Do You Drink Distilled Water? A Look at Purity vs. Nutritional Value

October 3, 2025 •

4 min read

Distillation removes virtually all minerals and contaminants from water, resulting in pure H₂O. This raises an important question for health-conscious individuals: Do you drink distilled water, and what are the implications for your daily nutrition and overall well-being?

Quick Summary

Distilled water is created by boiling and condensing steam, leaving behind impurities and minerals. While safe, its lack of essential electrolytes can have long-term health implications if not balanced by a nutrient-rich diet.

Key Points

Distillation Process: Distillation involves boiling water into steam and re-condensing it, which effectively removes all minerals and contaminants.
Extremely Pure: The resulting water is exceptionally pure, making it ideal for medical equipment, humidifiers, and laboratory applications.
Lack of Essential Minerals: A major drawback is the removal of beneficial minerals and electrolytes like calcium and magnesium.
Risk of Deficiency: Long-term, exclusive consumption of distilled water can contribute to mineral deficiencies if not offset by a nutrient-rich diet.
Taste and Hydration: Many find distilled water's taste flat, which might reduce overall water consumption; some studies have noted it may not hydrate as effectively as mineralized water.
Balanced Diet is Key: For healthy individuals with a varied diet, drinking distilled water is generally safe, as food provides the majority of essential minerals.
Consider Alternatives: For daily drinking, filtered tap water or spring water, which retain some minerals, may be better options for long-term health and hydration.

Understanding the Distillation Process

Distilled water is produced through a purification process known as distillation. This method involves boiling water to create steam, which is then captured and cooled to condense back into liquid form. This process effectively leaves behind heavy minerals, dissolved solids, chemicals, bacteria, and viruses. The resulting product is extremely pure, consisting of only hydrogen and oxygen molecules, which is why it has a characteristic flat, almost flavorless taste. This stark contrast to the mineral-rich taste of tap or spring water is often the first thing people notice.

The Arguments for Distilled Water

From a purity standpoint, distilled water offers several advantages. For those concerned about potential contaminants in their local water supply, it provides a contaminant-free option. This can be particularly reassuring in regions with known water quality issues. Due to its mineral-free nature, distilled water is also the preferred choice for a variety of specific uses where mineral buildup could cause damage.

Common Applications Beyond Drinking

Medical Equipment: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines and humidifiers often require distilled water to prevent mineral scale from accumulating in the devices and potential bacteria growth.
Steam Irons and Car Cooling Systems: Using distilled water in appliances like steam irons or in automotive cooling systems prevents mineral deposits that can cause corrosion and malfunction over time.
Laboratory Use: In scientific settings, distilled water is essential for experiments and sterilization where even trace minerals could interfere with results.
Aquariums: Some aquarium owners use distilled water and then remineralize it to create a perfectly balanced environment for their aquatic life.

The Nutritional Drawbacks

While the purity of distilled water is its primary strength, it is also its main nutritional weakness. The same process that removes harmful impurities also strips away beneficial minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium. For most people, a well-balanced diet provides the bulk of these essential nutrients, but water can still contribute a significant amount, especially for certain minerals. Long-term, exclusive reliance on distilled water for hydration, without an adequate dietary intake of minerals, can lead to potential health concerns.

The Risk of Mineral Depletion and Imbalance

The World Health Organization (WHO) has studied the potential health risks associated with drinking demineralized water. Concerns include:

Electrolyte Imbalance: The body's electrolytes, such as sodium and potassium, are crucial for proper nerve and muscle function. Distilled water cannot replenish these lost electrolytes, especially after sweating, which could lead to an imbalance if not addressed through diet.
Nutrient Leaching: As mineral-deficient water, distilled water has a tendency to absorb substances from its environment, including the minerals in your body. The long-term effects of this can potentially lead to bone and tooth issues, though this risk is mitigated by a balanced diet.
Reduced Water Intake: The flat taste of distilled water can be unappealing to many people, potentially discouraging adequate water consumption and impacting overall hydration.
Metabolic Effects: Some older studies cited by the WHO suggest a link between very low mineral water intake and metabolic function, although more research is needed to fully understand this connection.

Comparative Analysis: Distilled vs. Other Water Types

To make an informed decision, it's helpful to compare distilled water against other common drinking water options. The table below outlines key differences.


Feature	Distilled Water	Tap Water	Spring Water
Purity	Highest (removes nearly everything)	Varies by municipality; subject to regulations	Varies; contains natural minerals and sometimes contaminants
Mineral Content	Virtually none; zero electrolytes	Contains varying levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium	Contains natural minerals absorbed from source rock
Taste	Flat and bland due to lack of minerals	Varies, often with a chlorine taste depending on treatment	Fresh and mineral-enhanced, depending on source
Cost	More expensive to produce or purchase	Generally very inexpensive	Varies widely, often more expensive than tap
Best For	Medical equipment, specific industrial/lab needs, sensitive diets	General daily consumption for most people	Flavor preference and supplementing dietary minerals

Is it Right for Your Diet? Balancing Purity and Nutrition

For the average, healthy person with a well-balanced diet, drinking distilled water in moderation is generally not a concern. Our primary source of minerals should come from food, and as long as your diet includes a variety of mineral-rich fruits, vegetables, and other whole foods, your intake should remain adequate. However, relying solely on distilled water long-term is generally not recommended, especially for athletes who lose electrolytes through sweat or those with specific health conditions.

If your tap water quality is a concern and you prefer purified water for everyday consumption, other options like filtered water (which removes many contaminants while retaining some minerals) or water with added mineral drops may be more suitable. Consulting a healthcare professional or registered dietitian can help you determine the best approach for your individual nutritional needs and health status.

Healthline provides further details on distilled water pros and cons

Conclusion

Making a choice about your drinking water comes down to balancing purity with nutritional value. While distilled water is the purest form of H₂O available and excellent for specific non-dietary uses, its complete lack of minerals makes it an incomplete option for daily hydration, especially over the long term. For most people, a balanced diet is sufficient to mitigate any mineral loss. However, for continuous, daily hydration, alternatives like filtered tap water or spring water may offer a more balanced and nutritious profile. It is always wise to consider your overall diet and consult a professional to ensure your hydration strategy supports your complete nutritional needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

For most healthy individuals who maintain a balanced diet, drinking distilled water is safe in moderation. The primary concern with long-term, exclusive use is the lack of essential minerals like calcium and magnesium, which can lead to deficiencies if not supplemented through food.

Some sources, including reports for the WHO, have raised concerns that mineral-deficient water is 'aggressive' and may leach minerals from the body over time. While a well-balanced diet can counteract this, it's a potential risk with prolonged, exclusive consumption.

Distilled water tastes flat or bland because the distillation process removes all dissolved minerals and gases that contribute to the flavor of tap or spring water. The absence of these elements leaves the water with a neutral profile.

Distilled water is purer in that it lacks contaminants, but it is not necessarily healthier for daily consumption due to the absence of beneficial minerals. For most people, safe tap water with its mineral content is a better, more balanced option.

Athletes, individuals with certain health conditions affecting electrolyte balance, and those with poor nutritional intake should be cautious. Relying on distilled water for hydration during intense physical activity can hinder the replacement of lost electrolytes.

You can add mineral drops designed for this purpose to your distilled water. Alternatively, ensure your diet is rich in minerals from whole foods like fruits and vegetables, which is the primary source for most people.

Common uses include medical devices like CPAP machines, household appliances such as steam irons and humidifiers, laboratory experiments, and automotive cooling systems. These applications require pure, mineral-free water to prevent damaging buildup.