Why Drinking Ultra-Pure Water Can Be Dangerous

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“Balcı, Arif Kadri, Ozlem Koksal, Ataman Kose, Erol Armagan, Fatma Ozdemir, Taylan Inal, and Nuran Oner. “General characteristics of patients with electrolyte imbalance admitted to emergency department.” World journal of emergency medicine 4, no. 2. 2013.”

When you are thirsty, there is nothing more refreshing than drinking a tall glass of cold, pure, and clean water. It instantly cools you down and refreshes your mind and body. And the purer the water, the better it is for your body right? Well, not exactly. Ultra-pure water is so pure that drinking it can actually be detrimental to your health.

What Is Ultra-Pure Water?

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Ultra-pure water, also known as high-purity water, is water that has been purified to very stringent specifications. The water is so highly treated that it removes not only pathogens and other contaminants but minerals like calcium, magnesium, and sodium too. These minerals are not critical, but they are beneficial.

What Happens When You Drink Ultra-Pure Water

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Too much of a good thing can be bad, especially in terms of drinking water. Though excess purity may sound tempting, drink such water can backfire. It does not mean that drinking a glass of ultra-pure water is going to cause immediate violent reactions in your body. It is nothing like taking a shot of poison. But the water will act as a sponge and will start stripping important minerals from your cells. If you end up drinking too much of this water, your blood will eventually be stripped of all its electrolytes.

What Happens When Your Electrolyte Levels Are Low

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Most of the automatic processes that take place in your body rely on a small electric charge, which is provided by electrolytes. Electrolytes interact with each other and the cells in the tissues, nerves, and muscles to ensure your body is functioning optimally. When the level of electrolytes in your body is too low, it can lead to numerous health issues.[ref]Weglicki, William, Gary Quamme, Katherine Tucker, Mark Haigney, and Larry Resnick. “Potassium, magnesium, and electrolyte imbalance and complications in disease management.” Clinical and experimental hypertension 27, no. 1. 2005.[/ref] Here are some of the symptoms of low levels electrolytes in your body.[ref]Balcı, Arif Kadri, Ozlem Koksal, Ataman Kose, Erol Armagan, Fatma Ozdemir, Taylan Inal, and Nuran Oner. “General characteristics of patients with electrolyte imbalance admitted to emergency department.” World journal of emergency medicine 4, no. 2. 2013.[ref]

  • Weakness
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Twitching
  • Bone disorders
  • Confusion
  • Seizures
  • Convulsions
  • Changes in blood pressure
  • Numbness
  • Abdominal pain
  • Nervous system disorders
  • Muscle spasms
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Fatigue

What You Should Do When Your Electrolyte Levels Are Low

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If you have been drinking ultra-clean water and experience any of the symptoms of an electrolyte depletion, do not take matters into your own hands. You should get in touch with your doctor immediately so that they can advise you on what to do next. Carefully following your doctor’s instructions can prevent your situation from becoming deadly.

Once you start feeling better, you can take some measures to bring your electrolytes levels to optimum again.

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  • Focus on eating whole, unpackaged foods and include plenty of fruits and vegetables in your diet.
  • Monitor your sodium intake and stay away from processed foods as much as you can.
  • Drink normal tap water especially after performing a vigorous physical activity or if you’ve spent some time out in the sun.
  • Consider taking supplements after consulting your doctor.

So What Is The Purpose Of Ultra-Clean Water?

All clean water is not meant for drinking, especially ultra-pure water. Since it is a super-effective cleaner, it is used in the making of semiconductor wafers from which computer microchips are made. Since chips have multiple layers in them, they need to be cleaned thoroughly to prevent any debris or dirt from collecting on them. And no other liquid does a better job than ultra-pure water, which acts as a liquid vacuum. Ultra-pure water is easily available online, but you should not get fooled into buying it for drinking just because it sounds so fancy.

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