Unusual Hangover Remedy.

7up used to be a hangover cure. The history of food products that are popular in our time is sometimes quite unusual. For example, who would have thought that radioactive elements were added to the first energy drinks. Perhaps this is exactly the case when the name "energetic" fully corresponds to its content...

But the drink 7up, known to everyone today, was originally advertised as... a hangover remedy. But 7up's composition was completely different in those days. First introduced in 1929, this drink had the long name "Bib-label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda" and included lithium citrate in its composition.

Lithium citrate is a psychotropic drug and is used as a psychiatric drug to stabilize the patient's mood and treat neurotic disorders. Lithium-based drugs are often prescribed for prolonged depression. When using lithium citrate, it has been noticed that it can also eliminate headaches as side effects.

So, mood elevation, calming effects plus headache relief is the perfect formula for a hangover cure. This is what the manufacturers thought about and began to add a small dose of lithium citrate to each serving of their product. At one time these properties were the main emphasis in the advertising campaign of the drink, and it changed the name to "7up Lithiated Lemon Soda".

As people studied the long-term effects of lithium citrate on the human body, it became clear that it has many side effects. In particular, it contributes to the appearance of excess weight, causes electrolyte imbalance, and reduces the activity of thyroid hormones. Animal studies of lithium preparations have shown that the risk of death increases with long-term consumption.

Ultimately, in 1948, lithium citrate was allowed to be used only in special medicines, and its addition to other products was discontinued.