Is it safe to drink distilled water?

Medically reviewed by Kayla Girgen, RD

• Distilled water is safe to drink, though it’s more commonly used for household and medical purposes.
• Since it’s purified, distilled water is free of contaminants like bacteria, parasites, and chemicals.
• Distilled water lacks essential minerals, so tap water is generally preferred for overall health.

Curious about those bottles of distilled water you always see at the grocery store?

Distilled water is a type of purified water—so it’s safe to drink, but it lacks essential minerals.

What Is Distilled Water?

Distilled water is a type of purified water that has been boiled into vapor and then condensed back into liquid form.

It’s commonly used for household and medical purposes—like CPAP machines, humidifiers, and clothing irons—because it’s free of microbes and won’t cause mineral build-up.

Can You Drink It?

Distilled water is safe to drink. It’s fine for daily, long-term use and has no side effects or risks.

How Does It Compare to Other Types of Water?

Distilled water is purer than tap or filtered water. Here’s how they compare:

• Tap water: Filtered to remove sediments and treated with chemicals to make it safe to drink. Fluoride is sometimes added to strengthen teeth.
• Filtered water: Filtered to remove certain chemicals and improve taste.
• Purified water: Treated to remove all chemicals and microbes using distillation or reverse osmosis.
• Distilled water: Boiled to remove all impurities and minerals.

Is Distilled Water Better For You?

Distilled water can effectively hydrate you, and the purification process removes any contaminants like bacteria, parasites, and chemicals.

But distilled water lacks the essential minerals found in tap water, such as calcium, copper, sodium, and magnesium. For overall health, tap water is generally preferred over distilled water.

Read the original article on Health