You’ve likely heard about the health benefits of antioxidants from our IV therapy Toronto providers – and this has to do with something called oxidative stress. 

What exactly is this? And how does it affect optimal functioning and long-term health? The Toronto Functional Medicine Centre (TFMC) explains this below. 

What is oxidative stress?

First, we have to discuss what free radicals and antioxidants are. Free radicals are unstable atoms known to cause cellular damage in the human body, and it’s been thought that they can encourage the formation of some conditions, such as diabetes, poor skin health, autoimmune diseases, and more. You can become exposed to free radicals through cigarette smoke, toxins (i.e. air pollution, chemicals), radiation, excessive alcohol intake, eating processed food, ongoing elevated stress, and fried foods. 

Antioxidants, on the other hand, help prevent the damaging effects of free radicals. “Vitamins C, and E, glutathione, beta-carotene, and plant estrogens called phytoestrogens are among the many antioxidants that may cancel out the effects of free radicals,” confirms Medical News Today. 

Oxidative stress is defined as the imbalance between antioxidants and free radicals in the body. This disparity makes it difficult to regulate the buildup of free radicals, and as a result, oxidative stress can set off the damaging effects of DNA, proteins, and more. 

How it affects the human body

According to a paper from Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, “A large amount of studies demonstrates that … free radicals contribute to initiation and progression of several pathologies, ranging from CVD [cardiovascular disease] to cancer.”

When left untreated in the body, severe oxidative stress can damage cells and DNA, while triggering chronic inflammation. There’s a chance that oxidative stress is affecting you if you experience these indicators:  

• • Decline in mental clarity (i.e. brain fog, memory issues)
  • Chronic fatigue, poor energy levels
  • Muscle and/or joint pain
  • Persistent infections

Between poor cellular health and disproportionate amounts of inflammation, this can result in what the journal Antioxidants calls an internal “pro-inflammatory” environment. 

Due to antioxidants not capable of fighting free radicals, oxidative stress can become the origin of various degenerative and chronic conditions; this may progressively form into cancers, diabetes, stroke, heart disease, Parkinson’s, depression, arthritis, and more. 

But by becoming aware of how to manage this issue with antioxidant properties, lifestyle modifications, and integrative functional medicine tools, you could promote wellness improvements. Read the next section to start reducing oxidative stress on your own.  

Recommended Reading: Our IV Therapy Toronto Lounge Presents: 7 Factors That Can Weaken Immune Health

Tips to lessen oxidative stress

1. 1. Improve your dietary intake of fruits and vegetables: Fruits and vegetables contain major antioxidants, such as polyphenols, glutathione, selenium, alpha lipoic acid, ascorbic acid, and more. So instead of a sweet, sugary dessert after dinner, why not have a fresh fruit salad instead? Consult with a holistic nutritionist for a tailored nutritional protocol. 
   2. Make healthy lifestyle changes: Alcohol and cigarette smoke (including second-hand smoke) can heighten free radicals and oxidative stress in the body. Try healthy avenues instead for stress management, such as yoga, tai chi, acupuncture, or meditation. 
   3. Talk to your healthcare provider about oral supplementation: Oral antioxidants could contribute to managing free radical-related damages. In one study, it was shown that six months of vitamin E supplementation (taken by vitamin-deficient participants) improved … “the antioxidant/oxidant balance in plasma, LDL particles, and red blood cells…,” which was confirmed in the journal Free Radical Research. Please talk to a functional medicine healthcare provider before buying any antioxidant supplements, though, as some may come with medication interactions.  
   4. Consider adjunctive vitamin IV therapy: If you want to ensure you get your full dosage/absorption of vitamins and antioxidants, intravenous infusions (IV drip therapy) may be part of a custom treatment plan. Oral capsules can boost your antioxidant levels, but you’ll continue to lose amounts of nutrients through the digestive process. IV nutrient therapy – taken as an additional supportive tool – does not replace your regular oral supplementation and is dispensed in combination with the oral route. An IV drip allows a formula to enter your veins and blood stream, and does not need the digestive tract for use. The intravenous route promises you the full doses of nutrients without losing any dosages through digestion. In fact, when IV therapy drips are combined with a healthy lifestyle and other treatment modalities, they could foster optimal health.   

How can you reduce oxidative stress in your body? Contact us for a complete diagnostic session, and we’ll start adapting your treatment service.

How to get a customized treatment plan at the TFMC

A tailored treatment plan can support positive effects on your longevity. Because we treat you as an individual patient, our personalized approach to wellness centres on your biological needs only. 

TFMC therapies may be adapted for numerous health concerns and health goals, especially those linked to immune health, brain function, athletic performance, liver detoxification, muscle recovery, whole-body inflammation, energy production, blood sugar levels, skin health, enhanced mood, and more. 

We adhere to the integrative functional medicine model, which is how we can uniquely tailor different therapies, including therapeutic doses of IV drips. Your personal health plan may include a wide range of strategies, such as allopathic medicine, naturopathic medicine, holistic nutrition, herbal/nutraceutical recommendations, hormone replacement therapies, and more. If need be, we can also “top up” your nutrition regiment with intravenous therapy, which can be fused into your treatment plan and administered in our IV Lounge. 

IV therapy drips are designed to meet your hydration and nourishing health needs on a cellular level, and may reduce unwanted side effects that may occur from ingesting oral supplementation. Inside our IV Lounge, each nutritional drip session is closely supervised for safety and comfort. You’re always welcome to ask about our vitamin IV menu, which contains a medley of amino acids, glutamic acid, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, folic acid, and other essential nutrients.

Note: an initial consultation is mandatory to receive your first custom-made IV drip from us, as we need to determine which natural ingredients to use for your intravenous drip. This session will involve a lengthy discussion on your medical history, genetics, lifestyle/environmental surroundings, health goals, and more. We will also discuss lab testing to verify your body’s oxidative stress, nutritional deficiency, levels of vitamins that you’re lacking, etc. These results help us tailor your intravenous treatment just for you!

Do you need help achieving optimal functioning? Let’s talk about oxidative stress and your health – call us to book your initial visit for our IV Therapy Toronto Lounge. 

Disclaimer: The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. You should always consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of information you have read from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre website or other affiliate media. 

 

References

“Antioxidants” from the Nutrition Source, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, viewed on Decembe 11, 2023.  

“How do free radicals affect the body?” Medical News Today, medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT — By Zawn Villines on July 29, 2017, viewed on December 7, 2023. 

Lobo V, Patil A, Phatak A, Chandra N. Free radicals, antioxidants and functional foods: Impact on human health. Pharmacogn Rev. 2010 Jul;4(8):118-26. doi: 10.4103/0973-7847.70902. PMID: 22228951; PMCID: PMC3249911.

Luisa Tesoriere, Daniele D’Arpa, Daniela Butera, Mario Allegra, Disma Renda, Aurelio Maggio, Antonino Bongiorno & Maria A. Livrea (2001) Oral supplements of vitamin E improve measures of oxidative stress in plasma and reduce oxidative damage to LDL and erythrocytes in β-thalassemia intermedia patients, Free Radical Research, 34:5, 529-540, DOI: 10.1080/10715760100300461

Minich DM, Brown BI. A Review of Dietary (Phyto)Nutrients for Glutathione Support. Nutrients. 2019 Sep 3;11(9):2073. doi: 10.3390/nu11092073. PMID: 31484368; PMCID: PMC6770193.

Pizzino G, Irrera N, Cucinotta M, Pallio G, Mannino F, Arcoraci V, Squadrito F, Altavilla D, Bitto A. Oxidative Stress: Harms and Benefits for Human Health. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2017;2017:8416763. doi: 10.1155/2017/8416763. Epub 2017 Jul 27. PMID: 28819546; PMCID: PMC5551541.

Poljsak B. Strategies for reducing or preventing the generation of oxidative stress. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2011;2011:194586. doi: 10.1155/2011/194586. Epub 2011 Dec 10. PMID: 22191011; PMCID: PMC3236599.

Sies, H. (2019). Oxidative Stress: Eustress and Distress in Redox Homeostasis. Stress: Physiology, Biochemistry, and Pathology, 153-163. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-813146-6.00013-8

Vona, R., Pallotta, L., Cappelletti, M., Severi, C., & Matarrese, P. (2021). The Impact of Oxidative Stress in Human Pathology: Focus on Gastrointestinal Disorders. Antioxidants, 10(2), 201. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10020201