Editing Distilled water (section)

==Health effects==
Distillation removes all minerals from water. This results in demineralised water, which has not been proven to be healthier than drinking water. The [[World Health Organization]] investigated the health effects of demineralised water in 1982, and its experiments in humans found that demineralised water increased [[diuresis]] and the elimination of [[electrolyte]]s, with decreased serum potassium concentration.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}} [[Magnesium]], [[calcium]], and other nutrients in water can help to protect against nutritional deficiency. Recommendations for magnesium have been put at a minimum of 10&nbsp;mg/L with 20–30&nbsp;mg/L optimum; for calcium a 20&nbsp;mg/L minimum and a 40–80&nbsp;mg/L optimum, and a total water hardness (adding magnesium and calcium) of 2–4&nbsp;[[mmol/L]]. At water hardness above 5&nbsp;mmol/L, higher incidence of [[gallstone]]s, [[kidney stone]]s, [[urinary stone]]s, [[arthrosis]], and [[arthropathy|arthropathies]] have been observed.{{Citation needed|date=January 2018}} For fluoride the concentration recommended for dental health is 0.5–1.0&nbsp;mg/L, with a maximum guideline value of 1.5&nbsp;mg/L to avoid [[dental fluorosis]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Nutrients in Drinking Water |isbn=92-4-159398-9 |publisher=World Health Organization |author=Kozisek F. |chapter=Health risks from drinking demineralised water |year=1980 |pages=148–159 |chapter-url=https://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/nutrientsindw.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160218180835/http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/nutrientsindw.pdf |archive-date=2016-02-18 }}</ref>

Water filtration and distillation devices are becoming increasingly common in households. Municipal water supplies often have minerals added or have trace impurities at levels which are regulated to be safe for consumption. Much of these additional impurities, such as [[volatile organic compounds]], [[fluoride]], and an estimated >75,000 other chemical compounds<ref>{{cite web |url=http://watersystems.walton.com/ |title=Walton International – Home |publisher=Watersystems.walton.com |date=2010-11-05 |access-date=2011-12-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904210320/http://watersystems.walton.com/ |archive-date=2014-09-04 }}</ref> are not removed through conventional filtration; however, distillation and reverse osmosis eliminate nearly all of these impurities.

The drinking of distilled water as a replacement for drinking water has been both advocated and discouraged for health reasons. Distilled water lacks minerals and ions, such as calcium, that play key roles in biological functions, such as in nervous system [[homeostasis]], and are normally found in [[Drinking water|potable water]]. The lack of naturally occurring minerals in distilled water has raised some concerns. The ''Journal of General Internal Medicine'' published a study on the mineral contents of different waters available in the US. The study found that "drinking water sources available to North Americans may contain high levels of [[calcium]], [[magnesium]], and [[sodium]] and may provide clinically important portions of the recommended dietary intake of these minerals". It encouraged people to "check the mineral content of their drinking water, whether tap or bottled, and choose water most appropriate for their needs". Since distilled water is devoid of minerals, mineral intake through diet is needed to maintain good health.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Azoulay A. |author2=Garzon P. |author3=Eisenberg M. J. |year=2001 |title=Comparison of the mineral content of tap water and bottled waters |journal=J. Gen. Intern. Med. |volume=16 |issue=3 |pages=168–175 |pmid=11318912 |pmc=1495189 |doi=10.1111/j.1525-1497.2001.04189.x}}</ref>

The consumption of [[hard water|"hard" water]] (water with minerals) is associated with beneficial cardiovascular effects. As noted in the ''American Journal of Epidemiology'', consumption of hard drinking water is negatively correlated with atherosclerotic [[heart disease]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Voors |first=A. W. |date=April 1, 1971 |title=Mineral in the municipal water and atherosclerotic heart death |periodical=American Journal of Epidemiology |volume=93 |issue=4 |pages=259–266 |url=http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/93/4/259 |pmid=5550342 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012173117/http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/93/4/259 |archive-date=October 12, 2007 }}</ref>