With increasing scrutiny of the safety of our water supply, many people are turning to alternative water sources including distilled water in hopes of avoiding exposure to harmful impurities. But controversy exists as to whether distilled water is the safest form of water to drink. Is distilled water healthy?

What exactly is distilled water? Distilled water is water that has had its impurities removed by heating it to its boiling point. In the process of heating water above the boiling point, steam is produced. The steam is then cooled back down into its liquid form leaving any impurities present in the water behind. Thus, distilled water is free of debris, residue, as well as minerals found in regular water.

Opponents of the use of distilled water believe that the removal of minerals during the distillation process makes distilled water unhealthy. There is the concern that not only is distilled water deficient in the minerals needed by the body, it may actually attach to minerals found internally, removing them, and robbing the body of the essential minerals needed to function.

Although it doesn't appear that distilled water actively removes minerals from the body, it doesn't provide the minerals normally found in drinking water. This means essential minerals would need to be supplied by the diet. Such critical minerals as calcium and magnesium could be obtained through other food sources such as milk, grains, and vegetables. Distilled water also lacks fluoride which has been shown to be effective in preventing tooth decay.

The good news is that distillation of water removes harmful bacteria that could cause disease if present in high enough concentrations. This is of particular concern in people who have inadequate immune function due to AIDS or diseases such as cancer. For these people, distilled water may be the best alternative to avoid water borne illness. Who can forget the Cryptosporidium outbreak that claimed the lives of several immune compromised people in Milwaukee, Wisconsin?

Analysis

Is distilled water healthy or are you better off drinking tap or spring water? If you suffer from cancer or any other disease that alters your body's ability to fight off infection, distilled water may be the best choice to protect against bacterial illness. If your immune system is normal and you use distilled water because of worry about the impurities in tap water, distilled water is probably not unhealthy to drink as long as you get adequate minerals from other dietary sources. One drawback is that distilled water can taste a bit bland, although most water is fairly tasteless to begin with. If you enjoy using distilled water and have a well balanced diet, there doesn't seem to be any overwhelming evidence that it's harmful to your health.