Here are some more references:
The drinking of distilled water has been both advocated and discouraged for health reasons. The lack of naturally occurring minerals in distilled water has raised some concerns. The Journal of General Internal Medicine[11] published a study on the mineral contents of different waters available in the US. The study concluded:
"Drinking water sources available to North Americans may contain high levels of Ca2+, Mg2+, and Na+ and may provide clinically important portions of the recommended dietary intake of these minerals. Physicians should encourage patients to check the mineral content of their drinking water, whether tap or bottled, and choose water most appropriate for their needs.
It is often observed that consumption of "hard" water, or water that has some 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.[12] Since distilled water is free of minerals, it will not have these potential benefits."
As for the leeching -- when you take in distilled water, it is adding no minerals or electrolytes. But the distilled water does still take the same route through the body and make a person have to pee. When you eliminate, you do still lose these minerals and electrolytes. The kidneys do not filter out all the minerals and electrolytes. Some are used by the body but some are also always eliminated when you pee. Not replacing them by SOME means, can lead to health problems. There are some health situations where distilled water IS recommended. Some health conditions actually are not benfited by additional minerals.
I doubt it is a monumental health benefit or detriment -- but since the benefits of the minerals is known and the acidity problems are known...... I will err on the side of caution and routinely give my dogs NON-distilled water. I don't think anyone who chooses to use distilled water will see a massive health problem, but if even a year was cut from my pups' lives, I would feel terrible. Just want them to have all that I canprovide for a healthy and long life. Even little things add up over their lifetime. |