Vapor Distilled Water vs Distilled Water: What’s the Difference and Which One Is Better?

Water quality is one of the most important considerations in our daily lives. As consumers become more health-conscious, we often encounter different types of purified water in stores, particularly vapor distilled water and distilled water. While they sound similar, the processes and benefits vary. So, what's the difference? And which one is better for you?

The Key Differences

Vapor distilled water and distilled water are both types of purified water, but their production processes are where the main distinctions lie. Distilled water is made through a simple process where water is boiled until it turns into vapor, leaving behind impurities, minerals, and other contaminants. This vapor is then condensed back into water, making it exceptionally pure.

Vapor distilled water, on the other hand, follows a similar but more advanced technique. Water is evaporated to form vapor, but before it condenses, additional purification steps may be applied, including filtering through activated carbon or UV light treatment. This extra filtration step ensures that vapor distilled water is as pure as possible, often marketed as being free from almost all dissolved solids, bacteria, and viruses.

Which One Is Healthier?

From a health standpoint, both types of water are extremely pure, but there are key factors to consider. Distilled water is almost devoid of minerals, which may be seen as a downside for those who rely on water as a source of essential minerals like calcium and magnesium. While this may not pose an issue for short-term use, long-term consumption might lead to a mineral deficiency if not compensated through diet or supplements.

Vapor distilled water offers a similar profile of purity but sometimes is marketed as safer due to additional purification processes. Some argue that this added purification could be overkill since many municipalities already provide relatively clean tap water. However, if you're in a region where tap water quality is questionable, vapor distilled water could be a safer alternative.

Environmental Impact

Another important aspect of the debate is the environmental impact. Both distilled water and vapor distilled water require significant amounts of energy for the distillation process, which involves boiling water. In terms of sustainability, neither option is ideal, but vapor distillation often consumes even more energy due to the extra purification steps.

Flavor and Use in Everyday Life

Many people report that vapor distilled water has a cleaner taste compared to distilled water. This is because the lack of minerals or other impurities can make the water feel "crisper" and more refreshing. For people who are particular about their drinking water's taste, vapor distilled water could be the better choice.

Distilled water, due to its lack of minerals, often has a more "flat" taste, which might not be appealing to everyone. However, for uses such as in humidifiers, steam irons, or car batteries, where you want to avoid mineral build-up, distilled water is usually the go-to option.

A Closer Look at the Production Process

The process for creating distilled water is quite straightforward. A water source is heated to the point of boiling, and the resulting steam is collected and condensed. This method removes most contaminants, but it can also strip away beneficial minerals.

Vapor distillation takes this one step further. After the water evaporates, it is often passed through additional filtration stages. These steps may include activated carbon filtration, reverse osmosis, or ultraviolet (UV) sterilization, which ensures a higher level of purity by eliminating any remaining bacteria, viruses, or other microscopic contaminants.

Cost Considerations

When it comes to cost, vapor distilled water tends to be more expensive due to the extra steps involved in its production. The price difference may be worth it if you're particularly concerned about water purity, but for many consumers, regular distilled water provides enough of a benefit at a lower price.

In terms of daily use, vapor distilled water is often recommended for medical or scientific purposes, where absolutely no contamination can be tolerated. In contrast, distilled water is perfectly fine for general household use, such as in appliances or for drinking if you're not concerned about mineral content.

Health Risks of Drinking Distilled Water

One point of concern with drinking distilled water over long periods is that it can leach minerals from your body. Because it is so pure, it can attract minerals from your teeth and bones. This effect, while not immediate, could lead to health issues if distilled water is your primary source of hydration over many years.

Vapor distilled water shares the same risks as distilled water in this regard. While it's extremely pure, drinking it without compensating for lost minerals through food could result in mineral depletion.

Conclusion: Which One Should You Choose?

The choice between vapor distilled water and distilled water largely depends on your individual needs. If you're looking for water that is exceptionally pure for short-term use, such as in certain medical or laboratory settings, then vapor distilled water might be the better option due to its added purification steps.

For everyday use, however, distilled water is more than sufficient for most people. It’s affordable, widely available, and pure enough for drinking, cooking, or use in appliances.

If you're concerned about the mineral content in your water, you might want to consider other options like spring water or mineral-enhanced water, which offer the benefits of hydration along with essential minerals.

Ultimately, both vapor distilled and distilled water provide high levels of purity and are free from contaminants. Your decision should come down to factors like price, personal taste preference, and how long you plan to consume the water. If the idea of additional purification gives you peace of mind, vapor distilled water might be worth the extra cost. But for most purposes, distilled water offers more than enough purity at a lower price.