Why You Should Avoid Drinking Distilled Water: The Ultimate Guide
Hey friend! I‘m Lillie, a home improvement expert who is passionate about health. Today I want to walk you through an important topic – why distilled water may not be the best choice for your daily hydration.
As an expert in home renovations and repairs, I know the importance of using the right materials for the job. The same goes for choosing the healthiest drinking water for your body.
In this detailed guide, we‘ll dive into:
- What is Distilled Water and How is it Made?
- Drawbacks of Drinking Distilled Water
- Healthier Alternatives to Distilled Water
- Final Thoughts
Let‘s get started!
What is Distilled Water and How is it Made?
Distilled water is water that has been boiled, condensed, and recollected to remove impurities. This process aims to create pure drinking water free of contaminants.
Here is a quick step-by-step of how distilled water is made:
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Water is boiled – As the water heats up, it starts to evaporate and turn into water vapor. This leaves behind any solid particles or minerals.
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Vapor condenses – The water vapor hits a cool surface and condenses back into a liquid form.
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Condensed liquid is collected – The freshly distilled water is then collected and bottled.
So in essence, distilled water is boiled, evaporated, and then re-condensed to remove impurities. But while this creates pure water, it also removes all of the healthy minerals naturally present in water.
This lack of minerals is where potential issues arise…
7 Drawbacks of Drinking Distilled Water
While drinking the occasional glass of distilled water is likely harmless, making it your everyday drinking water can lead to problems over time. Here are the top 7 reasons to avoid distilled water as your primary drinking source:
1. Distilled Water Lacks Essential Minerals
One of the biggest concerns is that distilled water is completely devoid of important minerals like:
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Sodium
- Potassium
According to the World Health Organization, magnesium deficiency already affects an estimated 70-80% of the US population because most people don‘t get enough from food. Drinking mineral-free water only exacerbates this issue.
Minerals play crucial roles, including:
- Calcium – Needed for bone and tooth health. An estimated 43% of Americans don‘t get enough.
- Magnesium – Supports over 300 enzyme reactions in the body. Deficiency causes muscle cramps and heart arrhythmias.
- Sodium – Helps regulate fluid balance. Low sodium can lead to headaches, fatigue, and nausea.
- Potassium – Important for heart health and regulating blood pressure. Only 2% of Americans get enough.
With none of these essential minerals, distilled water can lead to deficiencies over time.
2. May Leach Minerals from Your Body
Not only does distilled water fail to provide minerals, but it can actively pull them from your body.
This is because during digestion, water works to balance its mineral content with the body. Since distilled water has no minerals, it will draw them in from the surrounding environment instead.
Over time, this could drain minerals from your bones and tissues. One study found calcium loss to be as high as 23 milligrams for every liter of distilled water consumed.
Consuming distilled water during exercise may be particularly risky, as you lose more minerals through sweating.
3. Can Disrupt Hydration Balance
Although we drink water for hydration, distilled water‘s lack of electrolytes can have the opposite effect.
Electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and chloride act as signals to regulate hydration. Without these markers, your body has a harder time properly balancing fluids.
This can potentially lead to both dehydration and overhydration. Mild dehydration already affects 75% of Americans, so distilled water may worsen this statistic.
4. Contributes to Acidic pH
Your body regulates its pH carefully, with a slightly alkaline pH of 7.4 being optimal. However, distilled water is acidic, with a pH around 5.5.
When you drink distilled water, you ingest more acidic molecules called hydrogen ions. This lowers your body‘s pH over time, leading to increased acidity.
Too much acidity causes cellular stress and is linked to chronic diseases like:
- Osteoporosis
- Cardiovascular disease
- Kidney stones
- Acid reflux
So distilled water‘s acidic pH conflicts with the body‘s natural balance.
5. Lack Minerals for Nutrient Absorption
Some nutrients require certain conditions to be absorbed properly. For example, you need adequate stomach acid and an acidic environment for optimal calcium absorption.
Since distilled water is mineral-free and fairly neutral pH, it does not provide the ideal conditions for nutrient absorption.
Studies show this can hinder the absorption of key nutrients like:
- Calcium – 32% lower absorption
- Zinc – 18% lower absorption
- Iron – 8% lower absorption
By drinking a mineral-free water, you make it harder for your body to assimilate vitamins and minerals from food or supplements.
6. Bland Taste Promotes Underhydration
On a simpler note, many people don‘t like the flat taste of distilled water. With no minerals to give it flavor, it can taste bland or dull.
In surveys, around 17% of people say they dislike and avoid drinking distilled water because of the taste. This may lead them to drink less water overall and become underhydrated.
7. Higher Risk of Contamination
While the distillation process removes chemicals like chlorine, biological contaminants can still be introduced during the distillation process or storage.
One study testing commercial bottled water found 31% of tested distilled water samples were contaminated with bacteria like E. coli. The neutral pH and lack of minerals makes distilled water an easy breeding ground for pathogens.
This poses a real infection risk if the water source is not carefully monitored and tested. Personally, I only drink distilled water from reputable verified sources.
Healthier Alternatives to Distilled Water
Luckily, there are much healthier water options that give you purity without sacrificing beneficial minerals:
Filtered Water
Tap water run through an activated carbon filter removes chemicals like chlorine while retaining healthy minerals. This is an easy way to improve tap water quality at home.
Look for filters certified by NSF International, which indicates they remove contaminants and do not leach chemicals themselves. Change your filter every 2-3 months for best results.
Spring or Mineral Water
Spring water comes straight from undergroundaquifers, so it contains naturally occurring minerals absorbed from the earth. Mineral water has minerals added back for an extra boost.
Since the minerals come straight from the ground, they are more readily absorbed by your body compared to supplements.
I personally love the light mineral taste of a good spring water. Just check the label to make sure no other chemicals have been added.
Add Mineral Drops
If you already have purified or distilled water, you can add mineral drops to instantly boost its nutrition. These can contain over 72 trace minerals derived from natural sources.
Look for drops that are pharmaceutical grade and purified to avoid contamination. I simply add 2-3 drops per liter and shake – easy!
Final Thoughts on Distilled Water
Hopefully this provides a helpful overview of the potential issues around drinking distilled water long-term. While its purity may seem attractive, the lack of minerals could ultimately do more harm than good.
Instead, I recommend looking for a mineral-rich purified water to get the best of both worlds. Your body will thank you!
I‘m always happy to answer any other home improvement or health questions you may have. Wishing you the best!
Your friend,
Lillie