Our bodies develop signs and symptoms of imbalance when we give them too much of what they don’t need (inflammatory and processed foods, excessive stress, excessive exercise); and too little of what they do need (quality sleep, time in nature, rest and relaxation, nutritious high micronutrient foods, adequate hydration).
By far, the biggest complaint from or reason our clients visit the DripBar for IV vita drip therapy is FATIGUE! Prior to the COVID pandemic, a clients’ complaint was most commonly, ‘I’m tired’.
Now, two years on, our clients are saying things like, “I’m mentally and physically exhausted’; “I’m so depleted I can’t function properly”; ‘I’m really really really tired”. Aside from the pandemic and all that’s gone with it including hard-lock down, masks, sanitizers, social distancing, we as South africans are also dealing with economic downturn, poor service delivery, corruption, load-shedding, road-rage etc. etc. etc… It’s a lot…and all this outside of our own personal human experiences.
The mitochondria are the energy producing power houses of our cells. There are many MANY reasons our mitochondria can become dysfunctional, thus producing insufficient energy to meet the demands of our daily lives. The mitochondria are easily dys-regulated by stress and poor lifestyle factors (inflammatory foods, inadequate sleep, underlying disease conditions, chronic medication, excessive exercise etc.)
The three organs of the body containing the most mitochondria, and thus the most susceptible to fatigue from mitochondrial dysfunction, are: the brain, the liver and the muscles. The cells of these three organs contain as many as 22 000 – 25 000 mitochondria per cell. The latest research studies are revealing a direct link between the gut microbiome (healthy gut bacteria) and the functioning of the mitochondria, the energy producing power houses of our cells.
IV drip therapy entered the market some years ago and when administered with knowledge and experience, is recognized as a powerful intervention in restoring micronutrient balance, hydration, energy and vitality.
At the DripBar, we offer three energy boosting IV vitamin drip options:
For athletes:
The first, Energy Boost 1, is the athletes choice prior to an endurance sporting event. This vita drip cocktail is specifically formulated both to improve physical fatigue from physical exertion, and as preparation for excessive physical exertion. This vitamin drip formula contains Vitamins B12 and BCo, magnesium, ribose, MSM, electrolytes, Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA), N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) and L-Carnitine.
The combination of the last three particularly – ALA, NAC and L-Carnitine – is designed to stimulate the mitochondria, the power houses of the cell, thus increasing ATP and energy production.
When used by athletes prior to an endurance event, Energy Boost 1 is best administered:
Two days prior to the event, in a one litre saline bag, thus simultaneously enhancing the athlete’s hydration. The drip runs over 45 minutes to an hour.
Yes! The litre bag looks enormous. It is! It’s 1000 ml.
Many of our clients ask about drinking water as opposed to hydrating via an IV drip.
The answer is a simple one: the state of health of the digestive tract influences the amount of water that can be effectively absorbed through the gut lining from drinking. An inflamed epithelial lining of the gut, which easily occurs from many lifestyle factors including HIIT training as well as processed gu’s and bars athletes consume, will reduce the effectiveness of fluid absorption.
Imagine dry arid ground: when water is initially poured onto it, it just runs off. It takes an amount of water over a period of time for the ground to be able to effectively absorb. This is exactly what happens in the gut.
We digress. A day prior to a sporting event, this energy boosting IV vita drip would be administered in a 200 ml bag of saline. This is because a litre of fluid would not have sufficient time to adequately process prior to the event.
And if you’re not supplementing orally, add IV Vitamin D3 – a steroid hormone that has powerful anti-inflammatory properties.
For non-athletes:
Two vitamin drip cocktails are perfectly designed to counter mental and physical fatigue:
The Detox IV Vita drip rids the body of harmful oxidative stress and free radicals that are frequently associated with high levels of stress, and the stress hormones cortisol and adrenalin. Chronic oxidative stress harms our cells, including our RNA and DNA, leading to premature ageing, illness and disease. This IV vita drip contains the effective combination of Vitamins BCo, B12, C as well as Magnesium, Alpha-Lipoic-Acid (ALA) and the mater anti-oxidant Gluathione.
Then there’s the new kid on the block: the NAD+ IV vitamin drip.
Not only is this vita drip super effective in alleviating both physical and mental fatigue, because it’s administered over an hour and a half, you have plenty of time to relax and unwind while the NAD+ does it’s thing.
NAD+ is a product of the Kreb’s cycle and becomes depleted when the mitochondria are dysfunctional.
This powerful energy boosting Vita drip contains: NAD+, B12, Magnesium, Glycine, Proline, Leucine (amino acids), Vitamin C and Glutathione.
It is important to note that while NAD+ quickly and effectively boosts energy levels, it does not heal the mitochondria. In order to fully regain optimal energy and vitality, talk to your Functional Medicine and Lifestyle practitioner about the lifestyle modification factors that enable full mitochondrial repair and restoration.
This Blog post has been created By Chantal Du Chenne, Functional Medicine and Lifestyle Practitioner, Founder of the DripBar and owner of a Kombucha brewery which produces the brand of ‘booch’ called theFarmacy. The blog contains information that is not designed to substitute, or replace any form or method of professional or medical advice and treatment or medicine. All content is the author’s opinion and is not intended to diagnose and remedy. Any facts and figures contained in this document are presented solely for informational and educational purposes only.
BIO:
Chantal is a B.Sc.Hons allied health with an international certification in Functional health & Lifestyle Medicine. Chantal is a passionate Gut Health advocate, specialising in the management of inflammatory conditions associated with leaky gut and dysbiosis (imbalance) of the gut microbiome. These include but are not limited to anxiety, depression, auto-immune conditions, cancer, type 2 diabetes etc.
Over her 25 year career, Chantal has held various positions within the health and wellness industry – including 10 years as the Executive Head of Vodacom’s corporate wellness & mobile health programs.
Chantal is a competitive cyclist, a plant strong vegan and mom to two grown up girls.
Hydrate. Detox. Energise. Boost
At the DripBar, we offer a range of vitamin and mineral IV drips designed to optimize health and well-being. IV nutrient therapy supports the active busy stressful lifestyles that are so common to 21st century living. At the DripBar, our IV vitamin drips have been specifically formulated to include combinations of vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants and amino acids that boost immunity, improve mitochondrial function & energy levels, increase vitality and facilitate detoxification.