Alkaline Water versus Distilled Water: What's The Difference?

Difference between distilled water and alkaline water

Distilled water is when tap water is boiled and then condensed to vapor back into the water. On the other hand, alkaline water is water that is filtered to raise the pH level to make it less acidic by adding more minerals in rather than getting rid of them.

The distillation process focuses on bringing down the total dissolved solids (TDS) to 0 by removing all the minerals from the water. However, this is a cause of concern because mineralization in water is an essential element for human health.

A lot of people ask whether distilled water is alkaline. But what they don’t know is that water purification has two very different concepts that are fundamentally based on mineral content.

There are many minerals in water that protect humans against deficiencies, such as calcium, magnesium, and various others. Water has enough of these components, which can otherwise be missing from contemporary diets.

Effects of distillation

Even though distilled water removes minerals from water, it still has some benefits. It is especially beneficial for people who need a short-term detox. This is because having no minerals and contaminants in the water decreases the probability of getting any water-borne disease. But, what needs to be noted here is that distilled water is not suitable for regular human consumption because it removes almost everything from the water.

A publication which was titled ‘Health Risks from Drinking Demineralized Water’ by the World Health Organization reported that distilled water “increased diuresis, decreased serum potassium concentration and increased the elimination of calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium ions from the body.”

There are more risks associated with distillation: it increases the consumption of harmful toxic metals and reduces the intake of vital elements and microelements. The World Health Organization has stated that many reports have come to light, which says that consumption of distilled water has a detrimental impact on hydration.

Research on the threats involved with distilled water

The World Health Organization has found many other risks involved with distilled water. Many health implications come with drinking distilled water owing to the low mineral contents in it. Two epidemiological studies were done in four South Siberian cities to test how distilled water affects women aged 20 to 49 years with different calcium and magnesium levels.

The results of the studies were as following.

City ‘A’: 3.0 mg/L calcium and 2.4 mg/L magnesium.

City ‘B’:18.0 mg/L calcium and 5.0 mg/L magnesium.

City ‘C’: 22.0 mg/L calcium and 11.3 mg/L magnesium.

City ‘D’: 45.0 mg/L calcium and 26.2 mg/L magnesium.

As can be seen, City ‘B’ levels were slightly higher than City ‘A.’ City ‘C’ was again increased, and then City ‘D’ had the highest levels of calcium and magnesium.

Findings of the studies revealed that women living in Cities ‘A’ and ‘B’ had frequent headaches, high blood pressure, dizziness, cardiovascular changes, and osteoporosis compared to women in Cities ‘C’ and ‘D.’

Why should you choose alkaline water?

An alkaline water filter not only makes the water raises the pH level but does so by enriching the mineral content. This eliminates all the harmful risks that come with demineralization, and at the same time, it ensures that the body gets the essential minerals like magnesium and calcium that are the foundations of good hydration. Unlike distilled water, alkaline water is also tastier. It has a much higher capacity to hydrate, especially in times of intense physical activities. The electrolyte imbalances that can occur in the body if a person drinks distilled water are not a concern with mineralized alkaline water.

It’s very evident that distilled water is not a healthy option in the long run as an alternative to tap water. It may be beneficial in short-term usage, in cases where a detox is required. It is not a viable form of water for daily hydration. Mineral deficiencies, electrolyte imbalances, and ailments like those from the Siberian study are all examples of health problems that consuming distilled water can cause.

On the other hand, alkaline water increases the mineral components in the water. While it keeps minerals like calcium and magnesium, it removes contaminants like chlorine, odors, and other toxic metals. Using an alkaline water filter, you can quickly eliminate all these impurities while simultaneously keeping all the beneficial properties. This will prove to be a much more sustainable alternative to tap and distilled water in the longer run.