I’d like to think that I take pretty good care of my body. I try to eat as many vegetables as possible, I make an effort to exercise 3-4 times a week, and I am an expert sleeper. But lately I’ve been feeling sluggish. And not the “you should have gone to bed on time not stayed up to finish Yellowstone” sluggish, more like “I’m doing everything I’m supposed to, why do I feel so run down?”

This got me to thinking about body hacks and the current interest in evaluating our bodies from the inside out. Figuring out the “why” is the key to the foundation of your wellness and as I was researching potential causes for my sudden onset lethargy I came across an option I hadn’t even considered.

Vitamin deficiency.

Am I the only one who didn’t realize that if I don’t get enough vitamin D I might start feeling listless and irritable? Did you know that a vitamin D deficiency has been linked to heart disease? And what about folic acid and B12? Did you know that a deficiency of those can lead to fatigue, shortness of breath, and dizziness? In some cases, a vitamin deficiency can even manifest into something more visible like brittle hair and nails or even bone pain and muscle weakness.

So my first question (and probably yours too) is how do we even determine if we have a vitamin deficiency?

Lucky for us, the answer is a micronutrient test. With a simple finger prick, IVitamin can measure your levels on 38 different micronutrients and get you thorough results within 10 days. What’s more, once you are able to determine what you need, the amazing staff can set you up with personalized IV therapy to address your deficiencies. And yes, you should take advantage of IV therapy for this, because while a change in your diet is wonderful for long term, IV therapy is fantastic for feeling better quicker since your body is able to absorb the nutrients at a higher rate than in your food. I still shout about B12 shots from the rooftops because of the fantastic results I felt immediately after mine.

Ok but what caused my vitamin deficiencies?

As it turns out, low levels of vitamins can be caused by a multitude of factors including an improper diet, absorption issues within your body, or just simply aging. Other causes can be more series and should be discussed with your doctor based on what your micronutrient test says. Additionally, some lifestyle choices can increase your need for certain vitamins, like smoking or drinking alcohol regularly. Heavy drinking depletes vitamin B12 due to its diuretic effect as well as the damage to your gut that it can cause so always keep that in mind when you’re putting a new health plan into effect. You don’t want to implement a bunch of wonderful steps to a healthier you and keep something that reduces the benefits of all that hard work.

 

I’m worried that I might have a vitamin deficiency. What are my options?

1. Improve your diet. Many vitamins your body requires are found in common foods. Vitamins like B-12 are most commonly found in proteins like beef, fish, and chicken but can also be found in milk, cheese, and yogurt. Folate, a B-vitamin that helps to form healthy blood cells, can be found in broccoli, spinach, and bananas, just to name a few. A full list of foods rich in B12 can be found here and a list of foods rich in folic acid can be found here.

 

2. Take a walk in the sunshine. The mental health TikToks are taking off for a reason. Dragging yourself out into the fresh air and sun are the ideal way to get your Vitamin D. Still not convinced? Vitamin D is essential in the development of your bones and teeth as well as your immune system. Talk about essential.

 

3. Get tested. This is an option I didn’t even know I had until about ten minutes ago. Make an appointment, get your finger pricked, and receive a full consultation with a Nurse Practitioner at IVitamin to discuss getting those levels back to a healthy spot.

 

“Something to keep in mind is that the foundation for your well-being comes from inside so low levels of vitally important nutrients can slow recovery, hinder your immune system, and in some cases give you an overwhelming feeling of exhaustion” says Pharmacist and Co-Founder Jana Gavin. Healing yourself from the inside out ensures that you have the essential building blocks for the rest of your health and wellness to build upon. So ensuring that you are getting the correct amount of vitamins, the suggested hours of sleep, and the proper nutrition will improve your quality of life exponentially.

Ready to get tested and start healing your body from the inside out? IVitamin is giving away a free IV with every micronutrient test and 25% off your supplements recommended in your consult because they understand the importance of addressing these deficiencies with some of the most powerful tools available. This offer is valid the first three months of 2022 so make your appointment today!

 

Want to learn more? Give IVitamin a call at (512) 275-6448

We now have two locations to proudly serve the Austin area:

Downtown (515 S. Congress)

North Austin (2700 W Anderson Lane #227)