MindBodySpir.it

Dr. Axe has some wonderful information on electrolytes:

The major electrolytes found within the body include calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, phosphate and chloride. Because these crucial nutrients help stimulate nerves throughout the body and balance fluid levels, an electrolyte imbalance can cause a variety of serious negative symptoms, including some that are potentially deadly.

You obtain electrolytes through eating different foods and drinking certain fluids, while you lose them partially through exercise, sweating, going to the bathroom and urinating. This is why a poor diet, too little or too much exercise, and being sick are some possible causes for an electrolyte imbalance.

Some of the major roles that electrolytes have within the body include:

• Calcium: helping with muscle contractions, nerve signaling, blood clotting, cell division, and forming/maintaining bones and teeth
• Potassium: helping keep blood pressure levels stable, regulating heart contractions, helping with muscle functions
• Magnesium: needed for muscle contractions, proper heart rhythms, nerve functioning, bone-building and strength, reducing anxiety, digestion, and keeping a stable protein-fluid balance
• Sodium: helps maintain fluid balance, needed for muscle contractions, and helps with nerve signaling
• Chloride: maintains fluid balance

I have always tried thinking positively = Dr. Norman Vincent Peale’s book was one of the main books in my home growing up – and I have always found it is better for me to think positive than negative – even through the dark times in my life-which most people have dark times or negative times but read the research below and you will find that now more than ever it is important to be positive instead of negative.

Here’s heartwarming news: People with a family history of heart disease who also had a positive outlook were one-third less likely to have a heart attack or other cardiovascular event within five to 25 years than those with a more negative outlook.

That’s the finding from Johns Hopkins expert Lisa R. Yanek, M.P.H., and her colleagues. The finding held even in people with family history who had the most risk factors for coronary artery disease, and positive people from the general population were 13 percent less likely than their negative counterparts to have a heart attack or other coronary event.

Yanek and her team determined “positive” versus “negative” outlook using a survey tool that assesses a person’s cheerfulness, energy level, anxiety levels and satisfaction with health and overall life. But you don’t need a survey to assess your own positivity, says Yanek. “I think people tend to know how they are.”

Hope and Your Heart

The mechanism for the connection between health and positivity remains murky, but researchers suspect that people who are more positive may be better protected against the inflammatory damage of stress. Another possibility is that hope and positivity help people make better health and life decisions and focus more on long-term goals. Studies also find that negative emotions can weaken immune response.

What is clear, however, is that there is definitely a strong link between “positivity” and health. Additional studies have found that a positive attitude improves outcomes and life satisfaction across a spectrum of conditions—including traumatic brain injury, stroke and brain tumors.

Can You Boost Your Bright Side?

Although a positive personality is something we’re born with and not something we can inherently change, Yanek says, there are steps you can take to improve your outlook and reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease.

Simply smile more.

A University of Kansas study found that smiling—even fake smiling—reduces heart rate and blood pressure during stressful situations. So try a few minutes of YouTube humor therapy when you’re stomping your feet waiting in line or fuming over a work or family situation. It’s difficult not to smile while watching a favorite funny video.

Practice reframing.

Instead of stressing about a traffic jam, for instance, appreciate the fact that you can afford a car and get to spend a few extra minutes listening to music or the news, accepting that there is absolutely nothing you can do about the traffic.

Build resiliency.

Resiliency is the ability to adapt to stressful and/or negative situations and losses. Experts recommend these key ways to build yours:

• Maintain good relationships with family and friends.
• Accept that change is a part of life.
• Take action on problems rather than just hoping they disappear or waiting for them to resolve themselves.

the following is from Bipolar Lives

There is one study involving humans. This found some effectiveness in the treatment of alcoholism. However, it did not examine effectiveness for bipolar disorder or treating symptoms of depression or anxiety.

There are three other fascinating and very promising studies, but these were based on rats.

One rat study found no difference between LiOr and conventional lithium carbonate.

However, another rat study found greater uptake of LiOr compared to conventional lithium carbonate. This provided evidence that LiOr could be a very effective medication and why the low doses available in the LiOr products for sale on the Internet and in health food stores may be of benefit.

The final rat study found very adverse impact on kidneys compared to conventional lithium carbonate. This led the researchers to conclude: It seems inadvisable to use lithium orotate for the treatment of patients.

This is the study that has done most to damage the reputation of lithium orotate. But critics of this study point out that the amount of LiOr injected into the rats was relatively huge – the whole point being that only small doses are required to get the same benefits as with lithium carbonate, so there is no need to test using the same (large) amounts!

Lithium orotate and anxiety disorder

Along with being bipolar (symptoms of depression AND mania), I suffer from crippling panic attacks.

This panic has been a long standing problem for me – it feels like I am choking and often makes it impossible for me to eat because I become convinced that I cannot swallow.

ANYTHING that claims to help with anxiety gets my attention!

The reason I educated myself on this topic was because of the claims being made about the various products using this “natural” alternative and anxiety disorder.

Is Dr Phelps correct that LiOr could be worth trying? My dilemma is that I already take lithium carbonate and I don’t know how to take both without messing up my doses and lithium levels. It will be hard to find a doctor to supervise your experimenting with LiOr or help you safely integrate with existing meds.

Articles in support of LiOr

I recently found 3 articles that express positive views, although I present them with a caution. Although all 3 of these articles have been at least co-authored by medical doctors, there does appear to be a financial incentive involved in promoting LiOr. So with that in mind . . .

The Misunderstood Mineral Part 1 by Jonathan V. Wright, M.D. (Reprinted From Nutrition and Healing).

The Misunderstood Mineral Part 2 by Jonathan V. Wright, M.D. (Reprinted From Nutrition and Healing).

Lithium Orotate: The Unique Safe Mineral with Multiple Uses by Ward Dean, M.D. and Jim English.

Bottom line

Taking Lithium orotate in the recommended doses appears to be safe and side effect free. Some respected experts like Dr Phelps are cautiously supportive. Just make sure you stick with a well known and reputable
brand. These products are not FDA regulated so you may not be getting a product that is pure or contains the stated amounts.

Since 2009 I have received over 90 comments from readers on their experiences with LiOr. These were 80% positive.

Many claim this form of natural lithium has greatly helped them with symptoms of depression, mania, anxiety, and panic attacks. BUT I DO NOT TAKE LITHIUM OROTATE! I want to take it and have (briefly) tried it with seemingly positive results. However, I simply cannot get past the lack of support and supervision from the medical profession. Please – proceed with caution.