IV Drip for Energy
IV Drip for Energy
An IV Drip for energy is one of the more requested IVs that we do in our Toronto IV Lounge.
This article will share:
- How an IV Drip for Energy works for you
- What goes into your IV Drip and why it can help you
- We’re going to talk about the causes and symptoms of chronic low energy
- We’re going to get a little technical on how are cells make energy and the mighty mitochondria
Before you get into this article, if at anytime you want to speak to one of our Toronto Naturopathic Doctors about an IV Drip, we have a free consultation call available. Click here to book one..
Is “I’m so tired” consistently a part of your daily vocabulary? Fatigue and low energy are one of the most common complaints we hear at our Naturopathic clinic. Our busy lifestyles and constant on the go schedules, running from one place to another often leaving our gas tanks empty.
People will often say that they need that extra cup of coffee in the afternoon just to make it through the day. Some people identify feelings of physical exhaustion, stating that they just want to lie down on the couch after work, and feel like they can’t get up the remainder of the night.
Others identify feelings of mental exhaustion, that feeling of “blah”, a lack of motivation, brain fog, and feel like they are going through life on auto-pilot.
It’s Not Normal To Feel Tired All The Time
Sometimes fatigue can be temporary, because maybe you lost some sleep with a sick child, or trying to finish a project at work, or maybe were battling a cold and just feel a little sluggish.
However, constantly feeling like you’re running on empty can be a sign that a deeper root cause is at play.
IV drip therapy can help provide you with the vitamins, minerals, and targeted nutrients you need to replenish your energy stores. IV therapy bypasses the digestive system, and is delivered directly to your blood stream so that cells can get the boost of energy they need quickly.
How an IV Drip can help boost energy
IV therapy formulas can specifically be made to replenish nutrients, and the helpers that mitochondria need to function properly. This may include B vitamins, Vitamin C, carefully selected amino acids, minerals, and antioxidants. Not only can this provide all the helpers our mitochondria need to produce energy, but it can also correct for any overall underlying deficiencies so our cells are healthy and happy.
In addition, glutathione, the master antioxidant, can neutralize harmful free radicals to help prevent further damage to our cells, while also assisting detoxification pathways in the liver.
At Higher Health, our Naturopathic Doctors have specialized training to customize an IV formula specific to your needs, and to help boost energy, taking action against low energy. You don’t have to continue relying on coffee to just make it through the day.
What Would Go Into Your IV Therapy Drip for Energy?
We start with a Higher Health base bag which includes:
Vitamin C
Magnesium
B Vitamins
Amino Acids (which promote cellular repair and optimal function)
From there we add on the nutrients to target more energy! The amazing thing about IV Drip therapy, is that when we’re targeting more energy, you’re also getting nutrients that help with your immune health, sleep, brain fog, digestion, pain relief and quite a few other conditions!
Here are the add ons to your IV Drip for Energy.
Additional Vitamin C – Vitamin C is a strong antioxidant and prevents our DNA from damage. By supporting detoxification in the body, it ensures the health of our cells where we can utilize energy more efficiently.
B5 – Vitamin B5 is essential for producing energy from food in the form of ATP. It plays a role in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins, which provide us with energy.
B6 – Vitamin B6 is a cofactor in several pathways in our bodies, meaning we use it for a variety of functions. It plays a role in energy production by supporting the production of ATP.
Carnitine – Carnitine works as a shuttle where it transports fatty acids into the mitochondria (the part of the cell where we house our energy) for cellular respiration. It helps metabolize ketones and convert amino acids into energy for our bodies.
Amino Acids – Branched-chain amino acids are essential nutrients that our muscles break down to supply our bodies with energy. We require adequate levels of amino acids to provide our tissues with energy.
NAC – By replenishing glutathione levels in the body, N-acetyl-cysteine supports the antioxidant pathway which helps clear oxidants from the body. When oxidants are built up, they can cause fatigue as a symptom.
Glutathione – Glutathione is our master antioxidant that helps clear free radicals (oxidants) from the body. Similar to the function of NAC, glutathione neutralizes oxidants which results in more energy available to our cells.
What Are The Root Causes of Low Energy Anyways?:
There are several reasons why you may be feeling fatigued, and/or that have less get up and go compared to your usual self.
Some of these include:
- Poor diet and exercise habits
- Medications
- Anemia (Iron, B12, folate deficiency)
- Illness or weakened immune system
- Chronic pain (ie fibromyalgia)
- Mental health concerns (anxiety, depression)
- Mitochondrial dysfunction
- Stress
- Sleep disorders
- Thyroid disorders
Your Toronto Naturopathic Doctor will complete a full assessment, and detailed history to identify what may be cause of your fatigue. They can customize your IV drip therapy treatment with carefully selected nutrients to replenish and supplement according to your health concerns.
Symptoms of Low Energy and Fatigue:
When someone has low energy the first thing that comes to mind are exhaustion, and the desire to sleep. However, there are a plethora of symptoms one can experience.
These can include:
- Lack of concentration or focus
- Brain fog
- A tendency to drift off during the day
- Headaches
- Moodiness including irritability
- Muscle aches and pains
- Muscle weakness
- Unrefreshed sleep upon waking
- Impaired decision making and judgement
- Chronic tiredness or sleepiness
How Our Cells Make Energy
Our bodies make energy in form of something called ATP. ATP is the molecule that the body uses as energy currency in every cell, like spending money to buy food, gas, clothes, etc. This molecule is made by what is known as the powerhouse of the cell, the mitochondria.
Think of mitochondria as tiny energy producing organelles, that live in each and every one of our cells, with their own DNA and protective cell membrane. Some cells that use a lot of energy, like muscle cells, have thousands of mitochondria, where other cells have only hundreds such as the skin.
We need our mitochondria to be working optimally, in order for ours bodies to function properly and to have the energy it needs to work at its best. Mitochondrial dysfunction is often at the root of low energy and fatigue. Even a slight decrease in the production of energy from our mitochondria can produce symptoms like physical weakness, fatigue, and brain fog.
Mitochondria take macronutrients (fats, carbohydrates, proteins) from the food we eat, and convert it into the energy currency, ATP, through what’s known as the Krebs Cycle, and the Electron Transport Chain.
These two processes are complex biochemical reactions that occur in our cells, involving many steps, enzymes and co-factors. Co-factors are like helpers, and they help the enzymes at each step of the way to be able to do their job and continue through the cycle. Without these cofactors, all comes to a halt and adequate energy cannot be made.
Which Helpers are Needed for the Mitochondria to Make Energy?
- B vitamins, but especially B1, B2 and B3
- Magnesium
- Zinc
- Manganese
- Glutathione (the master antioxidant)
- NAD
- Alpha Lipoic Acid
- Carnitine
What can impair mitochondrial function?
Medications, Pesticides, Plastics and Toxins:
Certain medications and things like pesticides, plastics, and toxins need to be modified by the liver in order to be eliminated in the body. This process is called “Phase 1” detoxification, involves a family of enzymes called Cytochrome P450 and takes place in the mitochondrial membrane and endoplasmic reticulum. Some of these substances inhibit the family of P450 enzymes, while others promote it.
When there is an imbalance in this system, it uses a lot of energy and can cause excessive oxidation. Oxidation damages mitochondria, affecting their primary responsibility of producing energy for the cells.
Heavy Metal Exposure:
Heavy metals are things like mercury, lead, aluminum, cadmium, and arsenic. These specific metals inhibit the Kreb’s cycle in the mitochondria. Recall, Kreb’s cycle is one of the most important biochemical processes the mitochondria uses to help produce energy. In addition to that, heavy metals also increase reactive oxygen species which can further damage the mitochondrial membrane, and subsequently energy production.
Free Radical Damage:
When cells need more energy, the mitochondria step up to the plate, working in overdrive and in turn can become overworked. Think about this in times of stress, your body in a constant fight or flight, requiring excess energy to keep it going. When you’re younger, mitochondria can divide and replicate quickly, in an attempt to increase energy demands. However, over prolonged periods of stress, or as we grow older, the mitochondria can’t keep up. They become burnt out.
They start to break down. They can begin to “leak” electrons across their membranes as they become damaged, leading to the formation of free radicals and reactive oxygen species. As mentioned earlier, reactive oxygen species can further damage the mitochondria, ultimately leading mitochondria that are ineffective energy producers. In addition, we know that reactive oxygen species can also wreak havoc elsewhere in the body.
References:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0197458015004728
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12891154/
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-13668-3
https://www.health.harvard.edu/topics/energy-and-fatigue
https://www.health.harvard.edu/promotions/harvard-health-publications/boosting-your-energy
https://www.webmd.com/balance/features/energy-boosting-supplements