IV Vitamin Therapy – Necessary Post-Exercise?

What’s your post-workout routine?

Protein shake? Supplements? A go-to meal?

Those are great ways to support the body in muscle recovery and growth. But not great ways to prevent muscle cramps or tackle fatigue.

You still feel depleted after workouts because your body utilizes amino acids and micronutrients such as potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium during a workout. These nutrients are utilized in every reaction that occurs inside and outside the cell.

Professional athletes that compete at the highest level face these same issues because electrolytes get depleted at a rapid rate and need to be replenished. That’s where IV therapy can work its magic.

IV nutrients are the best way to replenish your micro nutrients (electrolytes). Plus other vitamins and minerals such as b-vitamins, vitamin C and more. The 100% absorption of the nutrients allows the body to function optimally post-exercise.

Let’s dive into micro nutrients and their benefits for exercise recovery.

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Why is IV Vitamin Therapy Necessary Post-Exercise?

IV nutrient therapy is necessary post-exercise because during exercise we produce a large amount of lactic acid, deplete our micro nutrients (electrolytes), and utilize our energy stores (ATP).

These processes cause our body the need to recover.

Our body must detoxify the lactic acid from our blood and excrete it. Glutathione and other antioxidants break down the lactic acid to improve the recovery process. We must train efficiently and support the body during the rest and recovery stages of muscle growth and strength.

Depletion of our micronutrients is probably the most overlooked aspect of exercise science.

Cellular function occurs by the interaction between Sodium (Na2+) & Potassium (K+) which allows energy to be carried within the cell. This balance is important for preventing some serious health issues. IV therapy replenishes these nutrients by introducing them directly into the bloodstream for immediate results.

Lastly, during exercise, we utilize our energy stores (ATP) because we are rapidly using glucose to give us the energy to run five miles, lift 300lbs or battle rope for five minutes straight. Athletes do a “carb load” before a big sporting competition or workout to build up ATP. And to improve their glucose stores (glycogen) so they can compete for longer durations. B-vitamins, L-carnitine, and amino acids are essential cofactors in optimizing ATP production in the body.

IV vitamin therapy improves all of these biochemical processes by supporting the body’s detoxification pathways (glutathione), replenishing micro nutrients (various vitamins and minerals), and improving energy stores (B-vitamins, amino acids, L-carnitine). These nutrients are essential to optimal recovery post-exercise.

IV therapy is just as essential as your post-workout protein shake and Branch Chained Amino Acids (BCAA’s) – the essential building blocks to building muscle tissue. It optimizes your body’s recovery at a metabolic level – putting less stress on the cardiovascular system.

Oral Supplements vs IV Nutrients

LIVV Natural Health is an advocate of IV nutrient therapy because of the effects on the human biochemistry and absorption differences compared to oral supplementation.

IV therapy injects high-quality nutrients and vitamins directly into the bloodstream with 100% absorption. The nutrients are delivered to the entire body within seconds – providing our cells with the optimal amount of nutrients it needs to function at the highest capabilities.

Remember biology class?

Probably not.

The organelles of the cell are mitochondria, smooth endoplasmic reticulum, etc. These confusing names require nutrients and energy to function. This allows them to prevent chronic disease, fight cancer cells, and support your healthy activity day in and day out.

Oral supplementation has approximately a 25-35% absorption rate. Think about it – you swallow your supplement, it has to be broken down by your stomach acid and absorbed in your small intestine. Then processed through your liver into the bloodstream. This not only takes time but degrades the supplement during a process called first pass metabolism. This doesn’t mean oral supplementation is bad, just not the best route of administration.

Why IV Therapy Benefits Growth hormone & Testosterone

Lastly, let’s touch on growth hormone and testosterone because these hormones are essential in muscle growth and strength.

IV therapy benefits hormone production and utilization by giving the body the essential cofactors (nutrients that aid enzymatic processes) so it can produce downstream molecules and proteins (hormones).

A nutrient that increases testosterone production is zinc – it inhibits testosterone from aromatizing (converting) into estradiol (estrogens). Allowing the utilization of free testosterone is important and inhibiting the production of estradiol (in males) prevents gynecomastia (man boobs) and mood swings (crying).

Another example is glycine – an amino acid that improves collagen production but has also shown evidence to improve growth hormone up to 32%. Another key benefit of glycine is muscle relaxation and improved sleep (inhibitory neurotransmitter). These are some key nutrients that play a role in healthy hormone production and utilization of the body.

The benefits of IV nutrient therapy are endless because of the absorption differences. LIVV Natural Health believes that IV vitamin therapy is our modern day medicine to live optimally in our current environment.

The new advances in medicine can help us live longer and better lives. It’s not just a trend – it’s the new way of life.

IV Therapy & Athletic Performance

Athletes use a tremendous amount of nutrients and amino acids to perform at a high level.

They push their bodies to the limit, exhausting metabolic functions, energy production, protein synthesis and regenerative capabilities. Athletic performance science comes down to how adaptable the body is for withstanding the demand of top-level performance. From the breakdown of lactic acid proteins, regeneration of muscle tissue and regulation of their krebs cycle (energy generation) to produce more ATP. These metabolic processes all require essential nutrients to function properly and efficiently. For instance, in supporting energy metabolism, mitochondria have the ability to produce higher amounts of ATP with the introduction of basic nutrients such as B-vitamins, magnesium, CoQ10, and L-carnitine.

These enzymatic processes are used and abused by athletes because of the demand on the body. Replenishing these nutrients with the introduction of IV vitamin therapy is essential for athletes due to the 100% absorption and saturation within cells. IV nutrition is not only the quickest absorption method but also bypasses the liver and gastrointestinal function to break down these nutrients and be absorbed into the bloodstream.

Athletic performance is growing rampant in our modern day society with the creation of Cross-Fit and UFC. People are becoming more athletic and putting more stress on their bodies.

This is AWESOME but with anything in life, things must be in balance.

One great lesson I have learned is that the body does not heal 100%. Our healing mechanism is a patch and repair method. We must give our bodies extra support to perform to the best of our abilities. IV infusion therapy is not only great for top tier athletes but also the three days a week gym enthusiast that strives to retain optimal self. IV therapy not only replenishes cellular health but may prevent cardiovascular disease, metabolic diseases such as diabetes, neurological disease, and cancers.

This is done by properly providing our cells the essential nutrients to fight off antigens (infections), improve DNA transcription (gene therapy), and ramp up detoxification by stimulating antioxidant production.

Vitamin Nutrient Descriptions

GLUTATHIONE

Glutathione is the human body’s most powerful antioxidant.

Its key role in the body is to combat oxidative stress (free radicals). This in turn, may possibly reduce the effects of aging. Aging is the process of cellular damage which oxidative stress may play a role. Glutathione may help reverse the role of aging as well as decrease inflammation caused by stress or a cortisol increase. Glutathione is also beneficial for brain health as it has been shown to treat a vast array of neurological diseases including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

Potential benefits:

• Most powerful antioxidant for cellular health
• Improves metabolic function
• Promotes healthy immune function
• Provides optimal environment for hormone production
• Combats stress, inflammation, toxins, and oxidative damage

VITAMIN B12

Also known as cobalamin, methylcobalamin, hydroxocobalamin. B-12 has been a popular vitamin due to the energy boosting properties. Biochemically, this is done by preventing a macrocytic anemia. Which occurs when RBCs (red blood cells) are too big and they can’t carry the adequate amounts of oxygen and glucose – thus causing fatigue, low energy, or poor concentration.

This condition is also known as a B12 deficiency.

Potential benefits:

• Boosts energy production
• Promotes emotional stability
• Increases mental acuteness
• Eases PMS; balances hormones
• Reduces migraine headaches
• Enhances immune and nervous system function
• Supports/improves metabolism

VITAMIN C

Also known as ascorbic acid. Vitamin C is an essential nutrient for the human body because of the immune supporting benefits. Vitamin C has been used to treat an array of different disease processes such as cold/flus, skin-care, absorption, healing mechanisms, antioxidant to promote immune health, pro-oxidant (at high doses) to combat cancer cells, and improves blood vessel integrity for better cardiovascular health.

Potential benefits

• Boosts immune system
• Potent Antioxidant
• Helps produce collagen
• Wound healing
• Improve hair, skin, and nail health
• Pro-oxidant combats cancer cells

Conclusion 

Author Bio: Dr. Jason Phan ND – Founder of LIVV Natural Health a lifestyle brand seeking to optimize health in this modern day society. Specializing in IV Vitamin Therapy, Men’s Health, PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) Regenerative Injections, PRP Facials, & Living A Life Worth Living.