Lithium is one of the misunderstood natural elements. But experts recommend it for medical purposes. They say that it can stabilize mood. But there are fears about lithium orotate weight loss and how lithium orotate could cause weight gain.
But to start with, there are low levels of lithium in the water that we drink. It could be trace amounts or as much as 0.17 mg/L. But in higher doses, you can use lithium and it can have medical benefits for mental health.
Lithium is an alkali metal with a silver color. But you hardly would find it freely as a natural compound. Lithium would readily bind with another element. But the forms that are beneficial to our health are lithium carbonate and lithium orotate.
The one under the focus of this article is lithium orotate. This compound is usually sold over-the-counter as a supplement. It has positive mental health impacts. But the thing with this compound is that most research endeavors on the health benefits of lithium orotate occurred before 1986.
However, experts tell us that it’s relatively safe. That’s why it has remained available over the counter. Some of the mental conditions experts use lithium orotate to treat include dementia, bipolar disorder, depression, and alcoholism.
Lithium indeed has great mood-stabilizing benefits but there’s a problem with it. But it could lead to weight gain. However, this weight gain side effect doesn’t affect all the people that use the supplement. Only about 25% of them gain weight (about 10-26 pounds).
Lithium Orotate Weight Loss: Is It Good or Bad?
Lithium orotate might not be good for weight loss because it could lead to weight gain. However, it remains unclear how this compound provokes weight gain. But experts have proposed several theories.
Experts can’t tell whether lithium orotate works alone to make people gain weight or whether it works in combination with other compounds. But one thing is sure is that the weight from lithium therapy might ruin your weight loss journey.
But then, some experts believe that this is a good thing. Generally speaking, people who have manic episodes might lose weight because they usually lose interest in eating. Their activities also increase and this also contributes to weight loss.
So when you start taking lithium orotate, you might gain the weight you lost back. This might just be because activities levels have decreased and appetite has returned.
Beyond that, lithium orotate can make you thirstier. So there is some tendency that you might want to quench your thirst with high-calorie drinks like fruit juice or soda. This could also make you gain weight and ruin your weight loss goals.
Lithium may also cause your body to retain water and sodium if you eat high-salt meals. This can also cause your body weight to increase. As such, if you are on lithium therapy, avoiding high-salt foods may help minimize weight gain.
A more serious issue is hypothyroidism or reduced function of the thyroid. This potential complication often comes with the long-term use of lithium orotate. This condition reduces metabolic rate and, in turn, causes weight gain. This complication is, however, more common in women than in men.
Lithium orotate could also after other brain signal chemicals and hormones that regulate hunger, fat storage, and blood sugar, among others. These might also contribute to weight gain.
Is There a Way Out?
Now that you know that weight gain might be a risk with lithium therapy, what is the way out if you need the supplement for your mental health? To be honest, no one wants excess pounds as it could affect self-image and even the mental health you are trying to secure with the supplement.
However, bear in mind that lithium orotate only causes weight gain in 25% of those who use it. More so, you can take a few steps to avoid weight gain while taking the supplement. These include the following:
1. Avoid high-calorie drinks as much as possible
If you are thirsty, drink water rather than fruit juices, smoothies, coffee drinks, or soda. Aside from water, you can also drink non-caloric or low-calorie beverages.
2. Remain physically active
Weight gain is inevitable when there is no regular exercise or physical activity. So talk to your physician about the kinds of exercises you can engage in. But generally, so long as you are no on one spot, there’s some sort of physical activity going on.
3. Pay attention to your weight
When your clothes start feeling tighter, know for sure that you are gaining weight already. If this is happening, as for your physician’s recommendation on what you can do. You might need to review your diet or change your medications.
4. Contact your physician if you notice any signs of thyroid problems
Any symptom or sign of an underactive thyroid indicates a need for immediate medical attention. These include noticing a lump around your throat area, unexplained constipation, dry hair, feeling cold often, and forgetfulness. Other signs include irregular menstrual flow and unusual sensations in the feet or hands.
With these wise tips, your chances of gaining excess weight due to lithium orotate would be minimal. That way you can enjoy its health benefits without cause to bother
Are There Other Concerns about Sodium Orotate?
There’s still limited research on lithium orotate’s safety. But some experts have proven that it might have toxic effects if taken in excess or for too long. Its long-term use might cause tremors and nausea. Aside from lowering thyroid function, some experts say that this supplement can also affect kidney function negatively.
Lithium toxicity is also a risk when you take excessive amounts or you use the supplement long-term. Symptoms of this include vomiting and nausea. But in severe cases, it could cause neurological problems and cardiac arrhythmias, kidney failure, coma, or even death.
It is safer to monitor your blood pressure if you are on lithium orotate therapy. Once you see your Bo rise, it’s almost certain that the lithium level in your blood is reaching toxic levels.
Lithium orotate weight loss might seem impossible. But if you follow the tips we have shared in this article, you can use lithium orotate and not gain weight.