This post is part of our blog series, “5 Reasons Why”, which helps readers understand why IV therapy in Toronto is an option for optimal, natural health. Stay tuned for more posts in this series!

Did you know there’s such a thing as intravenous nutritional (IV) therapy?

There is ongoing research on the use and benefits of oral and intravenous delivery/intake of nutrients. Vitamin IV therapy is a treatment in which a mixture of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients are administered directly into your bloodstream. IV therapy has been shown to support patients who require nutrition supplementation for malnourishment, energy production, dehydration and post-surgical support.

But how is IV vitamin drip therapy different than oral supplements? Oral supplements, such as tablets, may help decrease morbidity, increase energy levels and improve life quality. However, taking supplements orally are not always ideal for those with an aversion to swallowing pills or for those with compromised digestive tract systems.

IV vitamin therapy is a convenient and swift method for administering amino acids, fluids, electrolytes, vitamins and minerals back into your body. Unlike oral vitamin supplementation, IV therapy is directed into your veins, which makes the nutrients rapidly accessible to your cells. The nourishing IV fluids bypass the digestive system, allowing the nutrients to reach your vital organs producing beneficial effects and to support optimal cellular health.

Intravenous vitamin drip therapy is particularly useful if you are prone to developing gastrointestinal disturbances, such as cramps, nausea or diarrhea brought on from orally taking high-dosed nutrients (i.e. high dose vitamin C and magnesium). Vitamin IV therapy may also be beneficial for people experiencing malabsorption issues.

Combined with ongoing naturopathic care, there are numerous benefits to undergoing IV therapy to promote optimal health and well being. Below are 5 reasons why you should learn about IV vitamin therapy:

1. IV vitamin therapy promotes hydration.

Did you know that hydration helps control our body temperature and lubricates our joints? It also helps transport nutrients to provide us with much-needed energy. We frequently lose water when we breathe, sweat, urinate, or physically exert ourselves. Factors like high temperatures, excessive sweating, vomiting, diarrhea, drinking alcohol, and/or playing sports causes us to lose fluids, augmenting the risk for dehydration.

IV vitamin drip therapy is a prompt method for hydrating the body. Oral hydration (drinking water) can hydrate your body, though it takes 75-120 minutes to fully absorb one bottle of water into the bloodstream. On the other hand, IV therapy hydrates you immediately. Not only does vitamin IV therapy contain fluids, it can deliver electrolytes, vitamins, amino acids and minerals, which supports optimal recovery from dehydration (i.e. post exercise recovery therapy) without relying on the digestive system.

2. IV therapy stimulates detoxification.

Detoxification is necessary for our bodies to flush out toxins, which may cause detrimental effects on the body. IV vitamin therapy can promote detoxification, which may help the liver optimally function.

IV therapy drips with glutathione further promote detoxification. Glutathione is crucial for the functioning and upkeep of mitochondria, which should be thought of as the human body’s “energy power house.” Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant that aids in detoxification and may help with methylation concerns. It’s effective for removing chemicals and metals from the body, while helping reduce inflammation.

3. IV therapy may increase energy levels.

IV therapy is applicable for improved energy levels within a brisk time frame. Often, an IV therapist will recommend adding B vitamins into your intravenous vitamin infusion. B vitamins are for various wellness functions, such as increasing energy, furthering red blood cell production, and helping to regulate sleep, mood and appetite cycles, and may help fight chronic fatigue syndrome. Administering vitamins directly into the bloodstream works promptly; this is unlike oral intake, which requires additional time for nutrients to be absorbed or nutrients may be poorly absorbed through the various body systems.

4. IV therapy provides nutritional support.

IV therapy allows your body to efficiently use vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. It provides prompt nutritional support via the bloodstream, which may help individuals with conditions recover from illnesses such as food poisoning or dehydration.

Also, intravenous drip therapy can supply some of our daily nutritional requirements. It may help patients who are unable to meet their nutritional requirements through oral intake alone; this includes patients that do not have a properly functioning gastrointestinal tract or have health conditions requiring total bowel rest (i.e. short bowel syndrome or severe Crohn’s disease). Patients with eating disorders, have intestinal absorption issues, or suffer from dysphagia may also undergo malnutrition. In these cases, IV therapy is effective for nutritional support.

(FYI: It is worth noting that the cells lining the intestinal tract, which are responsible for transporting vitamins and essential nutrients, must be healthy and intact for proper absorption of nutrients to occur. The absorption of vitamin B2, B1, and other minerals/vitamins is constrained when our gastrointestinal tract is inflamed, which is where vitamins need to be absorbed. In these cases, oral supplementation may be ineffective for the body, and intravenous treatment may be considered.)

5. Vitamin IV therapy treatments can be catered for your health needs only.

Did you know that we personalize IV drips to support your unique health needs? These infusion blends are specifically formulated to target your personal health concerns and nobody else’s. At the IV Lounge, we can customize your IV formula, which would be specific to your health goals. Your personalized IV drip may contain nourishing ingredients such as glutathione, vitamin C, vitamin B12, B complex, magnesium and more. You’re always welcome to inquire about our custom-made nutritional vitamin IV therapy drips.

Learn About IV Therapy in Toronto

As you’ve just read, IV vitamin drip therapy may help with improving your level of energy, detoxifying the body from free radicals, contribute to your body’s optimal functioning, and more. How can IV therapy benefit your body such as an IV hydration therapy? What can we do to customize your IV therapy experience?

At the IV Lounge in Ontario, we are passionate about helping others understand how intravenous therapy works for them. Also, our IV vitamin therapy drips are freshly compounded on a daily basis with natural ingredients. An initial health assessment (30-45 minutes) is required before IV therapy administration to avoid unwanted side effects. To learn more about our IV therapy lounge in Toronto, Ontario, call (647) 549-3484 to book your appointment for an in-person consultation with our Naturopathic Doctor.

References:

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Ganio, M., Armstrong, L., Casa, D., McDermott, B., Lee, E., Yamamoto, L., Lieberman, H. (2011). Mild dehydration impairs cognitive performance and mood of men. British Journal of Nutrition, 106(10), 1535-1543. doi:10.1017/S0007114511002005

Lawrence E. Armstrong, Matthew S. Ganio, Douglas J. Casa, Elaine C. Lee, Brendon P. McDermott, Jennifer F. Klau, Liliana Jimenez, Laurent Le Bellego, Emmanuel Chevillotte, Harris R. Lieberman; Mild Dehydration Affects Mood in Healthy Young Women, The Journal of Nutrition, Volume 142, Issue 2, 1 February 2012, Pages 382–388, https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.111.142000.

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Péronnet, F, Mignault, D, du Souich, P, et al. (2012) Pharmacokinetic analysis of absorption, distribution and disappearance of ingested water labeled with D2O in humans. Eur J Appl Physiol 112, 2213–2222.

“Pulled from the rubble after 16 days: Water secret to survival,” Maggie Fox, NBC News, published May 10, 2013. Viewed July 1, 2018.

Riebl SK, Davy BM. The Hydration Equation: Update on Water Balance and Cognitive Performance. ACSM’s health & fitness journal. 2013;17(6):21-28. doi:10.1249/FIT.0b013e3182a9570f.

Tardy AL, Pouteau E, Marquez D, Yilmaz C, Scholey A. Vitamins and Minerals for Energy, Fatigue and Cognition: A Narrative Review of the Biochemical and Clinical Evidence. Nutrients. 2020 Jan 16;12(1):228. doi: 10.3390/nu12010228. PMID: 31963141; PMCID: PMC7019700.