Yes. It’s generally considered safe for most healthy adults. Distillation removes germs, many chemicals, and nearly all minerals. But it also lacks minerals your body uses. With a balanced diet, that’s rarely a problem. Children, pregnant women, and people on restricted diets should take more care.
Key takeaways
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Distilled water is often called the “purest” water you can drink. Yet online, the advice about it is mixed. Some say it may help detox the body. Others say it may pull minerals from your bones. Neither claim appears to be well supported.
Research on this is still limited. For most people, the more useful question isn’t whether distilled water is safe. It’s whether it should be the only water you drink, day after day, for years.
What Is Distilled Water?
Distilled water is made by boiling water, catching the steam, and cooling it back into liquid. Almost everything else, germs, many chemicals, and over 99.9% of minerals like calcium and magnesium, stays behind in the pot.1 2
Distilled Water vs. Purified Water
Distilled water is one type of purified water. “Purified” means the water has been treated to remove contaminants, and usually most of its minerals as well.
Water can be purified in three main ways:
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Distillation: The water is boiled, and the steam is cooled back into water. This removes nearly all minerals.1
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Deionization: Special resins pull out minerals and salts, but may not remove germs.
Some purified water brands add a small amount of minerals back to improve taste. Distilled water usually has nothing added.
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Did You Know? Water from a home RO purifier is also very low in minerals, though usually not as low as distilled water.3 Many RO purifiers now include a mineral cartridge or TDS controller that adds some minerals back. |
Distilled Water vs. Other Types of Water
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Water type |
Mineral content |
How it's cleaned |
Best for
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Tap |
Some (varies by area)
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Disinfected to kill germs
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Everyday drinking, where the supply is safe |
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Carbon-filtered
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Most minerals kept
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Filtered to reduce chlorine, odor, and some chemicals |
Everyday drinking
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RO-purified
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Very low (90-99% removed)
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Pushed through a very fine filter that removes most contaminants and minerals |
Areas with poor water; add minerals back
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|
Distilled
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Almost none
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Boiled, and the steam is cooled back into water |
Appliances, CPAP, emergencies, short-term drinking |
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Mineral / spring
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Often higher (natural)
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Little or no treatment
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Topping up calcium and magnesium |
Is Distilled Water Safe to Drink?
Yes, for most people. In 2020, Germany’s Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) suggested very low-mineral water likely poses no long-term risk for healthy people on a balanced diet. A 2025 review of newer studies agreed.
Food is the main source of magnesium for most people. Tap water usually adds only a small share, though this varies with how hard your local water is.4
Possible Benefits of Distilled Water
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Very clean: Distillation removes most germs, heavy metals like lead, and many chemicals.
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Helpful where tap water is poor: It may be a safer choice if your local water quality is uncertain.
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Good for storage: Sealed bottles are handy for emergencies.
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No chlorine taste or smell: Some people prefer it.
Possible Downsides of Drinking Distilled Water
Most of these concerns apply to drinking only distilled water over many years:
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Possible heart health effects: In Israel, where most tap water now comes from low-magnesium desalinated water, studies have linked it to higher heart disease risk. 5 These studies show a link, not proof.
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No electrolyte replacement: It doesn’t replace the salts you lose in sweat. 8
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Flat taste: Some people may drink less.2
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Mineral loss from food: Cooking with it may draw more minerals out of food.9
Who May Need to Be Careful with Distilled Water
Should you drink distilled water? For most people, it may be fine. But research points to a few groups who may need to pay closer attention to their mineral intake:8 9
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Pregnant or breastfeeding women: Mineral needs may be higher. Distilled water is likely fine, as long as your diet or prenatal vitamins cover calcium and magnesium.
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Vegans and people who avoid dairy: They may get less calcium from food.
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People who fast or eat a very limited diet: Food alone may not fill the mineral gap.
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Anyone exercising hard for more than 90 minutes: Heavy sweating may call for an electrolyte drink.
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Growing children: Some studies suggest low-mineral water may affect bone growth.7
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A note for parents: Experts generally advise against giving babies plain distilled, as it has been linked to dangerously low sodium levels. Mixing infant formula with it as the label directs is different, since the formula supplies the minerals. Always follow your pediatrician’s advice.9 10 |
Can You Drink Distilled Water Every Day?
Most healthy adults can likely drink it daily. If distilled or RO water is your daily drink, a few small habits may help:
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Eat mineral-rich foods; leafy greens, nuts, seeds, beans, and dairy or fortified plant milk.
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Add mineral drops, or fit a remineralizing RO cartridge.
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Mix in some mineral or spring water now and then.
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Use an electrolyte drink after long, sweaty workouts.
Common Myths About Distilled Water
Myth 1: It detoxes your body. There's little evidence for this. Your liver and kidneys do the detox work. If you feel better after switching, you're probably just drinking more water.
Myth 2: It pulls minerals out of your bones. Research doesn't show that it removes minerals from your body. It simply doesn't add any. Your body generally keeps blood mineral levels within a steady range.
Myth 3: It's too acidic. Distilled water absorbs a little carbon dioxide from the air and turns slightly acidic. But it's less acidic than coffee, and nothing like your stomach acid.
The Bottom Line
So, can you drink distilled water? Yes, but its purity does not automatically make it the best choice for everyday hydration. Distillation removes germs, many contaminants, and nearly all minerals, including calcium and magnesium.
For most healthy adults, drinking it is unlikely to pose a problem when their diet provides adequate minerals. However, research on the long-term effects of consuming very low-mineral water remains limited, and some observational studies have raised concerns about cardiovascular health and bone development.
The key is to understand what distilled water offers and what it lacks. If you choose it for daily drinking, make sure your diet meets your mineral needs. Growing children and infants require particular care, and distilled water should not replace appropriate infant feeding guidance.
Ultimately, safe drinking water is about more than purity. It is about choosing water that meets your needs while maintaining adequate nutrition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Is distilled water good to drink?
It's generally fine as part of a balanced diet. But since it lacks minerals, many people may find tap, filtered, or mineral water a better everyday choice.
Q2: Why can't you drink distilled water?
You actually can. The concerns mostly come from drinking only distilled water for a long time, since it lacks minerals your body uses.
Q3: Is distilled water just boiled water?
No. Boiling kills germs but leaves minerals and many chemicals in. Distilling collects only the steam, so those are left behind.1
Q4: Is it better to drink distilled water or bottled water?
Most bottled water keeps some minerals, so it's usually the better everyday pick. Distilled is a good backup.
Q5: Can bacteria grow in distilled water?
It's possible once the bottle has been opened. Keep it sealed, store it out of sunlight, and use it fairly quickly.2
Q6: Can you drink distilled water in an emergency?
Yes. Sealed distilled water stores well, which makes it a good emergency supply.
Q7: What happens if you drink distilled water used for batteries?
It's best avoided. It may not be packaged to food-safety standards and could be contaminated. Only drink bottles labeled for drinking.
Q8: Can you use distilled water in coffee?
You can, but the coffee may taste flat. Some minerals in water help pull flavor from the beans.
Q9: How do I make distilled water at home?
Boil water in a large pot with a heat-safe bowl set on a rack inside. Cover the pot with its lid upside down and put ice on top. Steam hits the cold lid and drips into the bowl as distilled water.
Q10: What is distilled water used for?
It’s commonly used in CPAP machines, humidifiers, steam irons, car batteries, and labs, since it leaves no mineral buildup.
References
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). About home water treatment systems. https://www.cdc.gov/drinking-water/about/about-home-water-treatment-systems.html
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Dvorak, B. I., & Skipton, S. O. (2013). Drinking water treatment: Distillation (NebGuide G1493). University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension. https://extensionpubs.unl.edu/publication/g1493/2013/html/view
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V, K., et al. (2023). The role of low mineral water consumption in reducing the mineral density of bones and teeth: A narrative review. Cureus, 15(11), e49119. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10732328/
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World Health Organization. (2009). Calcium and magnesium in drinking-water: Public health significance. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241563550
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Shlezinger, M., et al. (2018). Association between exposure to desalinated sea water and ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus and colorectal cancer: A population-based study in Israel. Environmental Research, 166, 620–627. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S001393511830358X
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Huang, Y., et al. (2019). Consumption of very low mineral water is associated with lower bone mineral content in children. The Journal of Nutrition, 149(11), 1994–2000. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022316622164898?via%3Dihub
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Gu, H., et al. (2024). Contribution of direct-drinking water to calcium and magnesium and the influence on the height in school-age children. Frontiers in Nutrition, 11, 1434952. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2024.1434952/full
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German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment. (2020). Health risk assessment of mineral water with very low mineral content (BfR Opinion No. 041/2020). https://www.bfr.bund.de/cm/349/health-risk-assessment-of-mineral-water-with-very-low-mineral-content.pdf
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Pereira, C. D., & Martins, M. J. (2026). Should children drink water with very low mineral content? Implications of the global expansion of water filtration systems and relevance of consumption of water with higher mineralization levels. Nutrients, 18(1), 103. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/1/103
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (1994). Hyponatremic seizures among infants fed with commercial bottled drinking water—Wisconsin, 1993. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 43(35), 641–643. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00032470.htm
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical concerns or conditions.
