Can drinking distilled water help with weight loss? The answer: It might, but there's no guarantee. The truth is, drinking water is healthful for the body, whether it's distilled or not, and it can help create an illusion of fullness. Thus, upping your intake of distilled water may help you take off a few extra pounds, especially if you drink the water before meals.
Results
According to The National Women's Health Information Center, a 2010 study at Virginia Tech divided obese and overweight men and women into two groups. One group followed a low-calorie diet and drank two glasses of water before eating meals; the second group followed the same diet but did not drink the extra water. After 12 weeks, the water drinkers had lost almost 30 percent more weight than the other group. The study did not specify what type of water the participants drank, but it's reasonable to extrapolate that distilled water would have similar effects.
Benefits
MayoClinic.com maintains that the health benefits of distilled water or even tap water go way beyond the potential to aid weight loss. Regularly drinking water helps prevent dehydration and keep body systems running smoothly. Water also flushes toxins from the body and helps carry essential nutrients to cells that need them for survival.
Function
Distilled water isn't naturally filling, as it's calorie-free and contains no protein, fats or carbohydrates. However, the water's presence in the stomach can help people feel full and create the sensation that they have less room for other food. Thus, drinking the water before meals and throughout the day may curb cravings and total calorie consumption.
Considerations
Since distilled water has many of its impurities removed through processing and filtering, it's likely to be safer than tap water in almost every case. Aside from that difference, however, there's no distinction between the way tap water and distilled water might function for weight loss, and you should feel free to drink them interchangeably.
Warning
Drinking more distilled water is not a weight loss guarantee. Although it may help some people take in fewer net calories, it doesn't work that way for everyone. The only healthy, safe and reliable way to lose weight and keep it off in the long term is to reduce daily calories, follow a healthy diet and exercise regularly. For personalized weight loss advice and recommendations, consult your doctor.
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