John Myers
Lithium, doesn’t that have something to do with batteries? It has, but also with nutrition. Because the substance is a trace element that definitely has an impact on health. In this article, we explain what these are and what lithium is contained in.
In contrast to selenium or zinc, the alkali metal lithium is one of the non-essential trace elements: Although it occurs in very small amounts in the body, it has no function in vital processes in the organism. However, lithium salts are used in the drug treatment of mental illnesses such as depression and mood disorders. Since too much lithium in the blood level can have significant side effects such as diarrhea, vomiting, dry mouth, and cramps, the lithium level is closely monitored during therapy with the active ingredient. An overdose can even be life-threatening. School chemistry teachers like to illustrate the strong effect with a small experiment because lithium reacts with water: even a small amount leads to the development of gas, and the water bubbles up.
What foods contain lithium?
Chocolate, milk, butter, eggs, cereals, and meat have the highest lithium content in food, and the trace element can also be found in fish, potatoes, and vegetables. Depending on the source, mineral water also has a certain lithium content, which can be up to 10 milligrams and more per liter. While the German Society for Nutrition (DGE) has defined a daily requirement for essential minerals and trace elements, there is no reference value for lithium. Too high a dietary intake is considered highly unlikely.
How Much Lithium Should You Ingest?
Since recent research results suggest that lithium has a positive effect on life expectancy, there are discussions about including the alkali metal in the list of essential trace elements. So far, however, the study situation is too small for this. If you want to ensure a sufficient supply of lithium, you can base your recommendation on a daily requirement of 10 milligrams. So far, no side effects have been observed with this amount. On average, Germans take in a maximum of 3 milligrams a day with food. However, there are no tables with the lithium content of food, only the information on mineral and medicinal water bottles provide orientation
