5 Benefits of Lithium for Brain Health
Lithium, an essential mineral, plays a crucial role in brain health. Its benefits include protecting the brain, boosting gray matter, and helping the brain manage stress. Let’s delve into these benefits in more detail.
Offers Neuroprotective Benefits
Lithium is neuroprotective, meaning it safeguards nerve cells (neurons) from damage. It not only prevents the breakdown of cells in the central nervous system, including the brain, but also aids in nerve cell regeneration and recovery. This vital nutrient helps neurons repair themselves and grow even under stress, rather than dying off.
Promotes a Healthy Response to Daily Stress
Stress is a normal part of life, but regular daily stress can impact your health and well-being. Lithium helps combat these stresses by promoting your body’s ability to heal itself. Under stress, your body produces more stress hormones and free radicals, which can damage healthy cells—a process known as oxidative stress. Over time, excessive oxidative stress can lead to lifestyle-related diseases and premature aging. Lithium’s antioxidant properties help counteract these free radicals, protecting your body and brain.
Increases Gray & White Matter
Gray matter is responsible for storing memories, decision-making, and perceiving the five senses (taste, smell, sight, touch, and hearing). White matter regulates the sending of impulses throughout the brain and central nervous system. Lithium’s ability to increase gray and white matter enhances thinking skills, focus, and memory. Research shows that lithium boosts gray and white matter, particularly in the prefrontal cortex, which is associated with emotion, thought, and personality. While some studies suggest this increase might be due to brain hydration, many others confirm lithium’s role in stimulating stem cells to become neurons, thereby enhancing cognitive abilities.
Rejuvenates Nerves
Each nerve cell is coated with myelin, a substance made of fat and protein that insulates and directs nerve impulses. Myelin is crucial for focus, quick responses, and overall brain function. Damage to nerves can lead to myelin loss. Studies suggest that lithium promotes remyelination, the process of adding more myelin to nerve cells, thereby improving their function. In one study, lithium helped mice with nerve issues recover movement, supporting the idea that lithium aids normal nerve cell repair and growth.
Improves Mood & Focus
Lithium has powerful mood-stabilizing properties, even in very low amounts. Research indicates that micro-servings of lithium can steadily improve mood in areas related to happiness, friendliness, and energy. Studies also found that regions with higher trace levels of lithium in drinking water have populations that live more peacefully, as seen in research from Japan and the United States.
Sources of Lithium
Experts increasingly recognize lithium’s importance to human health. The World Health Organization has included it among nutritionally essential trace elements. Here are some sources of lithium:
Foods: Many foods contain small amounts of lithium, with legumes, vegetables, and other plant-derived foods being the richest sources. Examples include lentils, garbanzo beans, green peas, tomatoes, mushrooms, cauliflower, cabbage, pistachios, brown rice, and coffee. Drinking water may also contain traces of lithium depending on your location.
Supplements: Supplements are an easy way to ensure adequate lithium intake. Lithium orotate, combined with orotic acid, is an ideal supplement form due to its ability to penetrate cell membranes. Small amounts of lithium orotate can have significant health benefits without the side effects associated with higher doses.
Are There Side Effects?
In small servings, lithium side effects are virtually non-existent. According to Dr. Timothy Marshall, low-serving lithium’s mechanism of action differs significantly from higher amounts. Lithium orotate is stable in the body, releasing lithium to its action sites once inside cells. However, in larger amounts, lithium can affect the kidneys and thyroid, causing excessive thirst, nausea, hand tremors, and loss of coordination.
Points to Remember
Lithium is a natural mineral with therapeutic effects on the human brain, known for its mood-stabilizing and neuroprotective benefits. It enhances brain health, improves focus, protects nerve cells, and helps manage stress. While you can obtain lithium from food and water, supplements like lithium orotate can ensure you get the proper amount for optimal brain health. Global Healing’s Lithium Orotate supports a healthy mood, brain health, emotional balance, and a healthy response to stress.
