IV Nutritional Therapy

IV Nutritional Therapy

Nutrition has improved vastly in the last 100 years. Whether it’s the combination of dietary education, year-round available fruits and vegetables, or fortified processed foods, it’s rare to see someone suffering from an extreme nutritional deficiency. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be on the lookout for warning signs and ways to improve your nutritional intake. For example, IV nutritional therapy can be customized to treat specific nutrient gaps or deficiencies found in a patient.

Who Can Benefit from IV Nutritional Therapy?

Anyone can suffer from a nutritional deficit depending on a number of factors. In particular, individuals who have to follow restricted diets can benefit from IV nutritional therapy designed to address any deficits caused by their eating habits such as:

1. Vegan Diets
   When switching to a vegan lifestyle, most people understand the importance of finding a new source of protein.Beyond just eating salad, veganism requires people to rethink where their nutrients come from and what foods they need to consume to fill the gap left by meat and animal products. What often slips the minds of new vegans is the specific nutrients that accompany animal-based protein such as the iron in red meat or Omega-3 fatty acids in fish. IV nutritional therapy allows vegans to adhere to their lifestyle while still providing them with their needed vitamins and minerals.
2. Gluten-Free Diets
   Did you know that many gluten-based foods are fortified with additional vitamins and minerals? These nutrients are added to shelf-stable gluten-based foods to help provide a more well rounded source of nutrition. However, this also means that gluten-free individuals have to be more vigilant about what they eat to not only avoid gluten, but to ensure they aren’t missing out on vital nutrients. IV nutritional therapy is administered through the bloodstream, allowing gluten-free patients to get the nutrients they need without having to take supplements (which can be made or contaminated with gluten).
3. Low-Acid Diets
   We’ve all experienced the unpleasant sensation of acid reflux from time to time, but for others acid reflux can be a chronic condition that requires a complete overhaul of the patient’s diet. High-acid foods like tomatoes or citrus fruits may need to be eaten in moderation or completely removed from their diet. Unfortunately, this can also cause a depletion in critical vitamins like vitamin C. IV nutritional therapy allows patients to get these needed nutrients without triggering acid reflux or other stomach upset.
4. Chronic Nausea Diets
   There are a number of conditions and medical treatments that can result in chronic nausea. For these patients in particular, it can be difficult to get all their needed vitamins and nutrients because they either feel that they can’t eat at all or can only eat safe foods that they know won’t further upset their stomachs. IV nutritional therapy allows these patients to get the nutrients they need without adding to the discomfort of their chronic nausea. This way, patients can focus more on intaking calories and less on if those calories are nutritionally balanced.

How is IV Nutritional Therapy Better than Taking Oral Supplements?

IV nutritional therapy is superior to oral supplements in three key ways: it’s administered intravenously, it can be administered in larger yet safe doses, and it can avoid stomach upset and nausea.

1. Intravenous
   IV nutritional therapy is faster and more effective than oral supplements because it is administered to the bloodstream. The bloodstream acts as the body’s supply chain and carries nutrients, cells, and other substances to where they’re needed. During the digestive process, food is broken down and nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. However, this process takes time and the absorption of nutrients can vary based on a number of factors. Cutting out the middleman and administering nutrients directly through the bloodstream allows the body to use 100% of the nutrients given as fast as possible which can be critical in cases of extreme nutritional deficiencies.
2. Larger Doses
   IV nutritional therapy can be administered in larger doses than oral supplements. When we take a highly concentrated supplement , our body can be overwhelmed. In the best cases, our body simply won’t absorb the full dose before it’s passed from our system, and in the worst cases we can experience severe stomach upset and cramping. When administered intravenously, our body can immediately use the nutrient in its entirety without any accompanying stomach upset.
3. Avoids Nausea
   If the cause of a patient’s nutrient deficiency is nausea, taking an oral supplement is counter-intuitive. Capsules can be difficult to swallow without chronic nausea as a factor, and there’s no guarantee that the patient will be able to keep the supplement down. Conversely, IV nutritional therapy avoids triggering nausea and will not be undone if the patient vomits.

Ready to Try IV Nutritional Therapy?

See how IV nutritional therapy can improve your everyday health and energy. Schedule a session at your local Hydration Room.