IV Elements: A Hoboken Go-To for Vitamin Drips this Summer

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Alternative medicine has become a popular field that uses non-traditional healing practices for different health conditions. IV Elements, a mobile holistic IV therapy company in downtown Hoboken, provides access to alternative medicine across New Jersey and Manhattan (they even have an Asbury Park location for all our Jersey Shore goers). Located at 89 Hudson Street, Suite 205, this woman-founded business works with functional medicine practitioners to provide a holistic approach to every client. Read on to learn more about IV Elements + its services.

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All About IV Elements + Its New Location

Started in December 2018 by Rebecca LaMarca, APN and functional medicine practitioner, IV Elements provides an array of alternative medicine treatments to clients with various conditions, such as acute and chronic infections, inflammation, heart disease, diabetes, anxiety, depression, mold issues, cancer, addiction, infertility, hyperemesis (pregnant mothers), and more.

IV Elements is a mobile holistic IV therapy company providing access to alternative medicine options servicing Hoboken and Hudson County along with all of NJ and NYC,” said LaMarca. “Our nurses come to you wherever you are, either at home, work, an event, or you can come to one of our locations.”

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IV Elements, which is moving into a new storefront in Asbury Park this November, currently has three locations: Hoboken, Ridgewood, and Asbury Park. The company is a la carte with all of its vitamins separate, allowing clients to pick and choose their own cocktails.

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Operating a Rewarding Business

When asked about the best part of working at IV Elements, LaMarca highlighted the positive impact they’re making on clients who battle debilitating ailments.

“Seeing these success stories firsthand is the most rewarding part,” she said. “We successfully detoxed clients off heroin, opiates, and alcohol with our NAD programs. Two of our cancer clients are in remission from breast cancer, who received high-dose Vitamin C, mistletoe therapy, ozone therapy, and chelation therapy.”

Additionally, LaMarca noted that many clients experience more energy, less brain fog, lower anxiety, brighter skin, better sleep, weight loss, decreased viral loads, and overall higher quality of life — especially for those with chronic conditions.

iv elements

CHOOSE YOUR COCKTAIL

Providing High-Quality, Functional Care

IV Elements provides consistent, functional care by employing full-time nurses who have ER/critical care experience. The team also collaborates with other functional medicine doctors to create personalized treatment programs for each client, analyzing their medical histories, and working with their other providers.

“I’m always learning,” said LaMarca. “Keeping up to date with courses, conferences, and articles is key not only for my clients but the nursing staff and company itself. This year already, I have met and learned from the top naturopathic doctors in the U.S. offering mistletoe therapy.”

iv elements

In terms of the business’s future, LaMarca hopes to increase its services and options for clients while continuing to provide high-quality IV infusions.

“We want to pride ourselves on not being a typical medispa or hangover IV company, yet an alternative medicine company offering IV vitamin drips

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Vitamin D supplements linked to 40% lower incidence

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Scientists say there may be an interesting link between vitamin D supplements and dementia. Anastasiia Stiahailo/Getty Images
  • Researchers assessed the association between vitamin D supplementation and the incidence of dementia.
  • They found that vitamin D supplementation was linked to a lower dementia incidence.
  • Further studies are needed to certify the results.

Over 55 million people live with dementia worldwide, which is expected to rise to 139 million by 2050. There are currently no medications that can stop or reverse the condition.

Interventions that can affect dementia risk factors are being explored to slow disease progression. One such risk factor is vitamin D deficiency.

Some studies have found that vitamin D may aid the clearance of amyloid beta aggregates—one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, studies have produced conflicting results on whether vitamin D improves cognitive function.

Other studies show that low vitamin D levels are linked to a greater risk of dementia and AD.

Further studying the link between vitamin D supplementation and cognitive decline could help develop preventative strategies for dementia.

Recently, researchers assessed the link between vitamin D supplementation and incident dementia. They found that vitamin D supplementation is linked to lower incidence of dementia.

The study was published in Alzheimer’s and Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring.

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from 12,388 people from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center, who were dementia-free at the start of the study. Their average age was 71 years old.

Altogether, 37% of the cohort took at least one of three vitamin D supplements: calcium-vitamin D, cholecalciferol, and ergocalciferol.

In their analyses, the researchers also accounted for demographic, clinical, and genetic variables, such as depression and APOE ε4 status—a gene variant linked to a higher risk of dementia.

After five years, the researchers found that 83.6% of those exposed to vitamin D supplements were alive and dementia-free. The same was true for 68.4% of those not exposed to vitamin D.

Within 10 years, the researchers found that 22% of participants developed dementia, of which 74.8% were not exposed to vitamin D supplements.

Whereas 14.6% of those with vitamin D exposure progressed to dementia, the same was true for 26% of those with no vitamin D exposure.

After adjusting for factors including cognitive diagnosis, depression, and APOE ε4 status, they found that vitamin D exposure was linked to a 40% lower incidence of dementia compared to no exposure.

Women see more benefit

The effects were strongest among women: women exposed to vitamin D were 49% less likely to develop dementia than those without exposure. Vitamin D-exposed men were 26% less likely to develop dementia than non-exposed men.

The researchers also found that depression was linked to a 35% higher incidence of dementia.

While findings were consistent for each vitamin D formulation, they noted that vitamin D supplements had the greatest effects on individuals with normal cognition as opposed to mild cognitive impairment and APOE ε4 non-carriers versus carriers.

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Foods That Support Digestion and Help You Feel Great!

It’s not just what we eat but how our body digests that food that leaves a lasting impression on our health and well-being. If you’re like most people, especially with the holiday season fast approaching, you’ve probably been under more stress than usual and have likely struggled to balance your diet and manage your stress levels. However, much care you take in planning your meals, it can be challenging to find the time or motivation to cook wholesome meals every day. As a result many of us find ourselves reaching out for takeaways, eating at cafes, or ordering delivery more often than we would like. This constant exposure to rich and processed foods is bound to have an adverse effect on our bodies over time. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to help support digestion and feel great in the process…

Add a Little Bit of Fiber to Your Diet

Fiber is a type of carbohydrate found naturally in a variety of foods including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains. When consumed, it helps to promote healthy digestion due to its ability to absorb water and form a gel-like substance that stimulates peristaltic action in the digestive tract, pushing food and waste through the system more quickly and efficiently. While some of us may be getting enough fiber in our diets, many of us are not. The recommended daily intake is 38 grams for men and 25 grams for women, yet the average intake globally is only around 15 grams. A low-fiber diet can lead to constipation and an increased risk of developing hemorrhoids. In addition to making you feel sluggish, these symptoms can also be a sign that your body isn’t digesting food properly. Boosting your fiber intake can help to naturally relieve constipation and promote regularity, and can also help to stabilize blood sugar levels and maintain healthy cholesterol levels.

Go for Dark Leafy Greens

Dark leafy greens, like kale and spinach, are packed with vitamins and minerals, plus they’re also a great source of fiber. In fact, one serving of greens (around two cups) can contain as much as 10 grams of fiber, which makes them a perfect food for promoting healthy digestion. Greens are also rich in magnesium, a mineral responsible for releasing and secreting enzymes in the digestive system that help break down food, especially proteins. If you’re not eating your greens already, there’s no better time to start than right now. Not only can the fiber found in greens support the efficient breakdown and absorption of nutrients in your body, they are also rich in antioxidants and can help to protect your digestive system against damage caused by free radicals and environmental toxins. Taking nutrient dense supplements like Quercetin is also highly effective.

Boost Your Gut with Probiotics

Probiotics are found naturally in fermented foods like miso, kimchi, tempeh, and yogurt. They are also easily added to smoothies and salads, and can come in supplement form. The friendly bacteria found in these probiotic foods and … Read More...

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Do vitamin D supplements reduce cancer, cardiovascular risk?

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A new study searches for links between vitamin D supplements, cancer, and heart disease. Raymond Forbes LLC/Stocksy
  • Initial research has suggested that vitamin D may reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and cancer.
  • However, there have been few large, higher-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to corroborate this.
  • A recent RCT examined the effects of vitamin D supplementation in Finland.
  • It found no association between vitamin D supplementation and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease or cancer.

Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, which improves bone strength. Among other roles, it also contributes to the functioning of muscles, nerves, and the immune system.

Many scientists have set out to understand how vitamin D deficiency and supplementation may influence disease. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is some evidence that vitamin D may help protect against respiratory tract infections, for example.

Over the past 2 years, researchers have also explored whether vitamin D reduces the risks associated with COVID-19. Although investigations are ongoing, there seems to be some evidence that these supplements might improve intensive care unit admission rates.

Two other areas of particular interest are vitamin D’s potential effects on cardiovascular disease and cancer risk. However, few RCTs have looked into this. These types of studies are the gold standard for identifying causal relationships in scientific research.

A recent study, which appears in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, goes some way toward addressing this knowledge gap.

Speaking with Medical News Today, Vimal Karani, a professor of nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics at the University of Reading, in the United Kingdom, confirmed that there has been a gap between the initial research and findings from clinical trials.

Prof. Karani was not involved in the recent study but has worked with some of its authors.

He explained that past large epidemiological studies “have established a link between vitamin D deficiency and the risk of [cardiovascular disease] traits in various ethnic groups.” This, he said, suggests that vitamin D supplements might lower cardiovascular risk.

“However,” he continued, “clinical trials have not provided convincing evidence of the blood pressure-lowering effect of vitamin D supplementation.”

Prof. Karani said that there could be a wide range of reasons for this, including “differences in the sample size, duration of supplementation, dose of the supplementation, age of the participants, geographical location, sun exposure, and the outcome measures. Further research is required to replicate the findings in multiple ethnic groups.”

To provide further evidence of the relationship between vitamin D, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, the researchers behind the present study conducted the Finnish Vitamin D Trial.

This took place between 2012 and 2018, and it was double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled.

“When we started to plan the trial, there was a lot of evidence from observational studies that vitamin D deficiency would be associated with nearly all major chronic diseases, such as [cardiovascular disease], cancer, type 2 diabetes, and also mortality,” said Dr. Jyrki Virtanen in an interview with Medical

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A new study reveals the importance of vitamin D on heart health

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Vitamin D status may help assess cardiovascular risk. Cyndi Monaghan/Getty Images
  • Vitamin D, also known as the “sunshine” vitamin, is a fat-soluble vitamin that exists in two main forms: D-2 and D-3.
  • As an essential micronutrient and one that is primarily derived from sunlight, vitamin D is important for the development of bones and teeth and the regular functioning of the immune system.
  • Beyond these functions, previous studies suggest an association between low vitamin D levels and a higher likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease.
  • In a new study, researchers have established that it is worthwhile to check vitamin D levels when assessing a person’s cardiovascular risk.

Worldwide, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are one of the leading causes of death. Every year, an estimated 17.9 million people around the world die as a result of complications from heart diseases. For context, this means that CVDs are responsible for 32% of all deaths globally.

Prior studies show that various factors — such as several health conditions, age, family history, diet, and lifestyle — combine to influence the risk of developing CVD.

Using a novel analytical approach, researchers in Australia have discovered an additional factor that may increase a person’s likelihood of CVD.

Lead author Prof. Elina Hyppönen, director of the Australian Centre for Precision Health at the University of South Australia Cancer Research Institute, outlined the results of the study for Medical News Today,

“We found evidence that vitamin D deficiency can increase blood pressure and the risk of CVD.”

“However,” she added, “increasing vitamin D concentrations will only be helpful for those participants who ‘need it,’ and further benefits from elevating concentrations beyond the nutritional requirement are going to be modest, if they exist.”

The results from the study appear in the European Heart Journal.

In the recent study, the researchers set out to investigate whether there is a relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, or 25(OH)D, and the risk of developing CVD.

Serum 25(OH)D levels are an established marker for vitamin D status.

To test their hypothesis, the researchers employed a specific analytical method to analyze data from UK Biobank — a large prospective cohort study of the United Kingdom’s population aged 37–73 years.

The participants were recruited from 22 assessment centers across the U.K. between March 13, 2006, and October 1, 2009. They filled out questionnaires providing broad information on health and lifestyle at baseline and provided blood samples for biomarker and genetic assays.

For the study, the research team limited data analyses to unrelated individuals who were identified as white British based on self-report and genetic profiling. Additionally, the team excluded participants with mismatched information between self-reported and genetic sex.

After filtering, the research team conducted genetic assays among individuals with complete information on 25(OH)D concentrations. As a safety measure, they also collected variables — including age, sex, and time of sample collection — that could affect serum 25(OH)D measurements.

The scientists collected this information from up to 295,788 participants.

The researchers compared the

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