Why should you get IV nutrient therapy when you can buy over-the-counter oral supplements and take them in the comfort of your own home?
This is a question I receive frequently when individuals are weighing the benefits of IV therapy.
It may seem unreasonable to go into a wellness clinic for IV therapy when oral supplements are plentiful and easily accessed by opening a drawer at home. There are many scientific reasons to change up your current oral supplementation of key vitamins and minerals. Much of it comes down to simple concepts: Bioavailability and Absorption.
Let’s first look at the path nutrients must take to get into the cells where they can be used.
How do we absorb nutrients like Vitamin C?
- Digestion in the stomach – where gastric acids, enzymes, and “intrinsic factors” may be inadequate or overly acidic.
- Digestion in the small intestine – where fats, protein, and carbs are absorbed, and where essential enzymes must be present, unless there’s a problem.
- Absorption in the large intestine – where mostly water and minerals are absorbed.
- Transport of the nutrients to the liver for detoxification and processing.
- Delivery from the liver to blood vessels going to the rest of the body.
- Absorption from the blood vessels into the tissues and from the tissues into the cells.
What are the mishaps that can occur when we absorb nutrients?
At best, only a portion of the nutrients we swallow can be delivered to the cells. Individuals with bloating, leaky guts, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, or food sensitivities often lose many nutrients during these multiple steps. And many times, individuals consuming high oral doses of vitamin C, for example, almost always experience abdominal cramps and diarrhea before their blood vitamin C levels even come close to those who receive their vitamin C intravenously.
Almost all Americans – even those eating a healthy diet – are nutrient deficient due to soil depletion and other factors. In other words, you cannot get the optimal Radiant Health level of nutrients you need by only eating the right foods or taking enough supplements.
In addition, alcohol is inflammatory and damaging to the cells lining the stomach and intestines where absorption of vitamins occurs.
Are there any other factors that can influence the integrity of the intestinal lining?
- Stress
- Medications – i.e. Ibuprofen and aspirin
- Infections – like E.coli, Pseudomonas, and Clostridium
- Inflammation – from diabetes, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and other conditions
- Smoking
Anything that negatively impacts the lining of your intestine also negatively impacts your ability to absorb nutrients through that lining. Most people do not have perfect gut-barrier function, which makes oral supplements even less efficient.
How are IV infusions different?
An IV infusion separates itself because it delivers 100% of each vitamin directly into the bloodstream. The effects of an IV infusion are both immediate and long-lasting; they can help you feel better quickly and keep you feeling your best for days and sometimes weeks to come.
What are the benefits of using infusion therapy?
- A higher absorption rate: since infusion therapy delivers nutrients directly into your bloodstream, your body absorbs a higher percentage of the nutrients.
- Instant hydration: patients with moderate to severe dehydration can benefit from hydration IV therapy. Infusion therapy ensures a higher success rate by providing the hydration and the nutrients your body needs.
- A short delivery path: there are no challenges with intestinal absorption or delivery to the liver or transport to the tissues and then to the cells.
- No loss of nutrients: because nutrients are delivered directly to the bloodstream, nutrients are not lost along the arduous pathway through the digestive tract.
- Fewer adverse side effects: although the levels of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients given intravenously are many many times higher than the levels you get from taking them orally, these nutrients do not travel through the digestive tract and therefore do not cause adverse reactions such as stomach upset, nausea, and diarrhea as seen with high doses of oral supplements.
- Significant support for Radiant Health: when you make IV therapies a regular part of your health routine, you can expect Radiant Health!
Please note that we are not saying oral vitamins are “bad.” In fact, they can be a wonderful adjunct to treatment and maintenance, especially if you use liposomal supplements. But if you are looking for the fastest path to Radiant Health without side-effects, IV therapy is your best bet. As always, you can contact us at info@joywellnesspartners.com or by calling (858) 609-0866 with any questions or to make an appointment.
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