Oral vs IV drip supplementation
We’re often asked about the benefits of oral vs IV supplementation, and also if there really is a need for vitamins at all? We discuss these below.
Why you should take supplements!
Recommended guidelines for vitamin and mineral supplementation in specific cases:
If you’re over 50:
- Metabolism slows as you age and your rate of bone loss increases, especially for women, raising the risk of osteoporosis.
- Calcium is available in dairy products, fish with bones (such as sardines), broccoli and fortified cereals and juices. Both men and women need 1300mg daily.
- Vitamin D is vital for calcium absorption, and with age the ability to synthesise it in sunlight through the skin lessens. A daily supplement of 15mcg is advisable.
- Vitamin B12 is needed to prevent loss of memory and cognitive function. Human beings tend to make less stomach acid as we age and so absorb less B12. The US Institute of Medicine advises over-50s to take 2.4mg daily.
- B12 can also be depleted in type 2 diabetics who take metformin (a glucose-lowering drug). This should be checked annually, and supplemented if necessary.
If you’re Vegetarian or Vegan:
- Non-heme iron is found in dried beans, green leafy vegetables, nuts and dried fruit. It has been suggested that non-heme iron is less available to the body than the heme variety in meat, so twice as much is needed. For this reason, many doctors advise an iron supplement of 18mg a day, especially for vegetarians who are also athletes and female. (Doses will depend on the quality of the vegetarian/vegan diet.)
- Zinc occurs in legumes, soy, nuts and seeds and isn’t stored in the body, so you need it daily: a supplement of 10mg for men and 8mg for women is advised.
- If you don’t eat meat,fish,eggs or dairy, a vitamin B12 supplement of 10mg a day is needed.
- Calcium and riboflavin (vitamin B2) are found in dark green leafy vegetables, tofu, nuts and soya, but large quantities are needed to get the equivalent found in dairy products. A 1300mg supplement containing these two vitamins can do the trick.
If you Eat Fast Food often:
- If you aren’t eating as you should, a multivitamin a day can help ensure you get your daily vitamin and mineral requirements. A reputable brand that doesn’t exceed the RDA of each vitamin and mineral.
- It is best to avoid single nutrient supplements to ensure the safe doses of these nutrients isn’t exceeded, unless you have a specific need or deficiency that’s been confirmed by your doctor or dietician.
Pregnancy:
- To help prevent defects of the baby’s brain and spinal cord, 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid/folate (Vitamin B9) a day is recommended.
Oral vs IV supplementation: Why supplement via IV drip therapy rather than orally?
The difference between the two all comes down to the delivery system.
While oral supplements work fine for day-to-day living, there’s a good chance you’re not getting 100% of the nutrients you ingest. Your body has to do a lot of work to break down vitamins and minerals and get them into your bloodstream. Water-soluble vitamins are large molecules that require assistance just to pass from your intestinal tract into your bloodstream.
Additionally, your body’s ability to transport these vitamins can be greatly affected by your lifestyle and health. Many medications, illnesses, chronic conditions, and even alcohol consumption can reduce your stomach’s ability to transport nutrients, which means you don’t get the nutrients you need.
With IV vitamin and mineral drip therapy, you skip all of that extra work and bring the nutrients directly where they belong – to your blood. From there, they are transported directly to the cells where they are needed!
Because of the 100% absorption of the nutrients, it has been suggested that the effects of vitamin and mineral drip therapy last longer than a typical multivitamin – multiple days of benefit from just an hour spent in the DripBar. You can book your appointment online.
Happy Gut. Healthy You.
Is the core philosophy of the DripBar.
Optimal Gut Health and a healthy Microbiome are central to everything we’re about.