Distilled water for drinking?
Is Distilled Water Safe to Drink?
Assuming water is the only component being collected after distillation, Yes, but it is not recommended. While removing the chemicals and contaminants, the distillation process also removes the beneficial minerals, such as magnesium and calcium from the water.
How is Distilled Water Made?
Distilled water is created by heating and boiling the water to its boiling point and collecting evaporated steam. When water evaporates and creates steam, it separates pure water from dissolved solids and contaminants. Collecting the steam leaves you with a pure form of filtered purified water that has not only been stripped of contaminants but also beneficial minerals and vital nutrients as well. This type of water is often called dead water, as all impurities, chemicals, and minerals are removed.
So what is the problem with distilled water?
The problem is that while removing the chemicals and contaminants, the distillation process also removes the beneficial minerals, such as magnesium and calcium from the water. When your body loses water through sweating or urinating, you also lose sodium and other valuable minerals. Typically minerals are replenished through food and water. By only drinking distilled filtered water, you cannot replenish vital minerals through water intake, which may eventually lead to a deficiency. An increase in urine output could also result in an electrolyte imbalance. It is possible to regain some of these minerals through food in a well-balanced diet, however, when cooking these foods, mineral loss from the cooking process can be up to 70%! Your body also absorbs more minerals out of water than food, so it is important for the amount of minerals in your water to replace what you've lost.
Another adverse aspect of drinking distilled water is the flat taste. This is due to a lack of minerals, metals and inorganic compounds. Many find this unappealing and in the long term, can lead to a decrease in water consumption. Outside of the negative health effects on your body, distilled water can also have harmful effects on the environment. Once the distillation process is completed and the pure water is collected from steam, it leaves behind highly salinated hard water, that can disrupt the surrounding ecosystem of the water source.