10 REASONS TO CONSIDER IV VITAMIN THERAPY

Why we need micronutrients?

There are many fad wellness gimmicks including supplements, procedures, etc.. out there - but one thing is certain, micronutrients often referred to as vitamins and minerals are essential to healthy and normal body function.  They help our body to provide millions of necessary operations every day by building bones, healing wounds, and maintain a healthy immune system.  Additionally, micronutrients are necessary to convert the food we eat into energy, repair damaged cells and remove dead cells.

Are we getting enough?

Micronutrients cannot be produced in the body and must come from the foods we eat on a daily basis.  Therein lies the problem as the foods we consume have become increasingly void of micronutrients.  The CDC estimates that more than 2 billion people suffer from micronutrient deficiencies.  A study by Donald Davis and team partnered with The University of Texas looked at nutritional data on 43 types of fruits and vegetables from 1950 to 1999.  The results noted a consistent deterioration in virtually all micronutrients.

Food quality is only one of the many factors that influence the amount of micronutrients that we take in every day.  Chronic disease, prescription medication use, gut health, stress and poor eating habits all contribute in the overall deficiencies that millions of Americans currently have.  With that said let's look at 10 reasons to consider getting an IV vitamin infusion:

1: Improve Energy

Energy seems to always be in short supply as Americans run themselves ragged with the day to day tasks of work, home, family and more.  Trying to stay focused on eating clean is already hard, not to mention eating on a regular schedule.  Filling in the nutritional gaps with the entire B-complex and Vitamin D normally leaves you feeling frisky and fun.

2: Immune System Support

Supporting the immune system seems to be one of the main reasons to get a vitamin IV.  Partially because there is real science behind it.  Vitamin C, as we all know does help your immune system run stronger and allows us to fight off those unwanted colds.  Numerous clinical studies support Vitamin C as decreasing the viral and bacterial load of many common sicknesses.  One study noted that completing a Vitamin C infusion upon the initial systems of influenza decreased the duration of illness by 50%

3: Improved Mood

A happy person is a healthy person.  Mood is directly tied to energy so it's no wonder that if you correct the energy issues with the B-Vitamins the mood quickly follows.  Also, it's important to make sure your iron and ferritin levels are up to standard.  Iron and ferritin are key in the development of red blood cells which carry oxygen.  Having the best B-vitamin levels ever won't matter much if you don't have the red blood cells to carry oxygen.

4: Detoxification

Methylation is the body's ability to function from the DNA level through the removal of unwanted elements from the body.  Methylation is involved in everything from mental function, repairing DNA, genetic expression, fighting infections, and the removal of toxins.  Glutathinoe is one of the most powerful antioxidants and important substances from preventing damage to cells.  Glutathione does this by aiding the body's ability to remove peroxides, heavy metals, free radicals and advanced glycation end products (AGE's)

5: Upcoming Travel

Travel is no doubt demanding on the immune system.  Flying on an airplane being exposed to a new environment with new viruses and bacteria.  Changes in your eating and sleeping pattern all put strain on your immune system setting a person up for that unwanted illness while traveling.  Picking up on a classic Myers Cocktail with extra Vitamin C will give your immune system, energy and mood that extra bounce so you get through your travel or vacation without incident.

6: Beauty if Forever

Just about all micronutrients play a critical part in the largest organ of the body - the skin.  Vitamin A, C, D, E, Zinc, Cooper and amino acids have a direct action for healthy skin.  Additionally, it's necessary to keep toxins at bay in the body to prevent premature skin aging and maintain a youthful look.  Glutathione is king of the road when it comes to this ensuring that those free radicals and damaging toxins are eliminated.

7: Improve Sleep Quality

Most of us are aware of how melatonin supports a regular sleep cycle.  However, did you know that in order for melatonin to be release properly, a good level of Vitamin A, B vit's, and amino acids need to be in the body. Again, micronutrients play a critical role in proper methylation with this process virtually effecting every element in a person's body day in and day out.  Maximizing sleep is also extremely important to overall health.  This is the time where your body undergoes most of its cellular repair that occurs from the day in day out demands that you place on it.

8: Athletic Performance

Physical activity and/or training puts immense strain on your body and requires repair of worn out muscle and replenishment of energy.  Micronutrients helps convert food into energy so that energy stores can be replenished within your muscles.  Functioning at maximum performance requires that all your micronutrients, amino acids and hydration are at optimal levels.  This is not only relevant for endurance athletes but for power and strength athletes alike.

9: Adrenal Gland Support

The adrenal glands are two little glands approximately 3 x 5 cm nested on top of each kidney.  Don't let the small size fool you on the importance.  Mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids including; Cortisol, Aldosterone, DHEA, Epinephrine, Norepinephrine, and others are secreted from normal daily function.  In order for the adrenal glands to function properly they have to repair themselves at night normally between 9 pm to 3 am.  Sleep is the necessary ingredient here along with adequate Vitamin C, B Magnesium, Zinc and Iron.

10: Suffering from Chronic Disease

Most forms of chronic disease have a negative affect on multiple areas of the body.  For example, ulcerative colitis will effect nutritional absorption of rheumatoid arthritis that requires prednisone will negatively effect gut health.  Similarly, chronic sinus infection often require repeated antibiotic prescriptions that alter the normal gut flora affecting how micronutrients are absorbed in the gut.  The bottom line is regularly prescribed medications do alter nutritional status of the body which can further exacerbate methylation problems, sleeping problems, adrenal function, etc...  Vitamin IVs in these situations can bypass the gut and go directly into a person's blood steam and can support a healthy wellness plan.

In Summary

At our clinic we encourage our patients to practice a healthy life style with eating, exercise and sleep.  This the foundation approach to any long-term healthy life style.  We also promote vitamin IV infusions as beneficial and be used in conjunction with the foundation approach to help support today's active lifestyle.

Author

David J. Bauder, PA-C David Bauder, PA-C, is a certified physician assistant and the assistant medical director at Weight Loss and Vitality in Manassas and Alexandria, Virginia, Washington, DC; and Gaithersburg, MD. He enjoys helping patients optimize their physical and mental health to improve their overall well-being. He earned his physician assistant degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Afterward, he gained admission into the reputable graduate program for physician assistant studies at the University of Nebraska Health Science Center in Omaha. David has over 26 years of experience working as a physician assistant. He’s practiced in podiatry, family medicine, emergency medicine, general surgery, urgent care, and functional medicine.