Nutrition and Hydration: What bottled water is distilled?

October 17, 2025 •

3 min read

While most bottled water on the market is spring or purified, a few key brands offer distilled versions for ultimate purity. In the context of nutrition and diet, understanding what bottled water is distilled is important, as the distillation process removes nearly all dissolved solids and minerals from the water. This gives it a distinct lack of flavor and alters its nutritional profile compared to mineral-rich water.

Quick Summary

This article explores bottled water that undergoes the distillation process, detailing common brands, the purification method, and the nutritional considerations of consuming water devoid of minerals and contaminants.

Key Points

Distillation Process: Distilled water is produced by boiling water into steam and then condensing it, which removes all minerals and impurities.
Bottled Distilled Brands: Brands like Nestlé Pure Life, Dasani, and Glaceau Smartwater offer vapor-distilled water, though availability varies.
Minimal Mineral Content: Distilled water contains virtually no minerals, which gives it a flat taste and means it contributes no mineral nutrition to your diet.
Specific Uses: Due to its purity, distilled water is essential for medical equipment like CPAP machines and appliances like humidifiers to prevent mineral buildup.
Healthy Diet Assumption: For people with a balanced diet, the lack of minerals in distilled water is not a health concern, as most essential nutrients come from food sources.
Comparison with Other Water: Distilled water is purer but less mineral-rich than spring or purified water, making the best choice dependent on taste preference and intended use.

Understanding Distilled Water and Its Production

Distillation is a purification process that mimics the natural hydrologic cycle. It involves heating water to its boiling point, turning it into steam, and then condensing the steam back into a liquid. During this process, virtually all dissolved minerals, salts, and other contaminants are left behind, resulting in highly pure H2O. This is different from other purification methods, such as reverse osmosis or simple filtration, which may leave some minerals intact.

Popular Bottled Distilled Water Brands

While not as prevalent as spring or purified water, several popular bottled water brands offer a distilled option. It is important to read the label carefully, as many brands sell multiple types of water. Some brands known to offer distilled or vapor-distilled water include:

Nestlé Pure Life: Offers a distilled version alongside its standard purified and baby water products.
Dasani: Utilizes a purification process that includes distillation, along with micron filtration and reverse osmosis.
Glaceau Smartwater: While often marketed for its added electrolytes, the base of Smartwater is vapor-distilled, meaning it undergoes the distillation process.
Other regional brands: Some manufacturers, like Rocky Mountain Water and Misty Mountain, offer distilled water, though availability depends on location.

Distilled Water and Your Nutrition Diet

For a general diet, consuming distilled water is not a significant health risk, as the majority of essential minerals like calcium and magnesium are obtained from food, not water. However, there are nutritional points to consider:

Mineral Depletion: Because it is devoid of minerals, long-term or exclusive consumption of distilled water could potentially affect your body’s mineral balance if your diet is lacking. The World Health Organization has published information on the effects of drinking demineralized water, noting potential negative health effects over time.
Altered Taste: The lack of minerals gives distilled water a flat, almost bland taste that some find unappealing. The mineral content in spring or tap water is what provides its characteristic flavor.
Hydration Efficiency: A persistent myth is that distilled water is less hydrating. In reality, dehydration is caused by inadequate fluid intake, not the absence of minerals in the water. The body's hydration mechanisms function normally with or without waterborne minerals.

The Difference: Distilled vs. Other Water Types

To make an informed decision for your nutrition plan, it is useful to compare distilled water with other common bottled and tap water options.


Feature	Distilled Water	Purified Water	Spring Water
Purification Method	Boiling into steam and re-condensing.	Processes like reverse osmosis, deionization, or carbon filtration.	Sourced from a natural spring and filtered.
Mineral Content	Virtually none, as all minerals are removed.	Removed of chemicals and contaminants, but may retain some minerals.	Contains naturally occurring minerals like calcium and magnesium.
Taste	Flat or bland due to lack of minerals.	Clean and neutral, but can vary depending on method.	Reflects the natural mineral content of its source.
Best For	Equipment (CPAP, humidifiers), short-term drinking, lab use.	Everyday drinking, food preparation.	Everyday drinking, perceived natural health benefits.

Practical Uses of Distilled Water

Given its mineral-free nature, distilled water is not intended for regular, long-term consumption in a diet. Its main uses are for applications where mineral buildup is undesirable:

Medical Equipment: Required for CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine humidifiers to prevent mineral deposits from clogging the device or being inhaled.
Small Appliances: Used in clothes irons, steam cleaners, and humidifiers to prevent scale buildup and extend the life of the appliance.
Automotive: Recommended for lead-acid batteries and engine cooling systems.
Plants and Aquariums: Some sensitive plants, like carnivorous ones, and aquariums benefit from the use of mineral-free distilled water.

Conclusion

When considering what bottled water is distilled and its role in a nutrition diet, the key takeaway is its purity and lack of minerals. While perfectly safe for drinking, it offers no nutritional benefit from minerals and tastes flat compared to spring water. For most people with a balanced diet, this is not an issue. However, for those with specific health concerns or on certain diets, it may be prudent to opt for mineral-rich spring or purified water for hydration. For specific non-consumable applications requiring mineral-free water, distilled water is the ideal choice. As with any diet modification, consulting a healthcare professional is recommended.
World Health Organization information on health risks of demineralized water

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, it is safe for most people to drink distilled water, especially if their diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, and other foods that provide essential minerals. However, it is not recommended as the sole source of hydration over a very long period due to its lack of minerals.

Distilled water is a type of purified water created by boiling and condensing steam, removing almost all minerals and contaminants. Other types of purified water, like reverse osmosis water, also remove contaminants but may retain some minerals.

The flat taste is because distillation removes the minerals and salts that give tap, spring, and mineral water their unique flavors. Since there are no dissolved solids to interact with your taste buds, the water tastes neutral or bland.

Yes, distilled water is a safe option for mixing baby formula, especially for infants under six months, as it is free from contaminants and excessive fluoride. However, many formulas are nutritionally complete, so always consult a pediatrician regarding the best water for your baby.

CPAP machines and humidifiers use distilled water to prevent the mineral buildup (scale) that occurs when tap water evaporates. This protects the equipment from damage and ensures clean, mineral-free vapor is produced.

No, this is a common myth. A balanced diet provides the vast majority of minerals your body needs. Distilled water will not leach minerals from your bones or teeth. However, if your diet is poor, consuming only demineralized water for an extended period could exacerbate pre-existing deficiencies.

Neither is inherently 'better'; it depends on the use. Distilled is purer due to the removal of all minerals and contaminants, making it ideal for certain appliances and medical uses. Spring water contains naturally occurring minerals that some people prefer for taste and potential health benefits.