As an integrative practitioner of family medicine, in addition to working with chronically ill people using IV nutritional therapy, I work with athletes to improve their performance and to speed their recovery and even to regenerate smoother and healthier skin.

In today’s society, it feels like we are always on the go and oftentimes we forget to take care of ourselves.  As a by-product of our busy lives, we fall into the pattern of poor nutrition, improper sleep, lack of sleep and lack of physical activity until before we know it we look in the mirror and see all the signs of premature aging.

shutterstock_223518646Premature aging shows up in the form of skin elasticity, weight gain, anxiety, depression, skin problems, fatigue, digestive disorders and chronic illness.  To help slow down the aging process and retain that youthful glow, it is best to eliminate as many obstacles to cure as possible and replenish your body with vitamins, minerals, amino acids and anti-oxidants.  Currently one of the most plausible and acceptable explanations for the mechanistic basis of aging is the “Free Radical Theory”, which hypothesizes that aging and its related diseases are the consequences of free radical induced damage to cells and the inability to counterbalance these changes by anti-oxidant defenses.  In a normal situation, a balanced equilibrium exists among oxidants and antioxidants.  Excess generation of free radicals may overwhelm natural cellular antioxidant defenses leading to cellular functional impairment of regeneration of skin cells and collagen support. Here are some anti-oxidants that, once given in high concentration and in a short amount of time, can help your body fight off free radial oxidants:

vitamin-cAscorbic Acid (Vitamin C) – A potent antioxidant that increases extracellular collagen production and is important for proper immune cell function.  Without proper levels of Vitamin C, free radicals damage the collagen necessary for cell wall growth leading to skin dryness and wrinkles.

Glutathione (GSH) – Perhaps the body’s most powerful antioxidant and detoxifying agent.  It is essential to eliminating toxins from the body, keeping disease at bay, maintaining youth and sustaining wellness. As we grow older, the levels of glutathione drop and the ability of the body to detoxify free radicals decreases at a rate of 1% each year after 20 years of age.

Vitamin B Complex – This refers to most of the essential B vitamins such as Thiamine (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Niacin (B3), Pantothenic acid (B5) and Pyridoxine (B6).  Additional B vitamins such as Methylcobalamin (B12) and Biotin (B7) are added separately to our IV formulas at higher concentrations.

dripBenefits of IV nutrition are immeasurable and there is very little risk.  Some of these benefits include hydration, rejuvenation of the skin, cleansing vital organs, preventing and reversing the effects of free radical damage.  IV administration of nutrients can achieve blood concentration not obtainable orally, or even through intramuscular injection.  IV nutrient therapy may be more effective for correcting nutrient deficits inside cells, where they are most needed.  When treating patients with IV nutrients, some patients get progressively better and after a series of treatments no longer require therapy.  However this also highly depends on the level of stressors that cause oxidative damage, such as stress, lack of proper sleep, lack of exercise or proper whole food nutrition.

Remember Beauty is more than just skin deep.