Is Distilled Water Safe to Drink Every Day?

By Megahome Editorial Team· September 22, 2026 · 8 min read

TL;DR

Health authorities do not treat distilled water as unsafe, but it supplies almost no minerals, and WHO literature raises questions about relying on very low-mineral water long term — especially with a poor diet or for cooking. A varied diet matters most; infants and people with medical conditions should follow professional advice.

Distilled water is clean water that has had almost all of its minerals removed, and health authorities do not describe drinking it as dangerous. The honest answer, though, has two parts: bodies such as Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration say a balanced diet supplies the minerals you need, while World Health Organization (WHO) publications point out that very low-mineral water contributes no calcium or magnesium and that the long-term evidence is incomplete. If you drink it daily, let your diet supply the minerals.

What do health authorities actually say?

Official sources are more careful than most websites. In their own framing:

WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality (4th edition, with the first and second addenda) note that packaged waters with very low mineral content, such as distilled or demineralised waters, are consumed, and that there is insufficient scientific information on the benefits or hazards of long-term consumption of very low-mineral waters to make any recommendation. The same Guidelines add that drinking water can contribute to calcium and magnesium intake and could be important for people whose intake of these minerals is marginal.
WHO, Nutrients in Drinking Water (2005) includes a chapter by Frantisek Kozisek of the Czech National Institute of Public Health on health risks from drinking demineralised water. It concludes that demineralised water that has not been remineralised is not considered ideal drinking water and that drinking water should contain minimum levels of certain essential minerals.
Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (rumour-clarification page, updated 2022) states that people generally do not become mineral-deficient from drinking pure or reverse-osmosis water, because food is the main source of minerals, and that with a balanced diet long-term consumption does not cause mineral deficiency.

These positions are less contradictory than they appear. All agree that food is the main source of minerals; they differ on how much weight to give the small share mineral-rich water can add — which matters most for people whose diets are already low in calcium and magnesium.

What is distilled water, exactly?

Distilled water is water boiled into steam and condensed back into liquid in a separate container. Dissolved salts, metals and most microorganisms stay behind in the boiling chamber, so the result contains very little calcium, magnesium, sodium or fluoride. Unlike simple boiling, which leaves everything dissolved in the pot, distillation physically separates the water from what was dissolved in it. For specific contaminants, see Does a water distiller remove fluoride, lead and PFAS?

What are the concerns about drinking low-mineral water long term?

The Kozisek chapter in the WHO's 2005 report is the most quoted source here. Its main points, as the chapter presents them:

No mineral contribution. Drinking water is not the major source of calcium and magnesium, but the chapter argues its contribution can still matter, because many modern diets fall short and minerals in water are present as free ions that are readily absorbed.
Cooking losses. When soft, low-mineral water is used for cooking, the chapter reports substantial losses of essential elements from vegetables, meat and cereals — up to about 60% for magnesium and calcium in the studies it cites. Hard water leads to much smaller losses. This effect on cooking may matter more than drinking alone.
Older physiological studies. The chapter reviews animal and volunteer studies that reported effects of highly demineralised water on mineral balance. It acknowledges that much of this evidence comes from older studies, some of which may not meet current methodological standards, while arguing they should not be dismissed.
Remineralisation. It notes that desalinated public supplies are usually stabilised with minerals, but water demineralised by household treatment usually is not.

The WHO's later drinking-water Guidelines stop short of these conclusions: they state that the evidence is insufficient to recommend minimum mineral levels. A fair summary is that there is a genuine, unresolved scientific question — not proof of harm, and not proof that low-mineral water is irrelevant.

Does distilled water pull minerals out of your body?

You will often read that distilled water "leaches" minerals from your bones. That is not how the authorities above frame the issue. Your kidneys and hormones tightly regulate the minerals in your blood, and the water you drink mixes with food and digestive fluids straight away. Taiwan's FDA explicitly calls the claim that pure or RO water causes cardiovascular disease or osteoporosis incorrect.

The more defensible concern is simpler: distilled water does not add minerals, and cooking in it may reduce the minerals your food delivers. Both are manageable through what you eat and how you cook.

Where should your minerals come from?

Mainly from food. Dairy products, leafy greens, pulses, nuts and seeds, whole grains, fish and seaweed are important sources of calcium and magnesium. If you drink distilled water every day, these habits address the concerns above:

Eat a varied diet with regular sources of calcium and magnesium. If you are unsure whether your diet is adequate, ask a doctor or dietitian.
Consider remineralising if you wish. Food-grade mineral drops or mixing in some mineral water are common options. They also improve the taste for many people.
Think about cooking water. Given the cooking-loss findings, some households use tap or mineral water for boiling vegetables, rice or soups and keep distilled water for drinking, tea and coffee — or add minerals to the cooking water.
Replace salts after heavy sweating through food or electrolyte drinks, as you would with any water.

Who should ask a professional first?

Babies and infant formula. Follow your paediatrician, the formula instructions and your local health authority on which water to use and how to prepare it. The US CDC notes that water labelled distilled or demineralised contains little or no fluoride and that parents can use low-fluoride water some of the time to lessen the risk of dental fluorosis — advice that differs by country.
Medical conditions or special diets. If you have been given advice about fluids, sodium, potassium or other minerals, follow it.
Limited or restrictive diets. If your calcium or magnesium intake may already be marginal, the WHO's point about water's contribution is most relevant to you. Ask your doctor or dietitian.
Fluoride for teeth. Distillation significantly reduces fluoride. If your area fluoridates tap water, ask your dentist whether you need another source, such as fluoride toothpaste.

This article is general information, not medical advice. Where your national health authority gives specific guidance, follow it.

What does distillation remove — and what can carry over?

According to the US CDC, distillation removes parasites, bacteria and viruses and many chemicals, including arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, nitrate, sodium, sulfate, calcium and magnesium. The CDC also notes that it does not remove some volatile organic compounds, volatile solvents and certain pesticides, which can travel with the steam. That is why Megahome distillers pass freshly condensed water through an activated-carbon post-filter before it reaches the bottle. It is also why distilled water is not automatically better than well-treated tap water — see distilled vs filtered water for a fair comparison.

How do you keep home-distilled water fresh?

Storage and maintenance decide what you actually drink. The CDC notes that bacteria can grow on a distiller's cooling coils when the unit is not in use.

Store water in a clean, closed glass or food-grade container, somewhere cool and out of direct sunlight, and use it within a few days.
Wash and dry the collection bottle regularly.
Descale the boiling chamber at least once a month, as the Megahome manual advises — more often with hard water.
Replace the activated-carbon sachet within 25 days, as the manual states, or sooner if you notice an odd taste or smell.

Where does a home distiller fit in?

A countertop distiller lets you produce distilled water at home rather than buying it. Megahome's MH-943TWS makes 4 litres per batch, with a stainless-steel boiling chamber and a glass or PP collection bottle; the MH-943SBS has the same #304 stainless-steel boiling chamber. Megahome builds its distillers in Taiwan and reports over one million units sold. Whether one suits you depends on your water, diet and intended use — not on any health promise. To find a retailer, visit Where to Buy.

Key takeaways

Health authorities do not describe distilled water as dangerous, and Taiwan's FDA says a balanced diet prevents mineral deficiency from drinking pure or RO water.
The WHO's drinking-water Guidelines say evidence on long-term consumption of very low-mineral water is insufficient for a recommendation; a WHO-published chapter argues such water is not ideal without remineralisation.
Distilled water supplies essentially no calcium or magnesium, and cooking in low-mineral water can reduce minerals in food.
A varied diet, optional remineralisation and sensible cooking-water choices address most of the concern.
Infants, people with medical conditions and anyone on a restricted diet should follow professional and local health-authority advice.

Frequently asked questions

Can I drink only distilled water?

Many people do. If you do, make sure your diet provides enough calcium and magnesium, consider mineral drops or some mineral water, and speak to a doctor or dietitian if your diet is limited or you have a medical condition.

Is distilled water healthier than tap water?

No health authority says so. Well-treated tap water that meets local standards is safe to drink and contains some minerals. Distilled water offers consistently low dissolved solids and many contaminants significantly reduced, which some households prefer, especially where water quality is uncertain.

Can I use distilled water to prepare infant formula?

Follow your paediatrician, the formula instructions and your local health authority. Guidance differs between countries, and home-distilled water that has been stored is not sterile.

Sources

← Back to blog