Would you ever drink a glass of water that is as clear as the sky? Literally, no minerals, no salt, and no hint of anything else in it.
Pure water is typically obtained by distillation, reverse osmosis, or specialized water filters. At first, it may look like the most harmless drink for the human body.
Pure water sounds safe. Most people even believe that the less water there is, the better it is for them. Is this true, though? Honestly, I used to think that too. Not until I started reading up on what actually happens when you drink it every day.
What will happen if you consume water that's been drained of all the things that the body may require?
Would it be beneficial, or would it have some unseen risks?
To answer these questions, this article will look at what science and health professionals have to say.
Understanding Water Purity
What is it then if you drink pure water?
The point here is to understand what "pure" actually is.
Pure water is water that consists of nothing other than H₂O molecules. As mentioned above, pure water can be created by numerous processes. This includes your usual distillation, reverse osmosis, deionization, or high filtration.
All of these methods sift out contaminants, minerals, and other substances from regular water.
For example, distillation utilizes heat to vaporize water into steam. After which, it transforms it back into liquid. But here's the catch: everything, including all the salts, dirt, bacteria, and chemicals, is practically removed.
Reverse osmosis pushes water through a special filter that prevents even very tiny particles and organic material from passing through. That's how it "filters" out the particles.
Ultraviolet light can also be utilized to kill other bacteria or viruses as part of the filtration process. This level of purification produces the so-called ultra-pure water or pure water.
Ultra-pure water contains no calcium, magnesium, chlorine, lead, or other naturally occurring minerals and chemicals found in drinking water.
People often compare the use of pure water to that of natural water from streams or springs. But honestly? You can never compare the two. Why? From my own experience, spring water always tastes fuller while pure distilled water feels flat.
Natural water will always contain organic minerals and other dissolved nutrients, but ultra-pure water does not.
Tap water, filtered water, or bottled water will always have some mineral content.
Now, let's get into the two minerals present in typical drinking water. These are calcium and magnesium.
Both are good minerals because they both make considerable contributions to muscle contraction, bone structure, and cardiovascular function. You know it.
They even contain trace levels of potassium, sodium, and iron minerals in bottled water and tap water. This is what makes the taste different from ordinary water. The key difference is primarily the dissolved minerals. Plus, it also gives your body electrolytes.
Purified water and ultra-pure water, therefore, may not have any contaminants, but they do not contain natural nutrients. This is what your body should IDEALLY get from normal water.
How the Body Uses Water
The body requires water to function. It is dependent on all cells, tissues, and organs. Water intake enables nutrients to move through the bloodstream. Likewise, it aids in digestion. Lubricates the joints. It allows contraction in muscles.
Water also regulates body temperature. Notice how you become thirstier during warmer weather or even when exercising. Without water, the body will quickly get weak and tired. We've all been there, right?
You not only quench thirst by drinking distilled water or filtered water. Honestly, your body is also begging for the necessary minerals in a water-soluble form.
Again, calcium and magnesium are present everywhere in tap drinking water, bottled water, and natural water.
But they aren't just any nutrients. They are indispensable nutrients that the body cannot synthesize. In short, you only get them by intake.
These organic minerals play a part in bone strength, conduction of nerve impulses, and heart function.
Magnesium, for example, supports muscle contraction and helps prevent heart disease. Calcium plays a very important role in blood clotting and bone formation.
Water also carries electrolytes. We've already talked about this above.
Electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and chloride are key to maintaining fluid balance inside and outside cells in the body.
Without this balance, nerves will not be able to transmit signals, and muscles will not contract without grittiness.
Water with nothing in it, in massive quantities, can disrupt this very fine balance. If only pure water is taken, the body will lose electrolytes at a higher rate.
But don't take it just from me. The World Health Organization has also stated that minerals in drinking water play a role in overall health. Although food is the largest source of required nutrients, water can also chip in.
That is, water also provides a consistent amount of trace minerals, which enable an individual to live a healthy life.
Long-term use of mineral-free water may impact individuals with health problems. If you have heart disease-related traits such as coronary artery disease or colon and rectal cancer, it's better to be safe than sorry.
This is to say that water is not merely hydration. It also provides the body with small but vital nutrients to keep one healthy, energized, and in proper working condition.
What Happens When You Drink Pure Water
So what do you do to yourself when you drink pure water every day?
The answer depends on the quantity you drink and how long you have been taking it.
When you drink ultra-pure water, i.e., water with no minerals or salts, the body reacts in a very precise way. Pure H₂O reacts differently from ordinary water.
Since it has no dissolved solids, it will dilute the blood's electrolytes. I noticed that when I drank distilled water for several days straight. I actually started craving something because my body needed those missing minerals.
This is especially true if taken in excess quantities. This will reduce sodium and other essential electrolytes that help maintain the body's balance.
But honestly, even if you drink distilled or purified water for a while, you don't really get sick right away. Your body does wonders, that's why.
The kidneys can metabolize it. In effect, the body won't find anything substantially different. So, what's the problem, then?
The problem arises with long-term use of pure water alone. Mineral deficiency indicates that the body lacks essential minerals like calcium and magnesium.
Muscle contraction, bone maintenance, and heart function require these minerals. In the long term, drinking only pure water may silently disrupt the body's mineral balance.
Another effect of consuming ultra-pure water, though on the shallower side, is that it tastes bland compared to tap water. Well, it's not really rocket science. Natural water contains minerals that give it its taste.
Actually, some people prefer filtered or bottled water to distilled water for this very reason. So, yes, maybe it's not that shallow at all. Taste matters!
Again, short-term consumption of ultra-pure water has minimal effect on health. But if it is replaced with regular water for a prolonged period, it reduces the body's intake of essential nutrients. Yes, it can be very risky for our growing bodies.
Potential Risks
Hypothermia
The biggest medical risk is hyponatremia, which is a condition where the body's sodium concentration in the blood is below normal.
Diluted Blood
Where one consumes more water than the body can metabolize, particularly ultra-pure water with no minerals, then the blood is diluted.
Brain Damage
It has a brain function effect and even leads to brain damage when used excessively. Its symptoms include headache, confusion, nausea, and in severe cases, seizures.
Of course, that’s in extreme cases. But it still shows how sensitive the body is to balance.
Blood Sodium Dips
The most vulnerable among them are sportspersons. When the body loses massive amounts of sweat, it also loses sodium and electrolytes.
If the individual later consumes ultra-pure water or large amounts of distilled water instead of fluids rich in electrolytes, the blood sodium level drops very rapidly.
This leads to an imbalance and disruption of muscle contraction, nerve impulses, and general health.
High Cardiovascular Disease Risk
People with certain medical conditions also need to be cautious. They would perhaps have difficulty coping with the stress of flushing out such vast quantities of mineral-free water.
Mineral-free consumption over the long term can result in high cardiovascular disease risk or aggravate conditions such as coronary artery disease.
There is research that has identified some possible links between low consumption of mineral water and elevated risks of colorectal cancer.
Although the evidence remains questionable, it would imply that drinking pure water long-term is not the healthiest habit to cultivate.
Poisonous Chemicals
Another problem is that ultra-pure water is too aggressive at stripping toxins from containers.
It will then more likely absorb chemicals or other poisons quicker than normal water when placed in plastic or metal containers.
Rather than being healthy for your body, you could be exposed to poisonous chemicals.
Tap water, filtered water, and bottled water with mineral content comparable to that of tap water are healthier for most people to drink.
Are There Actual Benefits to Pure Water?
So, you must be curious: is there anything to gain from using pure water? That's actually a great question!
Ultra-pure water is definitely worth having for some purposes. In the laboratory, hospital, and industry, completely pure water is usually necessary.
It amazes me to think the same water I wouldn’t drink every day is the gold standard in labs and hospitals. In short, context really matters.
Medical equipment that sterilizes with steam requires mineral-free water to prevent mineral residue.
Ultra-pure water eliminates contaminants that would ruin delicate components in electronics production. Purification is useful and even required in such applications.
Drinking purified water can be useful in areas where water quality is very poor.
If tap water at home is contaminated with bacteria, chlorine, or other harmful chemicals, purified water will be safe to drink. Reverse osmosis, distillation, ultraviolet light, and numerous other processes can remove contaminants and destroy bacteria.
In emergency situations, being able to drink purified water saves lives and spares people from illness.
Pure water, however, is no healthier than filtered or naturally mineralized water for daily drinking.
To reiterate, it's good for thirst, but it's poor in nutrients. You can get so much more from drinking water, whether you drink it daily or opt for bottled. So, that's a caveat right there!
Other people also say it will taste better if it contains minerals, like tap or bottled water.
The minerals give some flavor, and it is more convenient to drink a good amount of water during the day. Again, taste is sometimes king!
Ultra-pure water is not at all flavorful, which may limit the amount one would drink. But since proper hydration is so crucial to peak health, it is something worth considering.
Drinking distilled water has some benefits under certain circumstances, namely in water quality. For daily drinking, though, filtered or mineral water is better. And that's not just something I recklessly claim, it's backed by science and authorities.
What Do Health Authorities Say?
So, here's the basis.
The World Health Organization researched the health impact of drinking water for many decades.
Its reports confirm that safe water must be free of pathogens and contain the required minerals.
Therefore, demineralized water cannot be consumed in the long term. Well, ideally, that is.
Calcium and magnesium reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and promote bone strength. The WHO continued to assert that populations with low mineral water intake may face increased risks of several health conditions.
But it's not just the WHO. The US Environmental Protection Agency also controls standards of clean drinking water. While the intent is primarily to screen out objectionable substances like lead, chlorine, bacteria, and other chemicals, the EPA also recognizes that minerals are part of water quality.
Hygienic water is not distilled water. Rather, it is to screen out objectionable particles and retain good minerals. The WHO from all parts of the globe recommends filtered water or naturally mineral-bearing bottled water.
They recommend against using distilled or ultra-pure water without additives for prolonged periods. Even some organizations recommend that pure water can disrupt the electrolyte balance when consumed in large amounts.
At the bottom of all these, the suggestions are easy. And the authorities have been upfront about it, too. Regular quality tap water or filtered water that maintains minerals is better than consuming ultra-pure water daily.
Safe Alternatives
Since asking what happens when you drink pure water is risky, it is wise to consider less risky alternatives. The good news is that there are many other ways to give your body a healthy boost of water.
Filtered Water
Filtered water is one of the finest options. A good water filter removes impurities such as chlorine, lead, dust, and bacteria from the water without stripping it of beneficial minerals.
The end product is pure water that is safe to drink but still contains calcium, magnesium, and other essential nutrients. Filtered water tends to be healthier to drink than tap water, and thus individuals are more likely to drink larger quantities of water daily.
Bottled Water
Bottled water is another alternative. Most bottled water contains natural spring water minerals. The water contributes electrolytes and increases hydration.
Mineral content declaration and water purity in bottled water should not be overlooked. Bottled water is convenient but expensive and less environmentally friendly than tap-filtered water.
★ Berkey ★
For the individual who requires a long-term solution, a great system such as Berkey is convenient.
The Berkey Water Filter removes chemicals and other impurities, but not the essential minerals the body requires.
It’s perfect if you want clean, better-tasting water, but don’t want to risk relying on pure distilled water every single day.
Tap water is safe to consume in most places if it meets national standards.
And honestly, tap water will suffice for daily needs and tends to be rich in minerals, but the taste varies by geographic location.
The secret is balance. Purified water, filtered water, or bottled water, whichever is best, is one that neither removes the impurities nor the nutrients.
Pick wisely to ensure you're well hydrated without harming your long-term health and well-being.
Tips for Healthy Hydration
The truth is, seeing what happens when you consume pure water is only half the story.
The other half is applying healthy hydration to your daily life.
Most adults need adequate water intake to keep their bodies hydrated. Please consider these three: activity level, climate, and medical condition.
Thirst is a natural indicator. It's a very human feeling. But it's still better to aim for a specific number of glasses of clean water per day, just to be sure.
Select water that has been filtered from a healthy process. Filtered water, mineral bottled water, or safe drinking tap water are healthy choices.
All these types of water eliminate harmful impurities such as chemicals, chlorine, and bacteria without depriving the body of essential minerals, thereby promoting well-being.
But please don't survive on distilled or ultra-pure water for an extended period.
Although purified water is safe to consume in small quantities, bodily functions improve when it contains electrolytes and nutrients.
Even more so if, after exercise or sweaty activities, there is a need to replace electrolytes with mineral water or high-salt foods.
Again, store water safely. Clean water, too, can become unsafe water if stored in dirty containers.
Remember that stainless steel or glass containers are safer than plastic containers that can leach chemicals.
Finally, bear in mind that water complements food.
Fruits, vegetables, and diet food supplement water and minerals. You don't have to rely on it ALL on water drinking!
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