Currently, several countries don’t have proper access to water and have to drink highly polluted and full of disease-causing microorganism water.
Distilled and alkaline water are two different methods. These methods allow the water to be filtered and made appropriate for consumption and laboratory purposes.
They remove several contaminants from the water, which are harmful to the human body.
Distilled water is the most commonly used water in laboratories. Most of the time, people can get confused about the water purification process, which creates a high possibility of misunderstanding while buying the equipment.
So, it is essential to clear out the confusion.
If you want clarity about distilled water and alkaline water, then you have landed on the correct page because we will discuss them individually and their differences. This will help you make a clear decision!
What is Distilled Water?
Distilled water is a type of water that does not have any minerals. It can be prepared in the home by boiling the water and collecting the steam into a collecting container.
When this steam gets converted into liquid, it is called distilled water. This distilled water has no contaminants and is slightly acidic.
Some people claim it is the purest form of water, but researchers suggest it may still contain pesticides, bacteria, and other diseases.
1. The Process
The distillation process takes a very long time because it is collected drop by drop (using proper equipment) and carefully prevents contamination ( while doing it manually).
2. The Taste
Drinking distilled water is completely safe, but the taste of the water is very bland or flat. Usually, the taste of the water is because of the magnesium, sodium, and calcium, but the distillation process removes them all.
The only chemicals left behind are hydrogen and oxygen, which do not provide any taste to the water.
Distilled water is widespread in laboratories, and you might have encountered one during your academic years. Proper equipment is used to prepare the distilled water in the laboratories.
3. For Laboratory Purposes
Distilled water is the most widely used water in a laboratory. Most research laboratories have distillation equipment to prepare distilled water in the laboratory.
This equipment follows the same process, and the distilled water is collected into another chamber drop by drop, which is why the equipment is left on throughout the day.
This is not only used in the reaction but also to wash the lab equipment, like test tubes, or sterilize the laboratory environment.
4. Can a Diseased Individual Intake Distilled Water?
People suffering from certain diseases should be extra careful and avoid consuming distilled water, as their body requires electrolytes.
Distilled water does not have any micronutrients. It does not help you stay hydrated throughout the day. So if you are suffering from any disease, it is highly recommended to consult the doctor before taking the distilled water.
Apart from drinking, distillation water can be used in several essential activities, like medical tools or procedures, cosmetics, automobiles, lab tests, etc.
What is Alkaline Water?
Alkaline water is a type of water with a high pH compared to tap water. There are several claims related to alkaline water and its benefits to the human body, but are they true?
Many believe that alkaline water helps prevent chronic diseases and is also responsible for regulating the pH level and slowing the aging process. Before going deep into the topic, let’s first discuss alkaline water.
The drinking water pH level is around 7, which is not too acidic and not too basic. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, where 0-7 signifies an acidic substance and 7-14 signifies a base.
Alkaline water pH ranges from 8 to 9. Most researchers believe that this water neutralizes the body’s acidic level.
Another critical factor that plays a vital role in alkaline water is negative oxidation-reduction potential.
The higher the negative value higher will be the antioxidant property. Oxidation-reduction potential, or ORP, can be defined as an antioxidant level.
1. The Health Claims
There is not much evidence to support health-related claims, but research has found that water is vital when working as an antioxidant.
The ORP level helps in regulating or neutralize the body’s acidic level. For example, the trypsin enzyme is present in the stomach.
This enzyme is responsible for causing acidic reflux in the body. When humans consume alkaline water, the Acidic Reflux in the gut gets controlled.
Scientific research has proved that alkaline water is also responsible for hydrating and detoxifying the skin, has a role in cancer resistance, weight loss, and the immune system, and supports colon cleansing and anti-aging properties.
2. The Availability
Many brands in the market provide alkaline water to their consumers. The alkaline water can be easily found in the grocery store.
Drinking natural water is always considered safe, as it has natural minerals, but the brands generally remove them and add certain other chemicals to enhance the taste of the water.
As there is not much research on all the scientific evidence related to the health benefits, it is always recommended to take precautions.
3. For Laboratory Purposes
The alkaline water can be easily prepared in labs using a natural process like erosion.
Though it is not very commonly used in the laboratory, like distilled water yet, it is widely used in some processes or reactions.
The solution has a pH of around 9 (a basic solution), which is why it is used in the laboratory for different purposes.
What is the Difference Between Distilled Water and Alkaline Water?
In the above sections, we discussed alkaline and distilled water in detail. This section will discuss the difference, so ensure you already know their primary objective.
The Process
Alkaline water is filtered water whose pH range is between 8-9. The main aim is to make water less acidic and add seven minerals instead of removing the already present minerals in the water.
The distilled water is the final product of boiling the tap water, which is condensed back into the liquid water from steam. The distillation process removes all the minerals present in the water.
The other process of making alkaline water at home is adding lemon juice to the water and taking it regularly in the morning.
This helps in regulating the metabolism and the digestion process of the body. The pH of alkaline water is around 8 to 9, whereas the pH level of distilled water is 7 (neutral).
Currently, no scientific evidence is present to support the health claims of alkaline water.
The Benefit
As mentioned earlier, the distillation process completely removes the minerals, which is a primary concern.
The minerals and the water benefit human health, but in the case of distilled water, it does not provide any minerals. Conversely, alkaline water does not draw out any minerals.
Suppose an individual is in taking a massive amount of distilled water. In that case, they need a very high level of magnesium, calcium, and other components in their food, as they are entirely lost during the distillation process of water.
According to World Health Organisation, distilled water cause the deficiency of the body’s potassium, magnesium, calcium, and sodium ions.
The Main Benefits of Alkaline Water are Listed Down Below
- It boosts the immunity
- It regulates diabetes and blood pressure of an individual
- It reduces the Acid Reflux
The Main Benefits of Distilled Water are Listed Below
- It prevents kidney stones and improves the functioning of the body.
- It boosts immunity and helps in preventing the body from waterborne viruses.
- It removes the chemicals as well as disease-causing bacteria or microorganisms.
The Main Risk of Alkaline Water are Listed Down Below
- The high alkalinity level in the water can agitate the body, leading to metabolic alkalosis.
- It changes the natural acidity of the stomach.
- The risk of skin-related problems and several gastrointestinal problems can arise.
The Main Risk of Distilled Water are Listed Down Below
- It is slightly acidic as compared to alkaline water.
- It tastes completely different compared to the tap water
- The electrolyte, as well as the minerals, are completely removed during the process.
Both water forms are entirely safe to drink, depending on your body’s requirements. Keep in mind that if you take a lot of distilled water, you have to take a very healthy diet to fulfill the electrolyte levels/demands in the body.
Excessive intake of alkaline water can interfere with stomach acid.
The cost
The cost of distilled and alkaline water varies from brand to brand, depending on the amount and quality of water you require.
If you install equipment/machines (for a home water distiller or alkalizing system) in your home, electricity charges will increase automatically. This option is not sustainable for most large companies because it is tough to coordinate, and equipment is costly.
Several brands in the market offer a wide variety of options; it is better to take bottled water if you want to take it occasionally.
Apart from this, bottled water is not environmentally friendly. Installing the whole equipment is a one-time investment, but the electricity and maintenance charges can play a vital role.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significant difference between alkaline water and distilled water?
The main difference is in their pH level. The distilled water pH is neutral (ph=7), while the alkaline water ph ranges between 8-9.
The advantages and disadvantages of both the water forms differ, which we’ve already discussed in the article. So, we recommend you go through this article to understand it more clearly.
Is it mandatory to consult a physician before taking distilled or alkaline water?
It is not mandatory, but we recommend you consult a physician before taking any water form because every form of water has different benefits and associated health risks.
For example, distilled water doesn’t have any type of minerals due to the risk of deficiency in minerals like calcium, potassium, and sodium in one’s body.
On the other hand, the alkaline water process does not remove any mineral but has the power to alter the natural acidic factor of the stomach.
To prevent yourself from getting ill or diseased, consult a doctor, especially in the case of pregnant women and patients suffering from chronic diseases.
Does any of the mentioned methods of water form pose a risk to the environment?
Both forms of water pose a very high environmental risk when bottled. If you are consuming it in a bottled-packed method, there is an increased risk of accumulation of microplastics in your body, which can be harmful in the long term.
The equipment is the best option to prevent this. This is costly, and its cost increases as it requires periodic maintenance and electricity to function. Apart from this, the water brands’ products are not environment-friendly options.
Conclusion
In the end, you should only take distilled or alkaline water if you don’t like the taste of tap water or if your body has some electrolyte imbalance.
Always consult your doctor before taking any specific form of water because it can lead to several other deficiencies in the body which need to be fulfilled by your diet/ food.
Before opting for anything, you should also ensure that you have already researched the form of water from your end before consulting your physician.
It is mandatory for people suffering from chronic diseases and pregnant women to talk to or consult their physicians before deciding.
Distilled water is the most commonly used water form in the laboratory because it does not contaminate the solution or influence the pH/other properties of chemicals present in the solution. The alkaline water is used in specific reactions because of its essential nature.