We all have been told before to take our vitamins. Our parents have been giving us them throughout our development. However, once we become adults most of us do not bother to focus on our health until we start experiencing negative side effects caused by our unhealthy habits.
What Are Vitamins?
We all know we need them, but what are Vitamins? Vitamins are essential micronutrients, they are essential for a lot of bodily functions to happen properly. The nutrients that you get from vitamins help your body to carry out key functions like:
support the maintenance of skin, bone, and muscle
supporting your immune function
maintenance and repair of cells, tissues, and organs
converting food into energy
Vitamins and minerals are two of the main types of nutrients that your body needs to survive and stay healthy. Most people should get all the nutrients they need by having a varied and balanced diet.
However, some factors can make nutrients less likely to be absorbed. Age is a very common factor. As people get older all types of bodily functions slow down which makes it harder for the bodies to perform properly. Various gastrointestinal (GI) issues can also impact proper digestion and absorption, which includes vitamin and mineral absorption.
Other factors that negatively affect nutrient absorption include, but are not limited to - prescription drugs, alcohol, stress, too much caffeine, and a diet high in processed food.
Types of Vitamins
Vitamins are classified as either fat-soluble or water-soluble.
When it comes to fat-soluble vitamins, they can be stored in fatty tissue for longer periods of time. Water-soluble vitamins, on the other hand, must dissolve in water before they can be absorbed by the body, and therefore cannot be stored. Any water-soluble vitamins unused by the body are primarily lost through urine.
There are 13 essential vitamins. These are vitamins A, C, D, E, K, B, B6, B12, Biotin, Choline, Folate, Niacin, Pantothenic acid, Riboflavin, and Thiamin.
What is Inflammation?
Inflammation is a defense mechanism that helps us heal and fight infection. In the short-term, inflammation translates to the immune system’s response to trauma. When damage or foreign molecules such as bacteria and viruses are found in our body, our immune system responds by sending out a diverse array of soldier immune cells. These soldiers are responsible for defending, combatting, and healing. Their first defense phase is often referred to as ‘acute’ inflammation and disappears shortly after the wound or pathogen is taken care of.
On the other hand, when the body continues to send inflammatory cells to a region even with no outside damage - chronic inflammation sets in. Chronic Inflammation is triggered by the immune system responding to irritants or foreign compounds, often in food or the environment. With no overt symptoms, chronic inflammation is a little harder to understand or even recognize. However, science has proven that chronic, low-grade inflammation can turn into a silent killer that contributes to cardiovascular disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, and other chronic conditions.
What Causes Chronic Inflammation?
The most common reasons for chronic inflammation include:
Untreated acute inflammation - from an infection or injury
Exposure to toxins - like pollution or industrial chemicals
Autoimmune disorders where your body attacks healthy tissue.
Lifestyle factors that contribute to inflammation in the body include but are not limited to:
Drinking alcohol in excess.
Have a high body mass index (BMI) that falls within the range of obesity.
Exercising at your maximum intensity too frequently, or not exercising at all
Experiencing chronic stress.
Smoking
How Vitamins Can Help with Inflammation?
Anti-inflammatory supplements are one of the best weapons in your fight against damaging inflammation. Researchers point to certain supplements that have high anti-inflammatory potential which include:
Curcumin - is a compound found in the spice turmeric. Curcumin may help decrease inflammation in diabetes, heart disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and cancer. It also appears to be beneficial for reducing inflammation and improving symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
Resveratrol - is an antioxidant found in grapes, blueberries, and other fruits with purple skin. It’s also found in red wine, dark chocolate, and peanuts. It’s been widely studied for its anti-inflammatory potential in people with chronic conditions like liver disease, obesity, and ulcerative colitis (UC). In many studies resveratrol supplements also lowered inflammatory markers, triglycerides, and blood sugar in people with obesity.
Vitamin D - is an essential fat-soluble nutrient that plays a crucial role in immune health and may have some powerful anti-inflammatory properties. According to the research, low levels of vitamin D in the body are associated with the presence of inflammation.
Vitamin C - is an essential vitamin that plays a prominent role in immunity and inflammation. It’s a powerful antioxidant, so it can reduce inflammation by neutralizing free radicals that cause oxidative damage to your cells.
Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) - is an antioxidant naturally produced in the body in small amounts, and found in some foods, mainly red meat or organ meats. ALA has proven antioxidant activities. Studies have shown that ALA significantly reduces levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and other markers of inflammation, and it’s particularly beneficial in protecting against chronic inflammation linked with heart disease, liver disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s.
MSM (methylsulfonylmethane)- a sulfur-containing compound found in garlic, onions, and protein-rich foods, blunts the release of inflammatory chemicals and seems to be especially useful for rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, muscle soreness, and lower back pain. Multiple studies show MSM significantly reduces inflammation, lessens pain, decreases stiffness and swelling in the joints, and improves mobility and function.
Quercetin - is a flavonoid that is found naturally in many fruits and vegetables that can help lower inflammation. You may have heard about quercetin supplements more in the news lately since it’s undergoing studies for the potential to help COVID-19 patients. It it looks like it may have some properties that reduce the inflammatory cascade in coronavirus. It’s also helpful for people who suffer from allergies and chronic sinusitis.
Vitamin E - is packed with antioxidants and it boosts your immune system. Since immune health and functionality are the cause of inflammation, boosting vitamin E can ease inflammation. If you have rheumatoid arthritis, you might find it helps manage pain.
Zinc - your whole body needs this micronutrient, which can help ward off inflammation.
IV Therapy for Inflammation
Vitamin IV therapy allows various critical nutrients to be administered to the body intravenously which allows them to bypass the digestive system. The digestive system is where a lot of nutrients get lost and wasted. Poor digestion is the cause of a lot of deficiencies, especially in individuals with various gastrointestinal issues.
Many people may turn to biological medications when seeking relief from certain ailments. These medicines are made from living organisms such as plants, animal cells, and microorganisms, and they create proteins the body needs to reduce the production of harmful cells. However, many of the proteins used in biological medicines deteriorate and become void of any beneficial properties while traveling through your digestive system, IV therapy is an excellent alternative for receiving the same benefits. When intravenous nutrients disperse directly into your bloodstream they can act fast to assist your body to regain control over inflammation.
Dealing with chronic inflammation is not simple—but a smart move for your overall health. Keep in mind that supplements are the “extra credit” of your health and lifestyle plan—they can’t make up for poor overall lifestyle choices. While IV drips are a more immediate way to decrease the harmful side effects of inflammation, keeping your diet healthy and exercising consistently will help reduce inflammation on a more long-term basis.
Do you have redness, swelling, pain, or even a loss of function in different limbs of your body? These are all the common symptoms and signs of inflammation. Unfortunately, similar signs can be found in vitamin deficiencies as well. Are inflammation and vitamin deficiencies correlated? This is a question that could lead way to a natural way of healing or alleviating the pain caused by inflammation.
We all want to live longer, which means that dietary ideas and restrictions should be in everyone’s mindset when creating a healthy way of living.
If you are looking for an alternative way of inflammation relief, please call us
at 224-372-3747
At Rejuvii, we work with you to customize an IV therapy infusion that addresses each one of your needs.
Visit our website, learn about us here, and contact us with any questions or to make an appointment.
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