Drinking Distilled Water?!! Kinda…

I grew up hearing it too: "Don't drink distilled water. It's dead water. It'll pull the minerals right out of your bones."

So when I started distilling my own water a few years ago, I had some explaining to do, mostly to myself. I wanted to know where that warning came from, what was true about it, and what wasn't.

Distilling my water is one of several changes I've made over the past few years while healing, and I've had to unlearn a few things along the way. Here's what I do and why.

Why I distill most of my drinking water

I started distilling because of what's in tap water today, not because of what it lacks.

•         Forever chemicals (PFAS). These man-made chemicals don't break down, and they're turning up in water supplies across the country. The EPA set its first enforceable limits on two of them, PFOA and PFOS, in 2024 (Mondaq). In 2026 it proposed giving some water systems until 2031 to meet those limits, and dropping the limits on four others (Jones Day). I'm not willing to wait.

•         Added fluoride. This one is being openly debated. In 2024 a federal court found that the standard fluoridation level poses an unreasonable risk of lowering children's IQ, and in 2025 Utah and Florida stopped adding fluoride to public water (MultiState). The EPA opened a new review of fluoride in January 2026 (CareQuest). The CDC still supports fluoridation for preventing cavities. I've made my choice: I don't want it in my drinking water.

•         Chlorine. Chlorine keeps tap water free of germs, and that matters. But once the water reaches my kitchen, I don't want to drink it.

Distillation boils water and collects the steam, leaving most dissolved substances behind, including fluoride, chlorine and nitrates (University of Nebraska Extension). One thing I learned along the way: some volatile chemicals can boil off and travel with the steam. That's why I make sure my distiller has a carbon filter on the output.

Where the old warning came from

When I dug into it, I found the warning didn't start with distilled water at all. It started with minerals.

In 1957, a Japanese researcher named Jun Kobayashi noticed that stroke deaths were higher in regions with softer river water (source). In 1960, Henry Schroeder reported in JAMA that U.S. cities with soft water had more heart disease deaths than cities with hard, mineral-rich water (source). Later, as desalination spread, the World Health Organization studied water stripped of its minerals and cautioned against relying on it long term (source).

Distilled water is about as mineral-free as water gets. Over the years, "soft water may not be great for your heart" got retold as "never drink distilled water."

What they got right, and what got blown out of proportion

What they got right: minerals in water matter, especially magnesium. That link to heart health has held up reasonably well over the decades (source).

What got blown out of proportion: the idea that distilled water pulls minerals out of your bones and teeth. Mainstream sources call that a myth. Most of our minerals come from food, not water (Healthline). Those early studies also compared whole regions, not individual people, so they couldn't prove the water itself was the cause (CDC Stacks).

The real issue with distilled water isn't what it takes from you. It's that it doesn't give anything back. That's an easy fix, and it's where my routine comes in.

My water routine

This is what I actually do, day to day.

1.       Distill. I use a countertop distiller that collects the water in a glass jar. Even though we have a commercial-grade filtration system, there's residue left at the bottom of the distiller after every batch. Some of that is natural minerals, but it's an eye-opener about how much is dissolved in ordinary tap water.

2.       Pour it into a pitcher. A pitcher is easier to pour from, and it keeps my distiller's glass jar clean, since I add things to my water.

3.       Add back minerals & salts. I add a clean, third-party-tested sea salt for taste, electrolytes and trace minerals. Sea salt is mostly sodium and chloride, so it isn't a main source of calcium or magnesium. That's why I also add ionic magnesium; I tend to run low in it. If you're athletic, an electrolyte blend is another good option. A WHO expert group concluded that putting calcium and magnesium back into demineralized water would likely benefit health (source). Before you start adding supplements, I recommend checking with your doctor about your nutrient levels, so you add what you actually need.

4.       Sometimes I use fruit or vegetables. I slice up fresh fruit or vegetables and squeeze the juice right into my water, then let the slices sit in it. It tastes wonderful and adds a little natural goodness, and it makes me want to drink more.

5.       Filter the rest. I cook with filtered water, and I have a whole-house filtration system, so I'm not bathing and showering in some of the chemicals & compounds I took out of my drinking water.

Our new video shows you exactly how I prepare my water, step by step. https://youtube.com/shorts/9KYaDn73jR4

The bottom line

Since I changed how I drink, cook and bathe with water, my health has kept improving. That's my experience, not a promise. Everybody is different, and water is one piece of a bigger picture for me. But it's an important piece that I pay attention to.

If you're curious, start by finding out what's in your water. Your utility's annual water quality report is a good place to begin, or you can have your water tested. Then decide what's right for you.

WARNING: If you have kidney or heart disease, follow a sodium- or fluid-restricted diet, or take medications that affect your electrolytes, talk with your healthcare provider before adding salt, magnesium or other minerals to your water.

I'm a health and wellness coach sharing my personal experience. This article is for educational purposes and isn't medical advice.