From labs and automobiles to canneries and aquariums, distilled water has many industrial and household uses. Distilled water is frequently used to replace tap water because tap water contains minerals that can corrode metals, react with other substances, and calcify equipment.
You have likely used distilled water for maintaining your car’s battery. So you might have a basic idea of what it is and may wonder “can you drink distilled water?”
Keep reading to find out because we’ll not only answer this but also tell you the uses of distilled water and whether you should drink it or not.
What is Distilled Water?
In a nutshell, distilled water is the purest form of water you can find. It’s water that has been filtered out to remove not only bacteria, parasites, chemical solvents, toxic metals, and other contaminants, but also minerals such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium.
Distilled water is made by boiling water until it turns to steam and then condensing that steam back into liquid. When the water turns to steam, it leaves behind any contaminants and minerals in the container and cools down to form pure, distilled water.
In fact, distilled water has 99.9% less dissolved organic or inorganic contaminants than normal water, which makes it useful for quite a lot of things.
What is Distilled Water Used For?
Distilled water is used for all purposes which require water that’s uncontaminated by microbes, toxic metals, chemical solvents, and minerals.
For example, lead-acid batteries and automotive cooling systems require water free of chemicals and minerals because they can corrode the metal and reduce the lifespan of the equipment.
Here are a few other uses of distilled water:
- For performing lab tests and experiments
- For manufacturing cosmetics
- For sterilizing medical tools
- For producing canned goods
- For filling humidifiers
- For filling aquariums
These are just a few common uses of distilled water. It’s also used while cooking, baking, or making drinks. So you can drink distilled water with alcohol. In fact, it’s even used for making beer in the Czech Republic, though experts don’t recommend doing so because the brewing process requires minerals that the distillation process strips the water of.
Now you know what distilled water is used for commonly but it can also be used as an alternative to hard water for washing hair or taking baths because it won’t leave any residue on your hair and skin that could make them dull and dry. On the other hand, you are also taking away many of the beneficial minerals that are found in neutral water. How do you find the right balance?
It would be impractical and inconvenient to carry distilled water every time you need to wash up, but you also don’t want to strictly use distilled water to bathe, because you still want those helpful minerals. So we recommend installing a good shower water filter instead that can purify your water and revitalize your skin, hair, and nails with all the essential minerals intact. These kinds of water filters minimize the bad chemicals found in hard water that are harmful to your skin and hair. But more importantly, these filters also add those beneficial minerals to your water so your skin and hair feel softer and healthier.
Can You Drink Distilled Water?
The simple answer to this question is “yes”. You can absolutely drink distilled water, but you might not like it.
Distilled water doesn’t contain any of the harmful contaminants that make untreated tap water unsafe for drinking. There’s no lead or giardia or any other harmful substance making its way into your body with distilled water. You don’t need to add water disinfectants like chlorine and you don’t have to filter it to make it drinkable.
But because there aren’t any minerals either, the water tastes flat. If you’re used to drinking mineral water, then the bland taste will certainly come as a shock to you.
Many people drink distilled water because they believe it will help detoxify the body or improve their health but there’s no scientific basis for this.
Besides, some of the minerals that get removed by the distillation process are essential for your body. A lack of these could mean malnourishment depending on your diet and lifestyle. All in all, water with a neutral Ph and a good amount of minerals, but not too many minerals, not only tastes great but is probably the most beneficial for you.
Which Minerals are Present in Drinking Water?
Drinking water contains many essential minerals as well as trace elements that can help you stay healthy such as sodium, calcium, magnesium, fluoride, phosphorus, iodine, copper, zinc, and chloride. You can drink distilled water but you won’t find these in it.
Calcium and Fluoride are important to help maintain healthy bones and teeth. But too much calcium makes the water hard and too much fluoride can cause a condition known as fluorosis which causes tooth decay. Phosphorus and iodine are essential for endocrine health as well as metabolism. Sodium and chloride are two electrolytes that are required for regulating body fluids. Magnesium and copper aid nerve function and zinc is a crucial nutrient for the immune system.
Our bodies can’t do without all of these minerals and trace elements. Having mineral-rich water in addition to a healthy diet is the easiest way to meet your daily nutrient requirement and keep yourself in optimal health.
Should You Drink Distilled Water?
Now you know that the answer to “can you drink distilled water?” is a “yes!”. But just because you can doesn’t always mean you should.
Even though our bodies get most of the above-mentioned minerals from food, water is also a supplementary source that shouldn’t be ignored. If you’re someone who doesn’t have a very healthy diet that can offer you all the minerals you need in sufficient quantities, then distilled water may not be the wisest choice for you.
On the other hand, if your current eating habits are leading to you consuming more minerals than is necessary, you may benefit from having distilled water. For example, if your diet is rich in sodium, then you can drink distilled water because too much sodium can elevate blood pressure and put you at risk for heart ailments. But, always speak to your doctor or health care professional before introducing distilled water to your diet.
Resources for Better Water
You’ve learned what is distilled water used for and whether it’s safe for drinking. The conclusion is that distilled water isn’t bad for you. In fact, it may be the better option for you if you live in a region where tap water isn’t the safest or hygienic. But if you have access to uncontaminated water that’s also rich in minerals, then we recommend drinking that even though you can drink distilled water.
You can also consider alternatives to water distillers such as reverse osmosis filters, UV filters, carbon filters, or a multi-level filter that combines all three processes into one for more efficient water purification.
At AquaBliss, we strive to provide you with all the information you need to know about water, filters, and how to combat the effects of hard water. Water that has too many chemicals can wreak havoc on your hair and skin. Here, we give you easy and simple solutions to help improve the effects of hard water with shower filters that not only catch those bad chemicals but add minerals and nutrients back into your water. Enjoy softer, smoother skin and hair today, with water filters from AquaBliss.
