What is Lithium?
Lithium is an element found in nature, such as calcium or
potassium. Lithium is a natural-occurring soft metal found in
the layers of rock and soil on the earth. Scientists believe
that lithium was one of the first elements in the universe,
formed at the moment of the Big Bang.
Lithium is in fact everywhere. Lithium exists in our soil, in
varying degrees around the world, and in our water supply.
Our water absorbs lithium when it comes into contact with
lithium-rich soil in river beds, streams and underground
aquifers. Because our food is grown in soil and uses water
to grow, lithium also occurs naturally in our food supply.
Animal-based foods and plants vary in their ability to absorb
and retain lithium.
Why Do We Need Lithium In Our Diets?
Lithium’s nutritional importance as a trace element has long
been suspected by researchers. Several research studies
have confirmed that link between high levels of lithium in tap
water and low incidences of suicides, admissions to mental
hospitals, murders and rapes. In 1971, a Texas biochemist
named Dr. Earl Dawson noticed that the murder and suicide
rates around El Paso were significantly lower than the rest of
the state. After investigation, he discovered that the lower
rates of suicide, murder and admissions to mental hospitals
were linked to the high levels of lithium found in El Paso’s
water supply.
Other research studies from around the world reached
similar results. A study from the University of Oita in Japan
found that low lithium levels were associated with increases
in rates of suicide and depression. The researchers
examined the natural lithium levels in the tap water of 18
communities south of Japan. They then examined the suicide
rates in the 18 communities. They found that suicide rates
were lowest in those areas with the highest concentrations
of lithium in their tap water.
Lithium was once used as a key ingredient in a soft drink
invented in 1929 by Charles Leipe Grigg, an American from
Price Branch, Missouri. He initially called his drink "Bib-Label
Lithiated Lemon-Lime Sodas". He later changed the name to
" 7 Up Lithiated Lemon-Lime" .
The “7” in the name comes from the number 7, which is the
atomic mass of lithium. He called his drink 7-Up, presumably
because of the mysterious ability of lithium to elevate the
mood. Later, lithium was removed from the manufacturing
process and “lithiated from the name of the soda, but the “7
-Up” part of the name stuck.
Today, lithium is recommended as a treatment for several
emotional and mental disorders, most notably bipolar
disorder.
Lithium May Help Alzheimer’s
Three research studies in 1999 and 2000 from Wayne State
University of Medicine found that low levels of lithium used
to treat manic depression were also effective in protecting
the brain against Alzheimer’s disease. A key protein needed
to protect the brain against Alzheimer’s is Bc1-2 (related to
the B-cell lymphoma/ leukemia-2 gene). Lithium is the first
substance found to increase the concentration of Bc1-2 in
brains tissue.
Alzheimer’s is characterized by the existence of
neurofibrillary “tangles” in the brain. These tangles are
enabled by a destructive protein called glycogen synthase
kinase 3b (GSK-3b). Lithium has been found to decrease the
supply of destructive GSK-3b in brain tissue.
The Wayne State researchers also found that the gray matter
of patients treated with lithium over time grew by
approximately 3%, regenerating even after loss of brain cells
due to injury or disease.
Lithium-Rich Foods
Among plants, lithium is retained most easily in foods of the nightshade family of plants, which include tomatoes and cucumbers and mushrooms. Seaweed and kelp often contain high levels of lithium.
Food Lithium Content (micrograms per kg )
Eggs 7373
Tomatoes 6707
Mushrooms 5788
Cucumbers 5017
Red Cabbage 3579
Cauliflower 3462
Kohlrabi 2966
Paprika 2316
Marjoram 2289
Asparagus 2217
White Cabbage 1874
Cocoa 1728
Potatoes 1592
Apples 1449
Rice 1260
Cinnamon 1046
Lentils 748
Honey 527
Bananas 383
Red Wine 329
White Wine 305
Is Too Much Lithium Bad for Your Health?
Although many people around the world can benefit from
increasing the amount of lithium in their diet, overexposure
to lithium can adversely affect your health. One side effect of
overexposure to lithium is that it negatively affects thyroid
function. A 2011 study from a team of researchers led by Dr.
Karin Broberg of Lund University in Sweden looked at the
health of people living in the Andes mountain region of
Argentina, known for some of the highest concentrations of
lithium in drinking water in the world. The study discovered
an abnormally high incidence of thyroid problems in women
of the region.
Pregnant women need to be especially careful not to
consume too much lithium. Several studies, including one
conducted in 1990 at Monash Medical Center in Victoria
Canada have discovered that pregnant women who take
lithium supplements put their unborn babies at greater risk
for developing jaundice and other conditions.
Lithium is an element found in nature, such as calcium or
potassium. Lithium is a natural-occurring soft metal found in
the layers of rock and soil on the earth. Scientists believe
that lithium was one of the first elements in the universe,
formed at the moment of the Big Bang.
Lithium is in fact everywhere. Lithium exists in our soil, in
varying degrees around the world, and in our water supply.
Our water absorbs lithium when it comes into contact with
lithium-rich soil in river beds, streams and underground
aquifers. Because our food is grown in soil and uses water
to grow, lithium also occurs naturally in our food supply.
Animal-based foods and plants vary in their ability to absorb
and retain lithium.
Why Do We Need Lithium In Our Diets?
Lithium’s nutritional importance as a trace element has long
been suspected by researchers. Several research studies
have confirmed that link between high levels of lithium in tap
water and low incidences of suicides, admissions to mental
hospitals, murders and rapes. In 1971, a Texas biochemist
named Dr. Earl Dawson noticed that the murder and suicide
rates around El Paso were significantly lower than the rest of
the state. After investigation, he discovered that the lower
rates of suicide, murder and admissions to mental hospitals
were linked to the high levels of lithium found in El Paso’s
water supply.
Other research studies from around the world reached
similar results. A study from the University of Oita in Japan
found that low lithium levels were associated with increases
in rates of suicide and depression. The researchers
examined the natural lithium levels in the tap water of 18
communities south of Japan. They then examined the suicide
rates in the 18 communities. They found that suicide rates
were lowest in those areas with the highest concentrations
of lithium in their tap water.
Lithium was once used as a key ingredient in a soft drink
invented in 1929 by Charles Leipe Grigg, an American from
Price Branch, Missouri. He initially called his drink "Bib-Label
Lithiated Lemon-Lime Sodas". He later changed the name to
" 7 Up Lithiated Lemon-Lime" .
The “7” in the name comes from the number 7, which is the
atomic mass of lithium. He called his drink 7-Up, presumably
because of the mysterious ability of lithium to elevate the
mood. Later, lithium was removed from the manufacturing
process and “lithiated from the name of the soda, but the “7
-Up” part of the name stuck.
Today, lithium is recommended as a treatment for several
emotional and mental disorders, most notably bipolar
disorder.
Lithium May Help Alzheimer’s
Three research studies in 1999 and 2000 from Wayne State
University of Medicine found that low levels of lithium used
to treat manic depression were also effective in protecting
the brain against Alzheimer’s disease. A key protein needed
to protect the brain against Alzheimer’s is Bc1-2 (related to
the B-cell lymphoma/ leukemia-2 gene). Lithium is the first
substance found to increase the concentration of Bc1-2 in
brains tissue.
Alzheimer’s is characterized by the existence of
neurofibrillary “tangles” in the brain. These tangles are
enabled by a destructive protein called glycogen synthase
kinase 3b (GSK-3b). Lithium has been found to decrease the
supply of destructive GSK-3b in brain tissue.
The Wayne State researchers also found that the gray matter
of patients treated with lithium over time grew by
approximately 3%, regenerating even after loss of brain cells
due to injury or disease.
Lithium-Rich Foods
Among plants, lithium is retained most easily in foods of the nightshade family of plants, which include tomatoes and cucumbers and mushrooms. Seaweed and kelp often contain high levels of lithium.
Food Lithium Content (micrograms per kg )
Eggs 7373
Tomatoes 6707
Mushrooms 5788
Cucumbers 5017
Red Cabbage 3579
Cauliflower 3462
Kohlrabi 2966
Paprika 2316
Marjoram 2289
Asparagus 2217
White Cabbage 1874
Cocoa 1728
Potatoes 1592
Apples 1449
Rice 1260
Cinnamon 1046
Lentils 748
Honey 527
Bananas 383
Red Wine 329
White Wine 305
Is Too Much Lithium Bad for Your Health?
Although many people around the world can benefit from
increasing the amount of lithium in their diet, overexposure
to lithium can adversely affect your health. One side effect of
overexposure to lithium is that it negatively affects thyroid
function. A 2011 study from a team of researchers led by Dr.
Karin Broberg of Lund University in Sweden looked at the
health of people living in the Andes mountain region of
Argentina, known for some of the highest concentrations of
lithium in drinking water in the world. The study discovered
an abnormally high incidence of thyroid problems in women
of the region.
Pregnant women need to be especially careful not to
consume too much lithium. Several studies, including one
conducted in 1990 at Monash Medical Center in Victoria
Canada have discovered that pregnant women who take
lithium supplements put their unborn babies at greater risk
for developing jaundice and other conditions.
