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What Is Distilled Water?

What Is Distilled Water?Photo from Unsplash

Originally Posted On: https://www.berkeycleanwater.com/blogs/news/what-is-distilled-water-and-can-you-drink-it

 

Distilled water is the steam from boiling water that has cooled down and liquified. The process of distilling water rids water of any impurities such as bacteria or pesticides.

Other impurities released are minerals, viruses, and other biological contaminants. When water is distilled correctly, 99.9% of contaminants are removed.

How to Make Distilled Water

Making your own distilled water is extremely easy to do because it only requires water, heat, and a container to boil in. Making your own distilled water is great if you are outdoors and away from a kitchen.

What you will need to create distilled water:

  • Water of any kind
  • A Pot or any container you can boil water in
  • A lid to cover the pot
  • A cup to catch the steam

Once you have your water of choice, fill up your pot halfway with the water. Grab your cup and tie it to the lid, so it hangs just below the lid, but it is high enough to where it doesn’t touch the water. Boil the water for about 20 to 30 minutes to make sure that all the impurities are removed.

The boiling water will create a vapor that rises, and it will then condense back into water. The water that collects on the lid will drop into your cup, and there you have it, distilled water at its purest form.

Storing Distilled Water

An unopened bottle or container of distilled water can last basically forever; make sure to keep it away from any direct sunlight. Make sure that the container that you are using to store the distilled water is clean and sanitized.

Distilled water can pull in any bacteria or minerals from the container that it is being held in. Once you finish drinking your water, make sure to keep it nice and tightly closed. There are germs and bacterias that can grow in unclosed distilled water bottles.

Can You Drink Distilled Water?

Yes, distilled water is safe to drink; it just will lack that usual tap water taste that you may be used to. When you distill water, all that is left is hydrogen and oxygen, so if you are looking to add more minerals for taste, you can.

Risks of Drinking Distilled Water

Although distilled water is excellent to drink, it is not ideal to only consume as your primary water source because it lacks potassium and other necessary electrolytes. Your body needs those minerals to sustain strong and healthy muscles.

Some have reported that if they only drink distilled water, they experience muscle cramps and tiredness. If you are sick or malnourished, it is not recommended for you to drink distilled water. Intense exercise is also not a great time to drink distilled water because of the lack of electrolytes.

Uses of Distilled Water

Since distilled water is seen to be water at its purest form, it is used for medical tools and procedures.

Pure water is used to clean, rinse, and test medical devices and procedures because it doesn’t react with any other chemicals and doesn’t leave a residue. It is also used for automobiles since it doesn’t have any minerals that can corrode metal engine parts.

Other uses for distilled water are:

  • Cosmetics
  • Lab tools
  • Infant formula

If you have a child with a weak immune system than average, you will want to use distilled water for their formula. Another excellent use for distilled water is to use it in your neti pot. If you have any sinus issues and constantly use a neti pot, you can use this pure water to help clear up your sinuses.

Distilled Water for Cooking

If you are cooking any recipes that call for water as an added ingredient, make sure you reach for your distilled water instead of tap water.

Tap water can contain contaminants that can alter the taste of your food. You will notice that your dishes are cleaner tasting because the distilled water allows for the other ingredients to show through.

Distilled Water and Your Hair

If you live in an environment where your shower water is hard, you will want to rinse your hair and body with distilled water. Hard water makes your hair feel and look duller because of all the minerals and calcium stuck inside of it. Those minerals can weigh down your hair and can strip your skin of its nutrients. Distilled water can also help remove any buildup in your hair.

Cleaning With Distilled Water

Because of the contaminants in your tap water, you may notice that wherever you clean has leftover residue and streaks. Cleaning with distilled water is excellent for glass surfaces or any other high-traffic areas.

If you often use your iron to straighten any wrinkles in your clothes, put distilled water in the reservoir. If you are having issues with the residue or clogged steam holes in your iron, distilled water will be able to take care of that.

Distilled Water for Pets

It is easy to turn on your faucet and fill your dog or cat’s bowl with tap water, but that isn’t necessarily safe or healthy because of the contaminants.

Veterinarians use distilled water in their offices to give to animals who may have stomach issues. Small animals at the vet or your home are susceptible to chemicals and waterborne illnesses in tap water.

Why Do You Need Water?

Water is vital to your well-being because it helps remove waste from your body and it dissolved nutrients.

It is also necessary because it protects your cells and vital organs, making sure they perform correctly. Water makes up about 60% of your body weight, and you won’t be able to survive if you go without water for more than a few days.

The primary role of water is to re-hydrate your body and to replenish any moisture lost throughout your day and from physical activity. Water is also used in your body to transport any minerals to your tissues and cells.

Why Do You Need Minerals?

Minerals are essential for your body to stay healthy and to prevent your muscles from cramping. Eating fruits and vegetables that are high in minerals can help keep your body performing at its peak.

It is also essential to incorporate foods rich in calcium and vitamin D, such as fish and eggs. If you are someone who doesn’t eat mineral-rich foods, you could benefit from drinking waters rich in minerals.

If you mainly drink distilled water, make sure that you incorporate foods that are rich in minerals to ensure that you are getting all the nutrients your body needs. Distilled water can be beneficial if you have a large sodium intake as it helps your kidneys function so it can take out the excess nutrient.

Excessive Minerals

When your body has too many minerals, your kidneys filter them out. The more water you drink, the better your kidneys can function. What happens is when your body has excess minerals, it will signal to your brain to drink more water.

The water not only improves kidney function but also helps prevent kidney failure. Distilled water is excellent for your kidneys because it doesn’t contain any sodium or any other minerals that could overload your system.

Who Is Distilled Water Good For?

Distilled water is suitable for those who are wanting to detoxify their body from any toxins. A detox with distilled water is ideal if you are looking for a short-term detox, as drinking too much distilled water can strip your body of other minerals you need.

Different Types of Water

Aside from distilled water, there are other forms of water that you can drink, such as groundwater and hard water, depending on where you live. Each of these different types of water has its pros and cons on its health benefits, so make sure you pick the best one for you.

Groundwater

Groundwater is water contained in underground aquifers. The water then reaches the surface through deep wells, artesian wells, springs, or rivers. Most of the water we drink is from groundwater, and it is where most people get their tap water from.

Hard Water

Hard water is water that is high in magnesium and calcium. Hard water is safe to drink and use to wash with, but it can significantly affect your water bill because it causes your appliances to work harder. It also can leave ugly white chalky residue and buildup, which can clog your pipes.

Reverse Osmosis Water

Reverse osmosis is the process of reducing mineral content in your water by forcing the water through specialized membranes. The specialized membranes allow for water to flow through, but it blocks out larger molecules that are contaminants.

This method can remove any other impurities, molecules, substances, or other minerals that run through your house or from any running water. Reversed osmosis water is suitable for people with low fertility issues, high blood pressure, and skin issues.

Should You Drink Distilled Water?

Distilled water definitely has its pros and its cons, but the decision is ultimately up to you. Distilled water is one of the purest forms of drinking water, but your body may not necessarily need distilled water daily.

As mentioned earlier, if you have a high sodium intake, you could benefit from drinking distilled water, whereas someone who is sick or who goes through intense workouts would not. Those who are dehydrated, malnourished, or exposed to high heat should look more towards drinking waters with minerals to replenish electrolytes and other minerals lost.

Distilled Water Alternatives

Although distilled water is water in its purest form, it can also be time-consuming to create. Not only does it take time to make, but it also can be expensive to purchase from your local stores.

Carbon Filtered Water

Water purified with activated carbon filters can be beneficial for your health. Carbon filters can remove more contaminants, such as pathogenic bacterias, from your water more than distillation can. These filters can also remove chlorine, cysts, heavy metals such as lead, and other viruses.

Carbon filters also remove any pollutants that cause drinking water to taste foul or smell bad. If you are looking for a water filtration system that will leave behind beneficial minerals essential for your health, these filters are for you.

Get Clean Water Now

Drinking water of all types can contain unnecessary minerals and pollutants that can damage your body in the long run.

If you are looking to detox your body for a quick fix and want to have water in its purest form, distilled water would be beneficial. If you want water that has the necessary nutrients you need daily, you will want a high-quality filter from Berkey Clean Water.

To learn more about drinking water quality and how to get the best water for your needs, check out our water filter systems. If you have any questions or concerns, we are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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