Are there side effects to drinking distilled water?

December 22, 2025 •

4 min read

While distilled water is exceptionally pure and free of contaminants like bacteria and heavy metals, this extensive purification process also removes essential minerals. Long-term consumption of this demineralized water may lead to potential side effects such as mineral deficiencies and electrolyte imbalances, particularly if your diet does not provide sufficient nutrients.

Quick Summary

Long-term consumption of distilled water can lead to mineral deficiencies and electrolyte imbalances due to the absence of vital minerals. Occasional use is generally safe, but athletes, those with specific health conditions, or anyone with a poor diet should be cautious. The lack of minerals can also affect its taste and potentially cause issues with dental health over time.

Key Points

Mineral Deficiency: Long-term consumption of distilled water can lead to deficiencies in essential minerals like calcium and magnesium, which are stripped during the distillation process.
Electrolyte Imbalance: The absence of electrolytes such as sodium and potassium can disrupt your body's fluid balance, potentially causing fatigue, headaches, and muscle cramps.
Less Hydrating: Distilled water may not hydrate as effectively as mineral-rich water because electrolytes are crucial for proper water absorption by the body.
Flat Taste: Many find the taste of distilled water unpleasant due to the lack of minerals, which may result in lower overall water intake.
Safe for Short-Term Use: Distilled water is generally safe for occasional drinking but is not recommended as a primary, long-term source of hydration.
Risks for Vulnerable Groups: Athletes, pregnant individuals, and those with certain chronic health conditions should avoid relying solely on distilled water.

Understanding Distilled Water and Its Unique Composition

Distilled water is created by boiling water into steam and then condensing the steam back into a liquid, leaving behind impurities and minerals. This makes it one of the purest forms of water available. However, this extreme purity is a double-edged sword when it comes to regular consumption. The absence of minerals, salts, and electrolytes is the primary reason for the potential side effects associated with drinking distilled water over an extended period.

The Primary Side Effect: Mineral and Electrolyte Imbalance

Perhaps the most significant side effect of relying exclusively on distilled water is the risk of mineral and electrolyte imbalances. While water is not our main source of minerals, it contributes to our daily intake. When you drink water devoid of minerals, your body has to work harder to maintain its internal balance, which can lead to negative health outcomes over time.

Electrolyte Depletion: Electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and chloride are crucial for nerve function, muscle contractions, and hydration. A study cited by the World Health Organization found that drinking demineralized water can increase urine output, flushing out essential electrolytes and potentially leading to an imbalance. This can cause symptoms like fatigue, weakness, and muscle cramps.
Mineral Leaching: Some health experts suggest that because distilled water is so "hungry" for minerals, it can leach them from the body's tissues, including bones and teeth. This is a debated point, but long-term consumption without a mineral-rich diet can certainly increase the risk of deficiencies.
Impact on Bone Health: Essential minerals like calcium and magnesium, which are largely absent in distilled water, are vital for maintaining bone density. While most of our calcium comes from food, chronically low intake from water can be a risk factor for weaker bones and conditions like osteoporosis.

Other Potential Side Effects

Beyond mineral imbalances, other side effects can arise from long-term or exclusive consumption of distilled water:

Flat, Unappealing Taste: Many people find the taste of distilled water to be bland or flat compared to tap or spring water. The minerals naturally present in other water sources contribute to their characteristic taste, and without them, the flavor profile is muted. This can lead to drinking less water overall, potentially impacting your hydration levels.
Dental Health Concerns: Since distilled water contains no fluoride, regular consumption could potentially increase the risk of tooth decay, especially in children. While fluoride intake from other sources can compensate, it's a consideration for those who choose this type of water for daily drinking.
Higher Acidity: When exposed to air, mineral-free distilled water absorbs carbon dioxide, which can make it slightly acidic. While the body's buffer system can typically neutralize this effect, some argue that long-term consumption of acidic water may not be ideal. It's also been suggested that this slightly acidic nature could potentially leach chemicals from plastic containers over time.

Who Should Be Cautious?

While occasional consumption of distilled water is unlikely to cause problems for healthy individuals, certain groups should be especially cautious about drinking it regularly:

Athletes and Highly Active Individuals: Those who sweat heavily lose electrolytes and minerals rapidly. Drinking only distilled water will not replenish these lost electrolytes, making rehydration less effective. Sports drinks or electrolyte-enhanced water are much better options in these scenarios.
Individuals with Chronic Illnesses: People with conditions affecting kidney function, hormonal disorders, or malabsorption syndromes should consult a healthcare provider before using distilled water as their primary beverage. Their bodies may already have difficulty regulating electrolyte and mineral levels.
Pregnant or Malnourished Individuals: During periods of high nutritional demand, such as pregnancy, or for those who are malnourished, getting adequate minerals is crucial. Relying on distilled water removes a potential source of these vital nutrients.

The Right Application for Distilled Water

Despite the drinking concerns, distilled water has many useful applications where its purity is a major advantage:

Medical and Laboratory settings, where mineral-free water is essential for procedures and tests.
Household Appliances, such as steam irons, humidifiers, and CPAP machines, to prevent mineral buildup and extend their lifespan.
Cleaning and sterilization, where high purity is required.

Comparison of Water Types


Feature	Distilled Water	Purified Water	Spring Water
Mineral Content	Virtually none	May contain some minerals	Contains natural, beneficial minerals
Contaminant Removal	Removes nearly all contaminants	Removes chemicals and contaminants	Naturally filtered, but may need additional treatment
Taste	Flat or bland	Generally more palatable than distilled water	Often described as crisp and refreshing
Primary Use	Medical, lab, and appliances	Everyday drinking for cleanliness	Everyday drinking and hydration
Health Impact	Long-term use may cause deficiencies	Safer for long-term consumption	Naturally hydrating and mineral-rich

Conclusion

While distilled water is safe to drink occasionally, its lack of essential minerals makes it an unsuitable choice for a long-term, exclusive hydration source. The potential for mineral deficiencies, electrolyte imbalances, and reduced hydration benefits means that healthier and more balanced alternatives exist for most people's daily drinking needs. By understanding the unique properties of distilled water and ensuring your diet provides sufficient minerals, you can safely utilize it for appropriate applications while protecting your overall health.

For most everyday drinking and long-term hydration, mineral-rich spring water or properly filtered tap water is the better and safer option.

Frequently Asked Questions

While generally safe for short-term consumption, drinking distilled water exclusively and long-term is not recommended because it lacks the essential minerals and electrolytes your body needs, potentially leading to deficiencies.

Yes, if consumed long-term without adequate mineral intake from other sources, distilled water can contribute to mineral deficiencies. The distillation process removes nearly all dissolved minerals, including calcium and magnesium.

Since distillation removes fluoride, regular consumption of distilled water could potentially lead to an increased risk of tooth decay, especially in children. It does not actively damage teeth, but it also doesn't offer the protective benefits of fluoridated water.

Distilled water can contribute to an electrolyte imbalance, especially in active individuals who sweat heavily. This can make rehydration less effective, as electrolytes are necessary for the body to properly absorb water.

Distilled water is created by boiling and condensing steam, which removes all minerals and impurities. Purified water uses other methods, like reverse osmosis, and may retain some minerals or have them added back in, making it a better option for drinking.

You can remineralize distilled water by adding mineral drops, a pinch of Himalayan salt, or by mixing it with mineral-rich spring water. Specific filters with mineral cartridges can also be used.

Initially neutral, distilled water can become slightly acidic by absorbing carbon dioxide from the air. Unlike tap water, which contains buffering minerals, distilled water has nothing to stabilize its pH.