If you’ve ever watched a medical drama on TV, then you’ve seen bags of normal saline (which most people simply know as “IV” or “IV fluid”) pretending to be dripped into a patient’s arm. If you’ve ever been to the hospital yourself, you may have even experienced this first hand!
Intravenous, or IV, hydration isn’t new. It’s a standard practice in hospitals to treat anything from mild dehydration to severe infections. IV nutrient therapy, sometimes referred to as IV vitamin therapy, also isn’t new. It’s been around since the early eighties. One of the earliest types of IV vitamin therapy was developed by the late Dr. Myers, who created the Myers’ Cocktail.
If you’ve ever wondered whether IV hydration therapy in a clinic such as ours may be beneficial, here are two important reasons to consider giving it a try.
First, many Americans are vitamin deficient.
According to a CDC nutritional report, nearly 10% of Americans have nutritional deficiencies. Some of the most common deficiencies are vitamin B12, iron, vitamin C, vitamin B6, magnesium, and calcium. In a country as developed as the United States, you may be wondering how this is possible. Unfortunately, many Americans, while they may be well-fed, are actually malnourished when it comes to getting the nutrients our bodies need. The foods we consume give us energy in the form of calories, but they aren’t particularly nutrient dense.
If this sounds familiar (maybe you know you’re not eating enough leafy greens each day), you aren’t alone. Periodic IV hydration therapy can assist with replenishing these important vitamins and minerals, especially the ones that we can’t store in our bodies, such as the B-vitamins and vitamin C.
Second, even if you’re consuming it, you may not be absorbing it…a quick lesson on bioavailability.
Even if you’re eating your fruits and veggies, did you know you may not be absorbing the maximum nutrients from those foods?
Bioavailability is the percentage of a substance that is absorbed and actually reaches its intended target in your body. As you can see by the graphic below, not all routes of administration are created equal.
When you take something orally, it takes the longest to work, and has the lowest bioavailability, or percent that’s actually absorbed into your body. Why? Because when you swallow a pill or eat a food, it’s got a long journey through your digestive tract, and sometimes through your liver, before it’s available for use in your body. This makes sense, if you think about it. The last time you had a headache, and you took an over-the-counter pain reliever, it took about an hour before you started feeling some relief, right? That’s because it had to go through the process of being broken down first, before your body could start using the active ingredients.
Compared to an oral route, nutrients received intravenously are available almost immediately, and entirely, meaning you’re getting the maximum benefit from them possible.
These two reasons demonstrate why IV hydration therapy has gained popularity, and may be worth your consideration if you’re looking for that extra boost.
Note: The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice. Consult with a qualified professional for personalized recommendations and guidance based on your specific situation.
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