The Naked Scientists
  • Login
  • Register
  • Podcasts
      • The Naked Scientists
      • eLife
      • Naked Genetics
      • Naked Astronomy
      • In short
      • Naked Neuroscience
      • Ask! The Naked Scientists
      • Question of the Week
      • Archive
      • Video
      • SUBSCRIBE to our Podcasts
  • Articles
      • Science News
      • Features
      • Interviews
      • Answers to Science Questions
  • Get Naked
      • Donate
      • Do an Experiment
      • Science Forum
      • Ask a Question
  • About
      • Meet the team
      • Our Sponsors
      • Site Map
      • Contact us

User menu

  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Help
  • Search
  • Tags
  • Member Map
  • Recent Topics
  • Login
  • Register
  1. Naked Science Forum
  2. Life Sciences
  3. Physiology & Medicine
  4. Is distilled water or tap water better for your health?
« previous next »
  • Print
Pages: [1] 2   Go Down

Is distilled water or tap water better for your health?

  • 39 Replies
  • 13298 Views
  • 0 Tags

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline thedoc (OP)

  • Forum Admin
  • Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • 510
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 17 times
    • View Profile
Is distilled water or tap water better for your health?
« on: 28/07/2016 10:23:01 »
Kelson & Elena Da Cruz asked the Naked Scientists:
   Hi. I will like to know about drinking distilled water for health versus tap water that as been treated with all sort of chemicals?
Some info say distilled water is not good, some say its the best water to drink!
Many thanks
Elena
What do you think?
« Last Edit: 28/07/2016 10:23:01 by _system »
Logged
 



Offline alancalverd

  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • ********
  • 11020
  • Activity:
    100%
  • Thanked: 635 times
  • life is too short to drink instant coffee
    • View Profile
Re: Is distilled water or tap water better for your health?
« Reply #1 on: 28/07/2016 12:13:26 »
Fresh distilled water will do no harm or good, but once it has been opened to the air or touched by any animal it will contain a few organisms that might just be harmful.

Tap water is less likely to contain harmful bacteria as it contains a whiff of chlorine or ozone and is always available "on tap". It may also contain fluoride which will reduce tooth decay.
Logged
helping to stem the tide of ignorance
 

Offline evan_au

  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • ********
  • 9019
  • Activity:
    78.5%
  • Thanked: 885 times
    • View Profile
Re: Is distilled water or tap water better for your health?
« Reply #2 on: 29/07/2016 12:40:25 »
Quote from: Kelson & Elena
drinking distilled water for health versus tap water

It depends on which country you are in. In some countries, it is best to boil all drinking water, as the water is not adequately treated to kill pathogens, and even water that is labelled as distilled may be suspect.

Quote from: alancalverd
fluoride which will reduce tooth decay
I heard that there are some country towns in Australia that were showing very high rates of hospital admission for dental surgery. It turns out that these towns have only had fluoridated water for a few years...
Logged
 

Offline Bored chemist

  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • *******
  • 21396
  • Activity:
    100%
  • Thanked: 487 times
    • View Profile
Re: Is distilled water or tap water better for your health?
« Reply #3 on: 29/07/2016 18:13:02 »

Quote from: alancalverd
fluoride which will reduce tooth decay
I heard that there are some country towns in Australia that were showing very high rates of hospital admission for dental surgery. It turns out that these towns have only had fluoridated water for a few years...
[/quote]

I heard there was a thing called evidence, and that it was considered important in science.
Logged
Please disregard all previous signatures.
 

Offline evan_au

  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • ********
  • 9019
  • Activity:
    78.5%
  • Thanked: 885 times
    • View Profile
Re: Is distilled water or tap water better for your health?
« Reply #4 on: 30/07/2016 05:19:08 »
Quote
fluoride.... I heard there was a thing called evidence
See the transcript at: http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/healthreport/hotspots-of-health-inequality/7657824
The full report is here: http://grattan.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/874-Perils-of-Place.pdf
          ...but it doesn't go into the detailed causes of dental problems...
Logged
 



Offline Bored chemist

  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • *******
  • 21396
  • Activity:
    100%
  • Thanked: 487 times
    • View Profile
Re: Is distilled water or tap water better for your health?
« Reply #5 on: 30/07/2016 13:31:42 »
Those don't even include the word "fluoride"
They(reasonably enough) blame poverty- and the associated lack of dental care- for increased hospital admissions for dental health problems.

So, once again, Got any evidence?

Logged
Please disregard all previous signatures.
 

Offline evan_au

  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • ********
  • 9019
  • Activity:
    78.5%
  • Thanked: 885 times
    • View Profile
Re: Is distilled water or tap water better for your health?
« Reply #6 on: 31/07/2016 04:31:31 »
Quote
Those don't even include the word "fluoride"
from the transcript...
Quote
Stephen Duckett: ...if you look again at Melbourne, in metropolitan Melbourne, none of the postcodes had high rates of admissions for dental care. But in parts of rural Victoria there are places which are two or three times the state average. So Colac, for example, not a poor area, Mildura, have more than twice the state average rate of admission for dental care.

Norman Swan: So presumably for extractions.

Stephen Duckett: Extractions, gum disease possibly. And it is probably because neither of those places have had fluoride for very long. They basically fluoridated in 2010 in both of those cases, and so the community didn't have the public health intervention that they should have had in terms of fluoride in the water supply.

Norman Swan: So that's one cause...
But that study was looking for medical hotspots, not specifically at the health effects of fluoridation.
Logged
 

Offline exothermic

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • 674
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 36 times
    • View Profile
Re: Is distilled water or tap water better for your health?
« Reply #7 on: 31/07/2016 12:47:24 »
Quote from: alancalverd on 28/07/2016 12:13:26
Fresh distilled water will do no harm or good

The former is true.... the latter is not.


Quote from: alancalverd on 28/07/2016 12:13:26
once it has been opened to the air it will contain a few organisms that might just be harmful.

Really? Name one airborne "organism" that commonly infiltrates water bottles when you open them.


Quote from: alancalverd on 28/07/2016 12:13:26
Tap water is less likely to contain harmful bacteria as it contains a whiff of chlorine or ozone and is always available "on tap".

You forgot about systemic toxicants - chlorine doesn't remove heavy metals from tap water.
Logged
 

Offline exothermic

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • 674
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 36 times
    • View Profile
Re: Is distilled water or tap water better for your health?
« Reply #8 on: 31/07/2016 12:54:47 »
Quote from: Kelson & Elena Da Cruz on 28/07/2016 10:23:01
Some info say distilled water is not good

Anyone who implies that distilled water is "not good".... has no concept of science or physiology.

Logged
 



Offline exothermic

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • 674
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 36 times
    • View Profile
Re: Is distilled water or tap water better for your health?
« Reply #9 on: 31/07/2016 13:00:34 »
Quote from: alancalverd
I heard that there are some country towns in Australia that were showing very high rates of hospital admission for dental surgery.


Logged
 

Offline jeffreyH

  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ********
  • 6807
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 174 times
  • The graviton sucks
    • View Profile
Re: Is distilled water or tap water better for your health?
« Reply #10 on: 31/07/2016 14:57:41 »
Quote from: exothermic on 31/07/2016 12:47:24
Quote from: alancalverd on 28/07/2016 12:13:26
Fresh distilled water will do no harm or good

The former is true.... the latter is not.


Quote from: alancalverd on 28/07/2016 12:13:26
once it has been opened to the air it will contain a few organisms that might just be harmful.

Really? Name one airborne "organism" that commonly infiltrates water bottles when you open them.


Quote from: alancalverd on 28/07/2016 12:13:26
Tap water is less likely to contain harmful bacteria as it contains a whiff of chlorine or ozone and is always available "on tap".

You forgot about systemic toxicants - chlorine doesn't remove heavy metals from tap water.

They don't tend to sell distilled water in drinking bottles. Your reading skills and comprehension appear a little impaired. Oh yes I know why.
Logged
Even the most obstinately ignorant cannot avoid learning when in an environment that educates.
 

Offline exothermic

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • 674
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 36 times
    • View Profile
Re: Is distilled water or tap water better for your health?
« Reply #11 on: 31/07/2016 15:05:19 »
Quote from: jeffreyH on 31/07/2016 14:57:41
They don't tend to sell distilled water in drinking bottles. Your reading skills and comprehension appear a little impaired. Oh yes I know why.

Distilled water comes in bottles... douchebag:

Logged
 

Offline Bored chemist

  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • *******
  • 21396
  • Activity:
    100%
  • Thanked: 487 times
    • View Profile
Re: Is distilled water or tap water better for your health?
« Reply #12 on: 31/07/2016 15:07:15 »
Quote from: exothermic on 31/07/2016 12:47:24


Really? Name one airborne "organism" that commonly infiltrates water bottles when you open them.


You forgot about systemic toxicants - chlorine doesn't remove heavy metals from tap water.
Obvious candidates would be
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudomonas_aeruginosa
and
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legionella_pneumophila
They are not very likely to do any harm but, in bottled water they will have a much better chance of survival than in chlorinated tap water.

If your tap water has significant levels of heavy metals then you should complain to the supplier.
Logged
Please disregard all previous signatures.
 



Offline Bored chemist

  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • *******
  • 21396
  • Activity:
    100%
  • Thanked: 487 times
    • View Profile
Re: Is distilled water or tap water better for your health?
« Reply #13 on: 31/07/2016 15:10:45 »
Quote from: exothermic on 31/07/2016 15:05:19
Quote from: jeffreyH on 31/07/2016 14:57:41
They don't tend to sell distilled water in drinking bottles. Your reading skills and comprehension appear a little impaired. Oh yes I know why.

Distilled water comes in bottles... douchebag:


That's not distilled water though, is it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrowhead_Water

So perhaps we should reassign the epithet "douchebag".
Logged
Please disregard all previous signatures.
 

Offline exothermic

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • 674
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 36 times
    • View Profile
Re: Is distilled water or tap water better for your health?
« Reply #14 on: 31/07/2016 15:12:42 »
Quote from: Bored chemist on 31/07/2016 15:10:45
That's not distilled water though, is it. So perhaps we should reassign the epithet "douchebag".

Actually it is distilled water genius.

Logged
 

Offline jeffreyH

  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ********
  • 6807
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 174 times
  • The graviton sucks
    • View Profile
Re: Is distilled water or tap water better for your health?
« Reply #15 on: 31/07/2016 15:20:35 »
The taste of distilled water leaves a lot to be desired. They wouldn't get many customers.
Logged
Even the most obstinately ignorant cannot avoid learning when in an environment that educates.
 

Offline exothermic

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • 674
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 36 times
    • View Profile
Re: Is distilled water or tap water better for your health?
« Reply #16 on: 31/07/2016 15:21:50 »
Quote from: Bored chemist on 31/07/2016 15:07:15
Obvious candidates would be
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudomonas_aeruginosa

Obvious?

Wrong.

Quote from: Crit Rev Microbiol. 1997;23(1):47-75.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa: assessment of risk from drinking water.[/quote
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a ubiquitous environmental bacterium. It can be recovered, often in high numbers, in common food, especially vegetables. Moreover, it can be recovered in low numbers in drinking water. A small per- centage of clones of Pseudomonas aeruginosa possess the required number of virulence factors to cause infection. However, Pseudomonas aeruginosa will not proliferate on normal tissue but requires previously damaged organs. Further narrowing the risk to human health is that only certain specific hosts are at risk, including patients with profound neutropenia, cystic fibrosis, severe burns, and those subject to foreign device installation. Other than these very well defined groups, the general population is refractory to infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Logged
 



Offline Bored chemist

  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • *******
  • 21396
  • Activity:
    100%
  • Thanked: 487 times
    • View Profile
Re: Is distilled water or tap water better for your health?
« Reply #17 on: 31/07/2016 15:22:00 »
Meanwhile, back at the OP's question
"Is distilled water or tap water better for your health?"

Distilled water won't do you any particular harm- nor with it do you any real good.
Whether it's better than the tap water depends (obviously) on the quality of the tap water.

However, since they are asking the question about drinking tap water, it's fair to assume that the originators of the question live somewhere where it is safe to drink the tap water.
(If they weren't then presumably they would have been asking about different varieties of mineral water vs distilled).

So, if the tap water is reasonable (and, for the sake of argument, lets presume it is chlorinated too) then the question boils down to
"Should we pay a lot more money for water that offers little if any advantage?"
And the answer is almost certainly no.
It would be better for your health to spend that money (even if it's a small sum) on other things that are healthier options.
The exception would be where someone is sufficiently wealthy that price concerns don't affect their health choices.
If you are in that fortunate position I suggest you drink tap water and  give the money you save to someone who needs it.
Logged
Please disregard all previous signatures.
 

Offline Bored chemist

  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • *******
  • 21396
  • Activity:
    100%
  • Thanked: 487 times
    • View Profile
Re: Is distilled water or tap water better for your health?
« Reply #18 on: 31/07/2016 15:24:18 »
Quote from: exothermic on 31/07/2016 15:21:50
Quote from: Bored chemist on 31/07/2016 15:07:15
Obvious candidates would be
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudomonas_aeruginosa

Obvious?

Wrong.

Quote from: Crit Rev Microbiol. 1997;23(1):47-75.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa: assessment of risk from drinking water.[/quote
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a ubiquitous environmental bacterium. It can be recovered, often in high numbers, in common food, especially vegetables. Moreover, it can be recovered in low numbers in drinking water. A small per- centage of clones of Pseudomonas aeruginosa possess the required number of virulence factors to cause infection. However, Pseudomonas aeruginosa will not proliferate on normal tissue but requires previously damaged organs. Further narrowing the risk to human health is that only certain specific hosts are at risk, including patients with profound neutropenia, cystic fibrosis, severe burns, and those subject to foreign device installation. Other than these very well defined groups, the general population is refractory to infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Your post makes no sense.
Pseudomonas is an occasional pathogen and - as your post says- it is ubiquitous so it's quite plausible for it to be carried into drinking water on dust.
Logged
Please disregard all previous signatures.
 

Offline Bored chemist

  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • *******
  • 21396
  • Activity:
    100%
  • Thanked: 487 times
    • View Profile
Re: Is distilled water or tap water better for your health?
« Reply #19 on: 31/07/2016 15:26:36 »
Quote from: exothermic on 31/07/2016 15:12:42
Quote from: Bored chemist on 31/07/2016 15:10:45
That's not distilled water though, is it. So perhaps we should reassign the epithet "douchebag".

Actually it is distilled water genius.
Actually it's impossible to tell from the pictures. However the branding strongly suggests that it's mineral water rather than distilled.
http://www.nestle-watersna.com/asset-library/Documents/AR_ENG.pdf
As has been pointed out, distilled water doesn't taste good (in most peoples opinion).

If you had cited the source of the picture, we could check. It's a pity you forgot to do so.
Perhaps you might want to try doing so now- better late than never.
« Last Edit: 31/07/2016 15:31:59 by Bored chemist »
Logged
Please disregard all previous signatures.
 



  • Print
Pages: [1] 2   Go Up
« previous next »
Tags:
 

Similar topics (5)

Are bees the health and safety, risk-assessment gurus of the insect world?

Started by thedocBoard Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution

Replies: 0
Views: 5014
Last post 15/02/2010 12:26:30
by thedoc
Does smoking prior to pregnancy pose a threat to a future child's health?

Started by ShaulBoard Physiology & Medicine

Replies: 7
Views: 20144
Last post 21/04/2009 13:21:24
by Don_1
Does living near high voltage power lines pose a health risk?

Started by nextbrettBoard General Science

Replies: 10
Views: 9164
Last post 19/04/2016 21:18:38
by Bored chemist
Will sodium bicarbonate destroy the health benefits of vitamin c in lemon juice?

Started by MarikaBoard Chemistry

Replies: 3
Views: 6211
Last post 30/06/2018 18:46:54
by Bored chemist
MOVED: Does mobile phone tower radiation pose health problems?

Started by Colin2BBoard Physiology & Medicine

Replies: 0
Views: 1660
Last post 01/12/2019 21:22:29
by Colin2B
There was an error while thanking
Thanking...
  • SMF 2.0.15 | SMF © 2017, Simple Machines
    Privacy Policy
    SMFAds for Free Forums
  • Naked Science Forum ©

Page created in 0.288 seconds with 82 queries.

  • Podcasts
  • Articles
  • Get Naked
  • About
  • Contact us
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe to newsletter
  • We love feedback

Follow us

cambridge_logo_footer.png

©The Naked Scientists® 2000–2017 | The Naked Scientists® and Naked Science® are registered trademarks created by Dr Chris Smith. Information presented on this website is the opinion of the individual contributors and does not reflect the general views of the administrators, editors, moderators, sponsors, Cambridge University or the public at large.