3 ms·

Rain isn't distilled water, as fumes from things like cars or other forms of pollution can cause the water to contain harmful components that can be removed usi

by cyphar 9y ago

Rain isn't distilled water, as fumes from things like cars or other forms of pollution can cause the water to contain harmful components that can be removed using distillation (think acid rain). While the water cycle looks (at first glance) like a distillation process, it occurs in an environment that is quite unlike a laboratory, resulting in contamination. As for electrolytes, usually you need to intake specific foods or liquids that are high in electrolytes (electrolytes are just chemicals that increase electrical conductivity of a solution when dissolved). So while a litre of tap water has more electrolytes than a litre of distilled water, a litre of fruit juice has more (though drinking a litre of fruit juice probably isn't great for you). As for whether lack of electrolytes is harmful, the answer is yes. Electrolytes are required for your body's electro-chemistry to operate properly and maintain the proper function of your heart, brain, body's fluid-balance, and pH buffer system. When you lose electrolytes (such as through heavy sweating, diarrhea or vomiting) those processes may not work as well. I would note that when you are dehydrated, hospitals will generally provide you with liquid electrolytes (intravenously if the situation is dire), implying that there is some medical benefit of liquid sources over solid ones (but I might be mistaken). But there are several solid sources of electrolytes.

RobertRoberts 9y ago
>...lack of electrolytes is harmful, the answer is yes How much distilled water does it take to cause "harm"? Since "normal" water can cause loss of electrolytes also, what is the actual difference between the two? (is there any actual data? or do we have to guess?) A commenter further down says distilled water causes stomach cells to explode and diarrhoea. But since I just found out today that the entire Navy provides only distilled water to it's sailors. (think 3 months under the sea in a submarine with only distilled water) I am really starting to think that the idea that distilled water was ever bad for anyone is a myth.
- cyphar 9y ago
  > How much distilled water does it take to cause "harm"? Read the quote again. I said lack of electrolytes is harmful, because that's what you asked. I don't believe that distilled water is harmful by itself (though if you take it and you don't know that you need to take in minerals from other sources then it could be harmful purely through negligence). I'm just trying to answer your question. > But since I just found out today that the entire Navy provides only distilled water to it's sailors. (think 3 months under the sea in a submarine with only distilled water) But sailors are also given vitamin supplements (to prevent scurvy and a variety of other diseases). I'd be surprised if they aren't also given some form of mineral and electrolyte supplements, to combat those problems. I don't know why they'd provide them distilled water though. > A commenter further down says distilled water causes stomach cells to explode and diarrhoea. I'm in agreement with you that this comment doesn't make any sense.
  - RobertRoberts 9y ago
    >I said lack of electrolytes is harmful... I know that is what you said, but we are talking in circles. Why do you think distilled water robs you of _enough_ electrolytes to cause harm? There must be some real data or proof somewhere? I've read a lot of comments here claiming this, but not a single source is quoted anywhere. Don't you think it's odd that many believe something, yet it's so hard to find proof of it? According to this medical doctor distilled water is considered helpful against cancer, specifically stating no added minerals, vitamins or electrolytes. Interview from Rising (web mag?) with Dr. Jason Fung (JF). >JF ‘When the body senses the temporary absence of nutrients, it must prioritise which cellular parts to keep. The oldest and most worn-out cells get discarded, and amino acids from the broken-down cell parts are delivered to the liver, which uses them to create glucose during gluconeogenesis – a natural process in the body that helps to maintain stable blood sugar levels. Cancer may be a result of what’s called ‘disordered autophagy’. We’re learning that this process plays a role in cancer biology, and products that inhibit this process have been approved by the Food & Drug Administration in the US for the treatment of cancers. Fasting’s role in stimulating autophagy provides an opportunity to prevent cancer. And that’s why Dr Seyfried proposes a yearly seven-day water-only fast.’ RISING Seven days with no food, just water? JF ‘Distilled water, to be precise. No additives, no vitamins, no minerals. Distilled water and nothing else.’ http://www.therisingman.com/categories/movement-fuel/articles/could-7-days-of-fasting-protect-against-cancer http://www.therisingman.com/categories/movement-fuel/article...
    - deleted 9y ago
      [deleted]
    - cyphar 9y ago
      > Why do you think distilled water robs you of _enough_ electrolytes to cause harm? There must be some real data or proof somewhere? I didn't say it robs you of electrolytes, I said it doesn't contain electrolytes. If you don't take in electrolytes (minerals) from elsewhere then you will have a deficiency. This is fairly simple arithmetic -- if you replace something that has electrolytes (tap water) with something that doesn't have electrolytes (distilled water) and you don't change anything else, then you will intake fewer electrolytes overall. This is the third time I've repeated this point, and you appear to misunderstand what I'm saying each time. > I've read a lot of comments here claiming this I think you've probably misread a lot of comments, thinking they said "distilled water robs you of X" when they actually said "distilled water doesn't contain X, and the normal source of X is tap water". The implication of the latter statement is that if you stop drinking tap water, you will have less of X unless you supplement it with something else. > Don't you think it's odd that many believe something, yet it's so hard to find proof of it? I find it odd that you appear to believe that electrolytes aren't necessary for the human body to function. I'm confused as to whether you believe that dehydration is real, and whether it is caused by lack of water and electrolytes (which is what medical science tells us). But here are references from the US Medical Library that I found on the first page of Google[1,2] that explain what electrolytes are and why they are necessary. They also contain references to the medical literature. > According to this medical doctor distilled water is considered helpful against cancer, specifically stating no added minerals, vitamins or electrolytes. Ignoring the appeal to authority[3], there are a few points that need to be made: * A person who has cancer has quite different needs to someone who doesn't have cancer. Just because a temporary absence of nutrients/vitamins/minerals may help with cancer doesn't mean it will have a positive impact in people that don't have cancer. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy also help people who have cancer, but that doesn't mean that it's a good idea for a healthy person to go through that as well. * He specifically said "temporary absence" meaning that the person should take in nutrients/vitamins/minerals after the fast. So if the argument is that "nutrients/vitamins/minerals aren't necessary for your health because if cancer patients stop taking them temporarily, they might improve their condition", this line of reasoning is also mistaken. * He doesn't mention electrolytes specifically, but that doesn't really matter to the rest of the argument (since some minerals are electrolytes). So I'm really not sure what you're trying to say by quoting that interview. Even if we assume that the doctor you quoted (in an appeal to authority) is not mistaken or misquoted, the implication you appear to be making is still incorrect. [1]: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002350.htm https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002350.htm [2]: https://medlineplus.gov/fluidandelectrolytebalance.html https://medlineplus.gov/fluidandelectrolytebalance.html [3]: https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/appeal-to-authority https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/appeal-to-authority

by cyphar 9y ago

RobertRoberts 9y ago

>...lack of electrolytes is harmful, the answer is yes How much distilled water does it take to cause "harm"? Since "normal" water can cause loss of electrolytes also, what is the actual difference between the two? (is there any actual data? or do we have to guess?) A commenter further down says distilled water causes stomach cells to explode and diarrhoea. But since I just found out today that the entire Navy provides only distilled water to it's sailors. (think 3 months under the sea in a submarine with only distilled water) I am really starting to think that the idea that distilled water was ever bad for anyone is a myth.

cyphar 9y ago
> How much distilled water does it take to cause "harm"? Read the quote again. I said lack of electrolytes is harmful, because that's what you asked. I don't believe that distilled water is harmful by itself (though if you take it and you don't know that you need to take in minerals from other sources then it could be harmful purely through negligence). I'm just trying to answer your question. > But since I just found out today that the entire Navy provides only distilled water to it's sailors. (think 3 months under the sea in a submarine with only distilled water) But sailors are also given vitamin supplements (to prevent scurvy and a variety of other diseases). I'd be surprised if they aren't also given some form of mineral and electrolyte supplements, to combat those problems. I don't know why they'd provide them distilled water though. > A commenter further down says distilled water causes stomach cells to explode and diarrhoea. I'm in agreement with you that this comment doesn't make any sense.
- RobertRoberts 9y ago
  >I said lack of electrolytes is harmful... I know that is what you said, but we are talking in circles. Why do you think distilled water robs you of _enough_ electrolytes to cause harm? There must be some real data or proof somewhere? I've read a lot of comments here claiming this, but not a single source is quoted anywhere. Don't you think it's odd that many believe something, yet it's so hard to find proof of it? According to this medical doctor distilled water is considered helpful against cancer, specifically stating no added minerals, vitamins or electrolytes. Interview from Rising (web mag?) with Dr. Jason Fung (JF). >JF ‘When the body senses the temporary absence of nutrients, it must prioritise which cellular parts to keep. The oldest and most worn-out cells get discarded, and amino acids from the broken-down cell parts are delivered to the liver, which uses them to create glucose during gluconeogenesis – a natural process in the body that helps to maintain stable blood sugar levels. Cancer may be a result of what’s called ‘disordered autophagy’. We’re learning that this process plays a role in cancer biology, and products that inhibit this process have been approved by the Food & Drug Administration in the US for the treatment of cancers. Fasting’s role in stimulating autophagy provides an opportunity to prevent cancer. And that’s why Dr Seyfried proposes a yearly seven-day water-only fast.’ RISING Seven days with no food, just water? JF ‘Distilled water, to be precise. No additives, no vitamins, no minerals. Distilled water and nothing else.’ http://www.therisingman.com/categories/movement-fuel/articles/could-7-days-of-fasting-protect-against-cancer http://www.therisingman.com/categories/movement-fuel/article...
  - deleted 9y ago
    [deleted]
  - cyphar 9y ago
    > Why do you think distilled water robs you of _enough_ electrolytes to cause harm? There must be some real data or proof somewhere? I didn't say it robs you of electrolytes, I said it doesn't contain electrolytes. If you don't take in electrolytes (minerals) from elsewhere then you will have a deficiency. This is fairly simple arithmetic -- if you replace something that has electrolytes (tap water) with something that doesn't have electrolytes (distilled water) and you don't change anything else, then you will intake fewer electrolytes overall. This is the third time I've repeated this point, and you appear to misunderstand what I'm saying each time. > I've read a lot of comments here claiming this I think you've probably misread a lot of comments, thinking they said "distilled water robs you of X" when they actually said "distilled water doesn't contain X, and the normal source of X is tap water". The implication of the latter statement is that if you stop drinking tap water, you will have less of X unless you supplement it with something else. > Don't you think it's odd that many believe something, yet it's so hard to find proof of it? I find it odd that you appear to believe that electrolytes aren't necessary for the human body to function. I'm confused as to whether you believe that dehydration is real, and whether it is caused by lack of water and electrolytes (which is what medical science tells us). But here are references from the US Medical Library that I found on the first page of Google[1,2] that explain what electrolytes are and why they are necessary. They also contain references to the medical literature. > According to this medical doctor distilled water is considered helpful against cancer, specifically stating no added minerals, vitamins or electrolytes. Ignoring the appeal to authority[3], there are a few points that need to be made: * A person who has cancer has quite different needs to someone who doesn't have cancer. Just because a temporary absence of nutrients/vitamins/minerals may help with cancer doesn't mean it will have a positive impact in people that don't have cancer. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy also help people who have cancer, but that doesn't mean that it's a good idea for a healthy person to go through that as well. * He specifically said "temporary absence" meaning that the person should take in nutrients/vitamins/minerals after the fast. So if the argument is that "nutrients/vitamins/minerals aren't necessary for your health because if cancer patients stop taking them temporarily, they might improve their condition", this line of reasoning is also mistaken. * He doesn't mention electrolytes specifically, but that doesn't really matter to the rest of the argument (since some minerals are electrolytes). So I'm really not sure what you're trying to say by quoting that interview. Even if we assume that the doctor you quoted (in an appeal to authority) is not mistaken or misquoted, the implication you appear to be making is still incorrect. [1]: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002350.htm https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002350.htm [2]: https://medlineplus.gov/fluidandelectrolytebalance.html https://medlineplus.gov/fluidandelectrolytebalance.html [3]: https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/appeal-to-authority https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/appeal-to-authority