For so long, the fight against ageing has centred on appearance, spanning from anti-wrinkle creams, hair dyes, and cosmetic surgeries to extreme dieting. Regardless of whether these practices effectively combat or conceal ageing, you have to ask is it, indeed, a healthy approach?

Increasingly, people are seeking healthy ageing solutions – rather than anti-ageing. But what does that all mean? Well, we’re here to help guide you through healthy ageing, what it entails, and how you can achieve it with help from intravenous therapy.

What is Healthy Ageing?

Healthy ageing involves maintaining physical, mental, and emotional well-being through regular exercise, proper nutrition, social connections, and preventive healthcare. It’s about staying active, engaged, and adaptable as we grow older, while also finding purpose and fulfilment in life.

Health is not simply the absence of illness and pathology: many different lifestyle changes are needed to achieve health improvement. This includes a healthy diet, exercise, sleeping well, reducing stress and pollutants. All these positive changes should facilitate an efficient total body metabolism, itself the foundation of good health.

The Difference Between Healthy Ageing and Anti-Ageing

Essentially, healthy ageing focuses on maintaining wellness across physical, mental, and emotional dimensions, while anti-ageing tends to concentrate on cosmetic and aesthetic aspects to combat or minimise visible signs of ageing.

Achieving Longevity

In the relentless pursuit of longevity, a growing number of individuals are turning to functional medicine and targeted vitamin and mineral supplementation as crucial components of their health and wellness strategies.

Beyond mere life extension, this approach emphasises optimising overall well-being by addressing the root causes of health issues rather than merely treating symptoms. A key focus lies in understanding the profound impact of environmental factors, such as pollution and pesticides, on our cellular health.

As awareness deepens regarding the intricate interplay between our environment and our body, individuals are increasingly adopting a holistic approach to longevity. They consider not only what we put into our bodies but also the external factors that shape our body’s resilience.

The quest for a longer, healthier life is evolving into a comprehensive journey that incorporates both internal and external factors, shedding light on the profound connections between our lifestyle choices and the intricacies of cellular function.

Extrinsic vs Intrinsic Ageing

Intrinsic ageing refers to the natural process of ageing and physiological changes that occur with time – such as the general slowing of the metabolism and lower energy production necessary for skin regeneration.

Extrinsic ageing refers to environmental factors that can negatively affect our physiology, contributing to ageing – such as excessive sun exposure, environmental toxins and air pollution.  It’s important to recognise the profound impact of environmental factors, such as pollution, pesticides and oxidative stress, on our cellular health.

Personalised Insight

Here at IVBOOST, we’re seeing more clients incorporating telomere testing into their wellness routines, allowing for a personalised insight into cellular ageing and potential health risks.

You may well know (or at least heard) about the nucleus and the cell membrane—but did you know that every cell in the human body also has a telomere? These are structures made from DNA sequences and proteins found at the ends of chromosomes (threadlike structures found in the nucleus of cells, carrying information in the form of genes).

The telomeres cap these chromosomes, in much the same way the end of a shoelace is protected. Essentially, telomere length is considered a marker of cellular ageing: longer telomeres are associated with better health and longevity.

AS telomeres carry our personalised ageing information, understanding telomeres as a biomarker for cognitive function, health-challenge prevention and diagnosis and symptom support is a promising advance in the world of functional medicine.

For more information, check out our article What Does Telomere Testing Tell You About Your Health?

The Holistic Approach

As awareness deepens regarding the intricate interplay between our environment and our biology, the quest for a longer, healthier life evolves into a comprehensive journey that encompasses reviewing telomere data alongside considering lifestyle choices and external factors.

This holistic approach sheds light on the profound connections between our actions and the intricacies of cellular function.

Harnessing Longevity Tools

Functional medicine brings many options to people seeking longevity by embracing healthy ageing.  Increasingly, our clients are looking beyond the outward signs of ageing such as wrinkles and weight gain, and focusing instead on how their cells are ageing.

As a clinic, IVBOOST has plenty of options to support longevity among our patients.

Dr Natalie Hammer showing iv drips options to a client

4 Intravenous Therapies and Treatments to Support Healthy Ageing

Our IV infusion therapies have evolved over the years as we research the best available products and innovations on the market. Our longevity protocols, through our intravenous approach, have led us to support our patients with NAD+, Methylene Blue, Glutathione and Ozone Therapies.

Scientific by nature, the ‘science bit’ that follows is a little complicated but stay with us as we’ve simplified it as best we can…

1) NAD+

NAD+ is an absolutely crucial molecule which is a linchpin to the healthy function of our cells as it metabolises energy and helps repair our DNA. We already know that as we age, our NAD+ levels naturally decline. By the time we’re 40, levels have dipped by 50% and by age 60, the NAD+ level has fallen by 80%.

NAD+ therapy promotes NAD+ restoration and, in so doing, longevity.  It has been identified as a key therapeutic target that can positively impact many of the hallmarks of cellular ageing. Not only does it play a key role in skin ageing but also demonstrates a great potential to improve multiple aspects of age-related decline across the whole body.

2) Glutathione

Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant, essential for the functioning of the immune system.  It also protects against environmental damage and helps repair skin cells at the cellular level.

Glutathione therapy can reduce signs of ageing and detoxify the skin from damage.  Perhaps the best indicator of the importance of glutathione is that its cellular and mitochondrial (tiny membranes which are the powerhouse of cells, chiefly responsible for converting air and food into energy which allows our cells to grow and function) levels are highly associated with health and longevity.

3) Ozone Therapy

Ozone therapy offers a unique approach to healthy ageing and longevity by promoting cellular repair, reducing oxidative stress and enhancing overall well-being.

4) Methylene Blue

Methylene Blue restores skin health by neutralising free radicals and gets to the root of skin longevity and structural integrity on a mitochondrial level. Oxidative metabolism is an important energy source for brain activity. During brain ageing, mitochondrial dysfunction has been associated with the loss of neurons.

It has also been observed in many brain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.

Methylene Blue concentration is found to be higher in the brain than in plasma after oral administration or intravenous injection. In other words, it promotes mitochondrial function and the production of ATP, which is essential for the health of every cell.

Something else wonderful about Methylene Blue is that it is both water and organic-soluble, making it highly permeable in cell membranes. It enters the cell at the level of mitochondria, lysosomes and the nucleus with ease.

Considering IV Therapy?

Long-term IV therapy can contribute to a more youthful appearance and healthier skin, as the consistent infusion of nutrients can slow down the natural ageing process.  Regular IV therapy contributes to a healthier and more vibrant life as you age, allowing you to enjoy the benefits of optimal wellness well into the future.

IV therapy typically involves the administration of fluids, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients directly into the bloodstream. The goal is to provide the body with essential nutrients more rapidly and efficiently than oral intake.

On its own IV therapy – or indeed any therapies – cannot solve the ageing process or help us achieve longevity. It is essential to look at our overall health and wellbeing approach by adopting a balanced and nutritious diet, engaging in regular exercise and maintaining a healthy sleep pattern.

These lifestyle changes contribute to long-term health benefits and can often address many health concerns. Adding functional medicine interventions to a healthy lifestyle can work wonders!