Can Adults Drink Distilled Water Every Day Safely?

January 8, 2026 •

4 min read

According to the World Health Organization, prolonged consumption of water with very low mineral content, such as distilled water, may be associated with some adverse health effects. This raises an important question: can adults drink distilled water every day, or are there significant risks involved with daily consumption?

Quick Summary

Adults can drink distilled water daily, but it lacks essential minerals like calcium and magnesium. A balanced diet is crucial to offset any potential mineral deficiencies. For most people, it poses no significant health risks when consumed as part of a varied diet.

Key Points

Daily Consumption is Possible: Adults can drink distilled water daily, but with important nutritional considerations due to its lack of minerals.
Lacks Essential Minerals: The distillation process removes beneficial minerals and electrolytes, including calcium and magnesium.
Balanced Diet is Crucial: Compensate for the absence of minerals in the water by maintaining a balanced diet rich in mineral-rich foods like fruits and vegetables.
Potential for Electrolyte Imbalance: Long-term, exclusive consumption may lead to an electrolyte imbalance, especially in those who sweat heavily.
Best for Specialized Uses: Distilled water is ideal for medical equipment, household appliances, and other uses where mineral-free water is necessary.
Taste may be an Issue: Many find the taste of distilled water to be flat and unappealing, which could discourage sufficient water intake.
Consult a Professional: Individuals with certain health conditions or very active lifestyles should consult a healthcare provider before relying solely on distilled water.

Understanding the Distillation Process

Distilled water is a type of purified water created by boiling water and then condensing the steam back into a liquid. This process is highly effective at removing a wide range of impurities, including minerals, bacteria, viruses, heavy metals, and chemicals. The resulting liquid is pure H2O, but its purity is a double-edged sword when it comes to daily consumption. While it eliminates contaminants, it also strips away beneficial minerals that are naturally present in other water sources.

The Pros of Drinking Distilled Water

High Purity: Distilled water is one of the purest forms of water available, making it a reliable option in areas with questionable tap water quality. It is completely free of contaminants like lead, bacteria, and pesticides.
No Additives: Unlike tap water, which may contain chlorine and fluoride, distilled water is free of these and other additives.
Appliance Safety: The lack of minerals in distilled water prevents mineral buildup (limescale) in household appliances like steam irons, humidifiers, and CPAP machines.
Specialized Medical Use: For specific health conditions or medical treatments, a healthcare professional might recommend distilled water due to its sterile nature.

The Cons and Long-Term Effects of Daily Consumption

For a healthy individual with a balanced diet, occasional consumption of distilled water is generally safe. However, daily reliance on it as the sole source of hydration can lead to several long-term health considerations, primarily due to its lack of minerals and electrolytes.

Mineral Deficiency

Distilled water lacks essential minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium that are important for bodily functions. The long-term absence of these micronutrients can lead to potential health issues over time. A balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables is necessary to compensate for this deficiency.

Electrolyte Imbalance

Electrolytes are crucial for nerve function, muscle contractions, and hydration. Since distilled water contains none, relying solely on it can disrupt the body's electrolyte balance, especially after periods of heavy sweating. This can cause symptoms like fatigue, muscle cramps, and weakness.

Potential Acidity

When exposed to air, distilled water absorbs carbon dioxide, which can slightly lower its pH and make it more acidic. While not inherently harmful, some argue that consistently acidic water consumption may have adverse long-term effects on the body's pH balance.

Taste and Hydration

Many people describe distilled water as having a flat or bland taste. This is because the minerals are what give water its characteristic flavor. The unappealing taste could potentially lead to reduced water intake, impacting overall hydration levels. Furthermore, some experts suggest that mineral-rich water is more effectively absorbed by the body for hydration.

Comparing Distilled Water to Other Water Types

To make an informed choice about your daily drinking water, it's helpful to compare distilled water with other common types. Here is a table detailing the differences:


Feature	Distilled Water	Tap Water	Spring Water	Purified Water (RO)
Mineral Content	Virtually none	Variable, may contain beneficial minerals	Contains natural, beneficial minerals	Very low, some systems remineralize
Purity Level	Extremely pure; all contaminants removed	Varies by location; regulated but may contain trace contaminants	Naturally filtered, but may require further treatment	Free of chemicals, microbes, and most minerals
Taste	Flat or bland	Varies, can have a chlorine taste	Often described as crisp and refreshing	Clean, can be flat without remineralization
Ideal for Drinking	Best in moderation, with a balanced diet	Recommended for most healthy adults	Excellent choice, rich in natural minerals	A viable and pure option, especially if remineralized
Best for Appliances	Yes, prevents mineral buildup	No, can cause limescale over time	No, can cause limescale	Yes, but check total dissolved solids

Sourcing and Preparing Distilled Water

How is distilled water made?

The process involves boiling water and collecting the resulting steam. The steam is then cooled and condensed back into a pure liquid state, leaving behind non-volatile compounds like minerals and contaminants. This can be done with a countertop distiller at home or purchased commercially bottled.

What are the main uses besides drinking?

Due to its high purity, distilled water has a variety of non-drinking uses. These include:

Medical and lab applications: For cleaning equipment and in certain procedures where mineral contamination is a concern.
Household appliances: Use in humidifiers, steam irons, and car cooling systems to prevent mineral scale buildup.
Aquariums and hydroponics: For controlling the mineral content in the water to suit specific plants or marine life.

Practical Recommendations for Adults

For most healthy adults with a balanced, mineral-rich diet, drinking distilled water occasionally is unlikely to cause any harm. However, relying exclusively on it for all daily hydration, especially over the long term, is not recommended by most health experts.

For athletes, the heavily active, or those with specific health conditions, the risks of electrolyte imbalance are more pronounced. In these cases, it is especially important to ensure adequate mineral intake from other sources, or to choose a more mineral-rich water source like spring water. It is always best to consult with a healthcare professional to determine the best hydration strategy for your specific needs.

Conclusion

In summary, while adults can drink distilled water every day from a safety perspective, it is not the ideal choice for long-term hydration due to its lack of essential minerals and electrolytes. The risks associated with daily consumption, such as potential mineral deficiencies and electrolyte imbalances, can be mitigated by maintaining a consistently healthy and varied diet. For most people, consuming mineral-rich water sources like spring or purified water with added minerals offers a more nutritionally balanced and flavorful alternative. The ultimate decision should be based on your overall dietary habits and personal health considerations, ideally guided by professional medical advice. For more detailed information on drinking water safety, consult resources like the World Health Organization (WHO) and local health authorities.

Frequently Asked Questions

There is a misconception that distilled water leaches minerals from your body, but this is largely untrue for healthy individuals. Your body is highly efficient at regulating its mineral balance. However, since distilled water provides no minerals itself, your body cannot replenish lost electrolytes through the water you drink, making a mineral-rich diet essential.

For general daily drinking, spring water is often considered a better choice because it contains natural minerals and electrolytes that are beneficial for health and provide a more pleasant taste. Distilled water is better reserved for specialized applications where mineral-free water is necessary.

For healthy individuals, drinking distilled water is not inherently bad for the kidneys. The kidneys are responsible for regulating electrolyte balance, but prolonged exclusive consumption could make their job more difficult, especially in people with pre-existing kidney disease. It's recommended to consult a doctor if you have kidney issues.

Distilled water tastes flat because the distillation process removes all dissolved minerals, gases, and other compounds that contribute to the flavor of regular water. What remains is pure H2O with no flavor enhancers.

Drinking distilled water can still hydrate you, but it doesn't help replenish electrolytes lost through sweating, which is a key part of the hydration process. For intense physical activity, an electrolyte-rich drink is more effective for rehydration than distilled water alone.

Yes, it is safe to use distilled water for cooking, but you may lose some minerals from the food in the process. Some studies suggest that cooking with distilled water can cause a significant leaching of minerals from food items.

Freshly distilled water is neutral with a pH of around 7. However, when it is exposed to air, it absorbs carbon dioxide, which can slightly lower its pH and make it mildly acidic.

For most healthy people, moderate distilled water consumption is unlikely to cause health problems. However, long-term and exclusive reliance on it without a diet that compensates for the mineral loss can potentially lead to health issues related to mineral deficiency and electrolyte imbalance.