Is It Safe To Drink Distilled Water?

When it comes to bottled water, there are plenty of choices ranging from spring water to purified water and to sparkling, per the International Bottled Water Association. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies bottled water by origin, all of which are processed differently, and they include artesian well, mineral, spring, and well water.

You may have noticed distilled water on the shelves. While many types of water have added ingredients, distilled water goes through a process that removes almost everything from it — minerals, bacteria, and pesticides (via WebMD). The process, called distillation, involves boiling water, collecting the steam from it, and returning it to a liquid state, per the FDA. In this sense, distillation is pure compared to other types of water. According to WebMD, this kind of purity makes distilled water ideal for cleaning medical equipment, conducting lab tests, and making cosmetics. But is it safe to drink?

Drinking distilled water is safe, but because it lacks minerals, it might also lack flavor (via WebMD). That said, it might taste better than tap water, which contains calcium, magnesium, sodium. Because it lacks minerals, distilled water pulls minerals from what it touches, such as your teeth, per Healthline. While this sounds alarming, the outlet points out that you probably get enough minerals from your diet, so drinking distilled water should not cause any deficiencies. If you enjoy the non-taste of distilled water, make sure you get enough minerals from a healthy diet.

It's best to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of distilled water to see if it's right for you. According to MedicineNet, people who are being treated for cancer might benefit from drinking distilled water because treatment often creates an electrolyte imbalance. Its lack of minerals may cause it to remove calcium and other minerals from deposits on joints, reducing arthritis symptoms and possibly preventing kidney stones. Disadvantages of drinking distilled water may include an electrolyte imbalance, which could result from a lack of minerals. You might also get headaches, muscle cramps, and fatigue from drinking distilled water, due to a lack of calcium and magnesium, per MedicineNet.