spring water. However, distilled water is a bit different.
Basically, almost all kinds of water contain certain impurities. These include contaminates or heavy metals, but can also have beneficial elements, like minerals or other nutrients.
One of the ways to remove these impurities is through distillation. It can be a fairly involved process, but at its core, distillation boils the water into steam. Then this steam is collected and bottled as a liquid.
In a nutshell, distilled water is a form of purified water. In fact, many communities use this process as a way to convert salty ocean water into pure drinking water.
Is it Safe to Drink Distilled Water?
As we said earlier, it is generally safe to drink distilled water. However, there are some pros and cons that any imbibers should understand.
For one, the distilling process removes all impurities… as well as nutrients that your body needs. So, as a byproduct of getting rid of those nasty metals and microorganisms, you may also be missing out on minerals like sodium, magnesium or calcium.
In proper doses, these missing minerals are great for your body. Without them, it could affect your body’s general metabolic functions. Another worry is that drinking distilled water can increase the need to urinate. Ultimately, this could create an electrolyte imbalance. Keeping hydrated is important, and these components help a person’s body to function.
A Matter of Taste
To a lesser degree, many people find that drinking distilled water is less tasty than expected. It tastes “flat” versus other types of water. Whether or not you feel this way is a matter of personal preference, but generally it is still safe to drink. In fact, many people drink distilled water every day.
For example, people who practice intermittent fasting often drink distilled water to help their diet along. Many of these people also supplement missing minerals, but that’s a topic for another blog.
No matter what, it is crucial that you drink enough water. According to a study by the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 43 percent of adults drink less than four cups of water a day. Care for your body and always take a necessary water break.
Spring, tap, distilled or sparkling – no matter what you drink, be sure to stay hydrated!
