The Health Benefits of Lithia Water

Well, you learn something new everyday --

Lithia water is defined as a type of mineral water characterized by the presence of lithium salts (as lithium carbonate or lithium chloride). Natural lithia mineral spring waters are rare. One of the most well-known, noncommercial lithia water sources can be found right here in Ashland, Oregon's Lithia Park! The mineral-rich water, which has been shown to possess many health benefits, is pumped from a spring to these water fountains in the middle of town, where thousands of visitors come to attend the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and, uh, consume lithia water.

From a quick bit of reading, it seems that the lithium ions in lithia water are similar to the lithium carbonate compounds used in Lithium, one of the most common medications for treating bipolar disorder. Research studies published in the British Journal of Psychiatry 2009 found that communities with naturally occurring lithia waters have lower suicide rates, mental hospital admissions, incidences of crimes, and arrests related to drug addictions.

On February 8, 2011, German researchers at Friedrich Schiller University Jena published their findings in the European Journal of Nutrition (Nature Publishing Group) indicating that lithia waters lead to an increased life expectancy in humans and (very long story, short) came to the conclusion that long-term low-dose exposure to lithium may exert anti-aging capabilities in humans.

Interesting, isn't it?

The water tasted terrible. Salty and quite "minerally" flavored, but if the above health benefits are true, maybe a glass a day wouldn't be a bad idea?

à votre santé!