The Side Effects and Uses of Distilled Water as Drinking Water
by Dr. Jonathan Doyle - Updated January 08, 2022
Health trends are on the rise, as we see individuals take on new diets, exercise regimens, and more. People are growing more and more concerned over the health, as more begin paying attention to the quality of the water they are consuming. We all know the hidden dangers lurking in many water sources, further highlighting the importance of filtering or otherwise purifying drinking water. Although many homeowners wish to obtain pure drinking sources, many go the route of utilizing distilled water, instead.
Understanding Distilled Water
The process of distillation is very specific, wherein water is boiled into vapor and condensed back into a liquid form. The form of distilled water is commonly known as H2O. As such, many people fall for the guise that distilled water is clean solely because it is free from any impurities. This results in large numbers of people turning to distilled water, rather than filtered, etc.
Is It Safe to Drink Distilled Water?
Distilled water has had vital minerals removed, so it must be consumed with a balanced diet. Many people consider the flavor of distilled water to taste rather bland or flat. Healthy adults, consuming a balanced and diverse diet, will not experience any side effects of drinking it. However, if you are a chronic drinker of distilled water, and are not careful to eat a varied diet, you could run into unfavorable consequences.
Distilled Water Pros and Cons
While it is true that distilled water has been thoroughly processed to filter away any harmful substances, it also filters out beneficial minerals and salt. As with anything, there are pros and cons of consuming distilled water, as well as other options that may be more favorable to you. Let's explore.
Pros
Although distilled water has gone through many processes to filter harmful substances, it also filter beneficial mineral elements.
Cleanses the Human Body
Because distilled water is pure, and doesn't contain additives, it is capable of cleansing the body from impurities.
Reduces Harmful Substances
Pathogens, the majority of water-borne pathogenic bacteria, and more are incapable of surviving the process of distillation.
Reduces Overall Risk of Disease
The EPA allows for drinking water to contain trace amounts of chemicals deemed harsh. With distilled water, though, the presence of said chemicals is basically zero. Individuals who live with an autoimmune disease, and are at risk of becoming sick easily, may benefit from drinking distilled water verses filtered, etc.
Cons
The dangers of only consuming distilled water or low mineral water are as follow.
Taste
People tend to avoid tap or filtered water because it is flat, and not appealing. This includes distilled water, and causes many individuals to drink less water than they truly need.
Electrolyte Imbalances
A study conducted by the WHO surmised that drinking distilled water may lead the body to lose precious electrolytes. This issues associated with drinking less electrolytes causes people to experience fatigue, muscle cramps, dizziness, organ failure, and more.
Health Implications
Distilled water is pure, and doesn't contain nutrients. As such, distilled water easily absorbs other elements. When it comes into contact with the air, it can even absorb carbon monoxide. It's important to ensure you are not already mineral deficient if you are a habitual user of distilled water.
Distilled Water VS Purified Water
This type of purified water we know as distilled water goes through a process of distillation. There are many different methods of water purification, including Reverse Osmosis. Many of the other types of water purification do not remove precious minerals from your water supply. Read more about the different types of water.
Distilled Water
While distilled is the purest form of water, it's not necessarily the healthiest choice. One of the main risks associated with solely consuming distilled water is the lack of minerals. These precious minerals are sometimes referred to as electrolytes, which play a crucial role in the life of our cells. Because distilled water is found to contain only traces of essential minerals, it cannot meet our daily needs if our diet is found to be lacking.
Purified Water
Purified water, on the other hand, has been rid of chemical substances and microorganisms. Reverse Osmosis forces water through a membranes in order to remove chemicals, minerals, and microorganisms. Ozonation utilizes ozone in place of harsh chemicals to disinfect drinking water. And then there is the method of distillation.
Reverse Osmosis is a popular technology capable of removing many contaminants from drinking water, by forcing water through a semi-permeable membrane. The resulting pure water has passed through an RO filter, generating osmotic pressure. The precise 0.0001 micron filtration is capable of removing almost all harmful chemicals, heavy metals, bacteria, viruses, and more.
Waterdrop G2MNR Remineralize RO Water Filter System
This reverse osmosis system comes with an external RO remineralization filter to add beneficial minerals. Waterdrop uses a remineralization filter with 18 different kinds of nutritional minerals. This means you won't lock nutrients such as magnesium, sodium, potassium, and more. This is all done without chemicals, providing better tasting drinking water that doesn't hinder your health.
Waterdrop 800GPD Tankless RO System with UV Sterilizing Light
The Waterdrop 800GPD Tankless RO System is equipped with a remineralization filter, so you don't have to worry about losing precious nutrients. This filter system utilizes a three-stage filter, with the assistance of a scale inhibitor to avoid scale build-up over time. An improved 7-layer RO membrane effectively reduces the presence of odor and pollutants found in your drinking water. As a cutting-edge system, this Waterdrop RO system comes equipped with a UV sterilizer that removes 99.9% of viruses and bacteria.
However, you can shop the single remineralization filter cartridge that can fit Waterdrop G3P800 RO water filter system. Waterdrop reverse osmosis remineralization filter adopts PCC technology to activate the crystalline structure of minerals, simulates the formation mechanisms of mineral spring to activate every mineral and guarantees product's quality.
Final Thoughts
As time goes on, we find more and more families interested in maintaining or improving their overall health. In terms of a healthier lifestyle, these are steps in the right direction. However, there are still have a few ways to make adjustments. Water is considered to be a vital aspect of health lifestyles. When you aren't drinking the best water available, it may dangerously affect your health. If distilled water is your favored water of choice, ensure you are adding minerals back into your body, in order to avoid loss of nutrients or even dehydration.