Water comprises about 60% of our body. That makes the intake of additional fluids one of the most important things people need in order to live daily. It’s necessary to prevent thirst, and sometimes even to push food further down the stomach.

The debate on which type of water to drink daily is a necessary one. Some people prefer tap water, some spring water, and despite the bad press some people still prefer distilled water.

So if you want to take a closer look and learn about the good and bad effects of drinking distilled water regularly, please read on below.

***BENEFITS***

Top 10 Reasons Why You
Should Drink Distilled Water

1. Unclean Water Diseases

In a study done by Texas A&M, it has been found out that nitrite pollution in the tap water supply may cause a baby birth defects like having a cleft palate or missing limbs.

Another metal that may be found in the municipal water supply called barium may cause problems and further damage the heart. A study found that it is closely related to high blood pressure in lab animals. Fortunately, water that passes the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) standard should not have this.

A paper published by University of Rochester Medical Center in 2007 found that copper found in tap water may increase the risk of having Alzheimer’s Disease.

The above are just some of the examples of the diseases that unclean water may cause. There may be others that we haven’t found yet. This is the reason why people have started to consider alternate sources of drinking water that is safer for human consumption.

2. It’s the Most Natural Purifying Method

The water cycle, also known as the hydrological cycle, is the process that distributes and reuses water in earth. It affects everything as a major part of the world’s atmosphere also comprises of water.

The distillation process is the most similar way of purification. It is a process that first boils water. The unwanted chemicals and minerals are left in liquid state, while the pure water is converted to steam. Then it is converted back to water by condensation, a process that’s similar to evaporation in the water cycle.

3. It's Considered to be the Purest Type of Water

Distilled water has laboratory, industrial, medicinal and perfumery, and food processing uses. It can be said for certain that it is the most preferable type of water to use in these industries. Using it as drinking water falls into the last category.

If you’re worried about any detritus or small, invisible particles in your water, distillation is the solution.

4. It Safely Removes Contaminants

5. It Prevents Water Borne Diseases

6. Absorbs toxic substances from the body and eliminates them

Distilled water effectively removes dangerous toxins from your system, which makes it the ideal type of water to be used during a cleanse. This way, the minerals that you need for your health or dietary needs can be replenished in another way.

It is also an effective way to eliminate poison out of your body. However, it is only good for detoxifying your system a couple of weeks at a time.

7. The minerals your body needs daily mostly comes from food

There is a misconception that our body needs the useful minerals that are removed during distillation. What these people don’t know is that  the organic minerals that our body requires for the day mostly comes from food anyway.

At most, 8 glasses of hard water only fulfills 15% of the organic minerals calcium and magnesium daily, which are the minerals that comprises most of our daily allowance.

Another type of mineral deposit that can come from tap and spring water is the inorganic kind. This may cause harm to the body when ingested at high levels. Barium and nitrite, mentioned above, belong to this category as an example of hard metals.

Therefore, the percentage of  organic minerals that come from hard water may be supplemented with food containing it while drinking pure, distilled water.

8. Less expensive than buying by the gallon

A gallon of commercially bought distilled water costs $.89 to $1.29 each. In contrast, a gallon that comes from your own distilled water machine may only cost you $.30 to $.60 per gallon. These numbers may differ depending on local electric rates, but are the most accurate rough estimate of distilled water price we can provide.

The cost of countertop water distillers differ from non-electric water distillers. Both of which are readily available in the market.

9. Better than spring water

In terms of commercially bought bottled waters, distilled vs. spring water is a rather heated debate.

People largely prefer spring water because the images on the water bottles have mountains and running springs on them. This, however can be misleading.

A  research that the Natural Resources Defense Council conducted found contaminants such as coliform, arsenic and phthalates which are very much harmful for your health. Spring water contains most of the same impurities carried in well water or even tap water.

It can also be said that some of  the more disreputable brands of spring water are only tap water put inside a bottle and marketed for a hefty price. The marketing of such water use misleading words in order to fool customers into buying unprocessed tap water. An example of which is the usage of the words 100% pure on the bottles, which could very much mean that it wholly comes from an underground source and not that it is pure.

Different brands of spring water that belong to the above that can be commercially bought may only be processed slightly, and pass the regulations for safety consumption. Commercially bought distilled water, on the other hand, needs to undergo the process of distillation before being marketed. Every bottle that you buy is sure to be distilled.

10. Other applications outside of being drinking water

***DISADVANTAGES***

Top 10 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Drink Distilled Water

1. Potential danger with constant consumption

Using distilled water while fasting may cause a rapid sodium, potassium, chloride, and magnesium loss. The body needs these in order to be able to function in the duration of time a person goes without solid food.

2. The process takes longer than other modes of water purification

The processing time of American water distillers vary depending on the model and brand but is roughly estimated to last up to 7 hours max. Some of these water distillers also turn off on its own when it is finished so it can be left alone. Whatever the case may be, there are other methods that can be much faster.

Learn about one of the fastest and most convenient purification methods by checking out our guide on water purification tablets.

3. Not energy efficient

As mentioned above, distilling water takes a long time. This only applies, however, in the case of some distilled water machines available in the market, like countertop distillers. If you check Walmart water distillers, however, you will see that you can opt to buy a non-electric water distiller.

You’re essentially creating more carbon emissions and waste when you spend energy and resources on distilling your water. If you’re going for an energy-efficient and greener home, a distillation system is not the way to go.

4. Doesn’t remove contaminants with lower boiling point than water

This is another concern that involves water distillation systems available for your home. An argument is still made for this by people who advocate other types of purified water, and it is a valid point.

Harmful minerals and chemicals like chlorine, and other Volatile Organic Chemicals(VOCs) such as insecticides and herbicides have a lower boiling point than water. As a result,  the distilled water that comes from most market grade distillers have these trace elements.

It is another fact, however, that  there are water distillers that have a preheating phase. This way, the distilled water that you drink will not contain these inorganic chemicals. However, there is still an argument to be made in terms of the higher price of distilling water with your own equipment, in your own home.

5. The equipment is expensive

The highest grade home water distillers can cost you up to almost $700. For this reason, most people are hesitant in buying their own water distillation systems. The price for each gallon of bottled and home made distilled water is indicated as one of the pros above.

In the end, it depends on a person’s budget.

6. Distilled water tastes flat

This is one of the most often used arguments by those who support other types of water. It has been said many times that distilled water tastes flat.

The difference can be found in the minerals, both organic or inorganic, that aren’t removed in spring or even tap water. It cannot be repeated enough that the better taste could be due to the chemicals and inorganic minerals that you ingest with it.

Drinking distilled water will eventually be okay if you do it regularly. Just remember that the better taste of the other types of water may also be water borne diseases.

7. It causes higher body acidity

The distillation of water that ensures its purity also makes it an active absorber. When that water comes in contact with air, it  absorbs carbon dioxide creating a carbonic acid solution.

Acidic water causes your stomach to produce more acid. If you lead a healthy lifestyle, as long as your digestives system is in good shape and/or taking medication that may block stomach acid production, the weak carbonic acid solution would not affect effective body processes.

It should also be mentioned that water that is distilled isn’t the only type that may absorb carbon dioxide, and stress may also contribute to the rise of body acidity.

8. Distilled water may dissolve its containers

This may be one of the reasons why commercially bought distilled water tastes off to some people.

The acidity of water exposed to carbon dioxide makes its dissolution property more aggressive, which is the reason why some bottled waters using low grade plastic tastes bad. Water, being the universal solvent, may also dissolve these water bottles given the right circumstances.

9. Drinkers may develop mineral deficiencies

The excessive consumption of distilled water is said to cause mineral deficiency. This argument is due to the demineralization of water that makes it so pure. Due to that, it is also said to carry both organic and inorganic minerals out of the body.

However, a proper balance of these minerals can also be achieved by having a healthy kidney. Only a malnourished person relies solely on the trace organics found in tap or spring water. As mentioned above, supplementation by food of these necessary minerals is also very possible.

10. Distilled water is unnatural

This statement mostly comes from companies that sell spring water. The usage of the word natural on the bottles may mean that it comes from a nearby body of water, like a river perhaps for a river is a natural source of water.

A huge number of these companies also note that the water comes from a protected source. The most popular interpretation is that it comes form a sparsely populated area in a mountain spring. More often than not, it’s a well or a river surrounded by a fence.

To distil or not to distil?

According to some bottled water basics provided by the EPA, the percentage of companies that bottle tap water is up to 40% in the United States.

Every year, 20 billion tons of pollutants like chemicals and radioactive waste are released to the environment. Because of this high number, it is inevitable that some or most will eventually add to our water supply. That makes it very possible for there to be other kinds of undiscovered harmful substances excluding the 700 the EPA actively monitors.

Distillation is more expensive than drinking tap or spring water but it removes unwanted minerals, chemicals, and water borne diseases that are an always present danger to you and your family’s health.

So, how much is your good health worth to you?

Additional Research:

http://www.streetdirectory.com/food_editorials/beverages/beverages/benefits_of_distilled_water.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=distilled_water
http://www.drdavidwilliams.com/distilled-water/
http://www.allaboutwater.org/distillation.html
http://www.mercola.com/article/water/distilled_water.htm
http://www.cyber-nook.com/water/distilledwater.htm%2523a4
http://www.intoxicatedonlife.com/2013/08/21/water-filtration-systems/
http://www.mnn.com/your-home/at-home/questions/whats-the-difference-between-distilled-water-spring-water-and-purified
http://www.drinkmorewater.com/types-of-water
http://www.walmart.com/search/?query=water+distiller&sort=price_high
http://myaquanui.com/why-distilled-water/
http://www.drinkmorewater.com/types-of-wate
http://water.epa.gov/drink/info/upload/2005_09_14_faq_fs_healthseries_bottledwater.pdf