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Agnes Grodzinski

IV Infusions vs Oral Vitamins






Can't i just take tablets? Can't i just eat heaps of fruit and veg? Can't i just eat an Orange?


These are the 2 most common questions from newbies to the wonderful world of IV Vitamin Infusions. And these are very legitimate questions. Let's face it....IV Drips are not cheap.


So let's explore the Science behind both options.



Absorption. How does it work?


Oral Absorption


When you swallow a Vitamin C tablet, it goes straight into your stomach. Here, it can be stored for up to 6 hours. The stomach begins the breakdown process of food and Nutrients before passing the broken down products to your small intestine. The process of emptying the food from the stomach into the small intestine can take up to 4 hours.


Once in the small intestine, the nutrients that you ingested up to 10 hours ago, start to absorb and make its way into your bloodstream and to cells in your body to start to work its benefits.


But how much of what you have consumed is actually absorbed and used for benefit? Read on...


Intravenous Absorption


When an intravenous cannula is inserted into a vein, the IV Fluids and Nutrients enter your blood circulation directly. They are then distributed instantly around the body, targeting cells and organs and immediately used to it's benefits. This means that the Vitamins have avoided the digestive system and the hours it takes for absorption to occur.




Oral Vitamins


Research states that approximately 70%–90% of vitamin C is absorbed at moderate intakes of 30–180 mg/day. However, at doses above 1g/day, absorption falls to less than 50% and unabsorbed, unmetabolized Vitamin C is removed in urine. This means that when you have swallowed a popular brand of Vitamin C, with a dose of 1g=1000mg, roughly only 500mg is absorbed, in a generally healthy person. The absorption is further lowered to as little as 10% in an individual with gut issues or other health conditions.



V Vitamins


IV Vitamins can acheive absorption of almost 100% as they enter your blood stream directly, bypassing the possible complications of your digestive tract and intestinal issues. IV Nutrients enter organs and cells directly and work its magic as soon as they enter your veins.


IV Vitamins and Nutrients can be beneficial in speed of treating symptoms such as physical and mental fatigue, dehydration, faster recovery from iIllness, prevention of cellular damage, hangover, anaemia etc.



Factors that affect Absorption


Illness


Conditions such as Leaky gut, Gastro/Diarrhoea, Vomiting, Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, IBS, Coeliac Disease etc. can lower absorption to as little as 10% of Nutrients consumed orally. This is where IV Vitamins are very beneficial in terms of instant 100% absorption and speed of symptom relief such as physical and mental fatigue, dehydration, anaemia, and many other ailments.


Stress


Can alter digestive function, further affecting and complicating your absorption of nutrients. Stress means you are using nutrients faster, as your metabolic rate (using food and turning it into energy) increases, nutrients are used quicker to keep up with your increasing physical and mental demands. This is a big reason behind why people feel fatigued, depressed and depleted during times of stress and physical demands.


Lower Magnesium and Zinc concentrations have been confirmed in people with depression. Stress can be a major trigger in these conditions. Therefore Zinc and Magnesium supplementation can be of benefit during times of stress. Magnesium can help release muscle tension and help with Insomnia and Anxiety. Vitamin C can help with fatigue by acting as an antioxidant and flushing away free radicals that damage surrounding ells.



Alcohol and Drugs


Too much alcohol can cause inflammation of the digestive tract and acts as a diuretic, depleting vital nutrients and electrolytes. Excess alcohol can also deplete Thaimine (Vitamin B1) by causing inflammation in intestinal lining. Our B Complex can help to replenish your B Vitamins.


Recreational Drugs. Let's face it, we don't 100% know what is in them and what they are doing in our bodies.


Pharmaceuticals


Can have nasty side effects and disturb various processes in our bodies. For example, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) commonly prescribed for acid reflux are understood to lead to increased risk of vitamin and mineral deficiencies impacting vitamin B12, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron and Magnesium.


It is always important to talk with your GP or Specialist about how the Medications you may be taking is affecting you adversely as well as beneficially.


Exercise


Intense exercise and physical activity can quickly deplete nutrients and electrolytes through sweat and increased metabolic rate.


Exercise also produces free radicals, when energy metabolism is increased during exercise. Free radicals can damage surrounding cells. Think of a free radical as a thief that doesn't have a handbag, but you have 5 designer ones. He is jealous and wants your handbag. He will come and take your handbag and you will be left with only 4. You will be left upset and damaged. This is how free radicals damage cells around them. This is called "oxidative stress", which is an imbalance of antioxidants and free radicals, leading to cellular damage. Antioxidants such as Vitamin C and Glutathione can be beneficial in fighting free radicals aka handbag thief. Read On...


Oxidative Stress


Yes...sounds complicated but lets simplify this concept. Oxidative Stress, as discussed above with the handbag thief, can be caused by many different factors. Scented candles, household toxins, environmental pollutants, illness, stress, UV and Wifi radiation, smoking, excess drugs and alcohol can all damage cells and send free radicals to party around your body.


This is where Vitamin C and Glutathione can help protect cells from cellular damage. Selenium, ALA (Alpha Lipoic Acid) and Zinc are also very powerful in it's anti oxidative effects.





So which one do i pick? Oral or IV Vitamins


Above all, we reccommend maintaining a balanced nutritious diet, lowering alcohol intake and recreational drug use to get the most out of your Oral or IV Vitamins.


You may opt to choose IV Vitamin Infusions for several reasons and we will also outline reasons why our clients choose IV Vitamin Infusions.


  • Speed of Recovery and Symptom Relief. Many people are busy and can achieve quick benefits of feeling refreshed and energised.


  • Increasing work demands, busy or hectic lifestyles mean people can maintain nutrient and energy levels minimising the risk of being run down and getting sick.


  • Gut issues mean your oral supplements may not be as beneficial as that of a generally healthy person. It may be more beneficial to get a IV Vitamin Infusion every few weeks/months than supplementing with oral supplements without feeling huge relief or many benefits.


  • Recent stress or illness may have depleted your reserves of nutrients and you want to or need to quickly recover to get back on your feet.


  • Leading a party lifestyle can quickly deplete your electrolytes and nutrients, you need a quick recovery and repair.


  • Long and frequent travel can result is increased radiation exposure while flying, leading to dehydration, constipation, general nutrient depletion and fatigue.


  • Maintaining optimum health and prevention of illness is a proirity for you.


  • A lot of people who opt for IV Vitamin Infusions already maintain a healthy lifestyle but find that extra benefit in IV Vitamin Infusions, reducing fatigue, maintaining energy levels and knowing they can get quick symptom relief in times of increasing work or life demands.


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