Be the best version of you with IM Boosters: and why your diet alone is not enough.
What if there was a compound that could turn back time on ageing, restore energy, improve athletic performance, bring back clarity of thought, reverse depression and help cure cravings for alcohol and drugs even in the most addicted individuals? Well…according to Anti-Ageing health practitioner and compounding pharmacist, Mary-Louise Condon, Bpharm, ABAAHP, PCCA; there is such a substance! It’s called NAD+, and it occurs naturally in every cell in your body.
Search the internet, and you will be flooded with articles on the importance of NAD. As a critical coenzyme, Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD) is involved in hundreds of metabolic process throughout the human body. A key player in metabolism and as a helper molecule for proteins that regulate other cellular functions, NAD is the driving force that helps turn nutrients into energy and maintains mitochondrial health within our cells.
The Mitochondria within our body’s cells are responsible for making a molecule called ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate), an oxidised glucose that provides the cell with the energy it needs to perform its various functions. In a nutshell, adequate levels of NAD ensure the Mitochondria has what it needs in order to make ATP, fuelling the cell for optimal function.
However, the body doesn’t have an endless supply of NAD. In fact, our natural NAD levels decline with age as well as being impacted by drugs, alcohol, stress, medications, chronic illness and even environmental impacts such as sun and the quality of foods we eat. Low levels of NAD can lead to a shortage of cellular ATP, leading to cellular dysfunction and degradation (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6390775/).
How we get NAD in our body:
Our bodies make and maintain NAD by converting certain precursors, sourced from the foods we eat, into NAD. Predominant precursors such as Nicotinic Acid (NA), Nicotinamide (Nam) and Nicotinamide riboside (NR) - each a variation of vitamin B3 - are organic compounds the body can access when we eat foods like beef, salmon, milk, eggs, spinach and lentils. Tryptophan is another NAD precursor, found in foods such as turkey, chicken and tuna as well as whole milk, however not as efficient at converting to NAD as those in the vitamin B3 family.
Although our bodies can convert these precursors in our diets in order to make NAD, unfortunately in many cases, diet alone is not enough.
Why a good diet alone may not produce adequate NAD opportunity:
Despite all the modern advances in medicines and health, it seems nutrition in developed countries has regressed, in the most part, due to the mass processing of the foods we eat. Although malnourishment is generally associated with developing countries, the prevalence of malnutrition in Australia has climbed to 25-54% among patients admitted to hospitals. An alarmingly high percentage considering Australia’s accessibility to high quality fresh produce.
However, processed food now constitutes a large part of the world’s food consumption. In Australia 33% of our food is ultra-processed and chemically modified (60% in the USA and 51% in the UK by comparison). Chemicals are commonly added to many types of foods to improve appearance, longevity and enhance taste. Chemicals such as emulsifiers, preservatives, colourings and non-sugar sweeteners harm the gut and make it more difficult to absorb the micronutrients our body needs.
Micronutrients include vitamins, minerals, trace elements, and amino acids that serve major roles in metabolic processes, cognitive homeostasis, antioxidant properties, and tissue function and, when out of balance, can exacerbate many conditions including DNA damage (a precursor to cancer) and premature ageing through mitochondrial decay, as well as general fatigue and other inflammatory related illnesses.
How a leaky gut can prevent NAD synthesis:
Our intestines are lined with a semipermeable barrier that covers a surface of about 400m2 and requires approximately 40% of the body’s energy expenditure (remember… NAD = ATP = Energy).
The purpose of the intestinal barrier is to allow essential fluids and nutrients through, while keeping out harmful foreign substances like food antigens, bacteria, pathogens, and toxins. 70-80% of the body’s immune system can be found in the gut and gastrointestinal tract.
If the permeability of this lining is compromised, it could allow antigens and other bacteria to pass into the blood stream, while simultaneously making it difficult to retain necessary nutrients. This leads to a condition commonly referred to as “leaky gut syndrome”. There are a variety of factors that have shown to disrupt the normal function of the gut barrier, including low-fibre, gluten, and processed-food diets, burn injuries, chronic alcohol consumption, and infection, and according to some, could be the cause of a wide range of long-term conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome, food allergies, asthma, eczema and autoimmune disorders like type 1 diabetes and lupus. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4303825/
Oral vitamin supplements vs vitamin IM Shot (Intramuscular Injection)
Bioavailability refers to the amount of unchanged drug that enters the body’s systemic circulation after being administered. It is measured in percentages and differs depending on a multitude of factors.
When a vitamin is taken orally, its bioavailability is affected by many factors, including how the vitamin is made, it’s dosage, physiochemical properties (such as particle size, salt form and solubility) as well as it’s accompanying pharmaceutical ingredients such as fillers, binders, lubricants and preservatives.
The bioavailability is also affected by a person’s individual factors such as gastric contents (other medication/foods/or fluids present), gastrointestinal pH and intestinal transit time. Apart from a slower uptake and the inconvenience of having to take multiple tablets on a daily basis, when a vitamin is taken orally, much of the nutrient given will never reach complete absorption.
However, when vitamins are given as an IM shot (intramuscular injection), the needed nutrients bypass the gut and liver quickly and effectively allow for essentially 100% bioavailability without the need for daily administration.
Energy Boost and Immune Boost with NAD & B vitamins
Whether you are looking for a boost to your immune system during cold and flu season, suffer from a chronic illness and need some extra support, or are looking for an easy way to enhance your energy, an Immune Boost IM shot is a great place to start.
ASI’s Energy Boost IM will give your mental and physical limits an instant boost by flushing your body with essential vitamins to increase your physical energy, mental focus, balance and overall well-being, and in turn, help you feel like the best version of you.
Or choose ASI’s Immune Boots for a concentrated dose of essential B vitamins to strengthen your immune system and reduce free radical damage, promote weight loss or simply increase your physical and mental energy levels.
Energy Boost and Immune Boost IM shots are available at Believe in Beautiful locations throughout Brisbane. Always performed by one of our qualified nurses, you’ll get a small shot, soothed by a local anaesthetic spray, making the treatment easy, time-optimised and virtually painless.
To make an appointment simply visit the Believe in Beautiful website and book at your preferred location. Alternatively, chat with our friendly team via online help or by calling a clinic directly.
Search the internet, and you will be flooded with articles on the importance of NAD. As a critical coenzyme, Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD) is involved in hundreds of metabolic process throughout the human body. A key player in metabolism and as a helper molecule for proteins that regulate other cellular functions, NAD is the driving force that helps turn nutrients into energy and maintains mitochondrial health within our cells.
The Mitochondria within our body’s cells are responsible for making a molecule called ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate), an oxidised glucose that provides the cell with the energy it needs to perform its various functions. In a nutshell, adequate levels of NAD ensure the Mitochondria has what it needs in order to make ATP, fuelling the cell for optimal function.
However, the body doesn’t have an endless supply of NAD. In fact, our natural NAD levels decline with age as well as being impacted by drugs, alcohol, stress, medications, chronic illness and even environmental impacts such as sun and the quality of foods we eat. Low levels of NAD can lead to a shortage of cellular ATP, leading to cellular dysfunction and degradation (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6390775/).
How we get NAD in our body:
Our bodies make and maintain NAD by converting certain precursors, sourced from the foods we eat, into NAD. Predominant precursors such as Nicotinic Acid (NA), Nicotinamide (Nam) and Nicotinamide riboside (NR) - each a variation of vitamin B3 - are organic compounds the body can access when we eat foods like beef, salmon, milk, eggs, spinach and lentils. Tryptophan is another NAD precursor, found in foods such as turkey, chicken and tuna as well as whole milk, however not as efficient at converting to NAD as those in the vitamin B3 family.
Although our bodies can convert these precursors in our diets in order to make NAD, unfortunately in many cases, diet alone is not enough.
Why a good diet alone may not produce adequate NAD opportunity:
Despite all the modern advances in medicines and health, it seems nutrition in developed countries has regressed, in the most part, due to the mass processing of the foods we eat. Although malnourishment is generally associated with developing countries, the prevalence of malnutrition in Australia has climbed to 25-54% among patients admitted to hospitals. An alarmingly high percentage considering Australia’s accessibility to high quality fresh produce.
However, processed food now constitutes a large part of the world’s food consumption. In Australia 33% of our food is ultra-processed and chemically modified (60% in the USA and 51% in the UK by comparison). Chemicals are commonly added to many types of foods to improve appearance, longevity and enhance taste. Chemicals such as emulsifiers, preservatives, colourings and non-sugar sweeteners harm the gut and make it more difficult to absorb the micronutrients our body needs.
Micronutrients include vitamins, minerals, trace elements, and amino acids that serve major roles in metabolic processes, cognitive homeostasis, antioxidant properties, and tissue function and, when out of balance, can exacerbate many conditions including DNA damage (a precursor to cancer) and premature ageing through mitochondrial decay, as well as general fatigue and other inflammatory related illnesses.
How a leaky gut can prevent NAD synthesis:
Our intestines are lined with a semipermeable barrier that covers a surface of about 400m2 and requires approximately 40% of the body’s energy expenditure (remember… NAD = ATP = Energy).
The purpose of the intestinal barrier is to allow essential fluids and nutrients through, while keeping out harmful foreign substances like food antigens, bacteria, pathogens, and toxins. 70-80% of the body’s immune system can be found in the gut and gastrointestinal tract.
If the permeability of this lining is compromised, it could allow antigens and other bacteria to pass into the blood stream, while simultaneously making it difficult to retain necessary nutrients. This leads to a condition commonly referred to as “leaky gut syndrome”. There are a variety of factors that have shown to disrupt the normal function of the gut barrier, including low-fibre, gluten, and processed-food diets, burn injuries, chronic alcohol consumption, and infection, and according to some, could be the cause of a wide range of long-term conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome, food allergies, asthma, eczema and autoimmune disorders like type 1 diabetes and lupus. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4303825/
Oral vitamin supplements vs vitamin IM Shot (Intramuscular Injection)
Bioavailability refers to the amount of unchanged drug that enters the body’s systemic circulation after being administered. It is measured in percentages and differs depending on a multitude of factors.
When a vitamin is taken orally, its bioavailability is affected by many factors, including how the vitamin is made, it’s dosage, physiochemical properties (such as particle size, salt form and solubility) as well as it’s accompanying pharmaceutical ingredients such as fillers, binders, lubricants and preservatives.
The bioavailability is also affected by a person’s individual factors such as gastric contents (other medication/foods/or fluids present), gastrointestinal pH and intestinal transit time. Apart from a slower uptake and the inconvenience of having to take multiple tablets on a daily basis, when a vitamin is taken orally, much of the nutrient given will never reach complete absorption.
However, when vitamins are given as an IM shot (intramuscular injection), the needed nutrients bypass the gut and liver quickly and effectively allow for essentially 100% bioavailability without the need for daily administration.
Energy Boost and Immune Boost with NAD & B vitamins
Whether you are looking for a boost to your immune system during cold and flu season, suffer from a chronic illness and need some extra support, or are looking for an easy way to enhance your energy, an Immune Boost IM shot is a great place to start.
ASI’s Energy Boost IM will give your mental and physical limits an instant boost by flushing your body with essential vitamins to increase your physical energy, mental focus, balance and overall well-being, and in turn, help you feel like the best version of you.
Or choose ASI’s Immune Boots for a concentrated dose of essential B vitamins to strengthen your immune system and reduce free radical damage, promote weight loss or simply increase your physical and mental energy levels.
Energy Boost and Immune Boost IM shots are available at Believe in Beautiful locations throughout Brisbane. Always performed by one of our qualified nurses, you’ll get a small shot, soothed by a local anaesthetic spray, making the treatment easy, time-optimised and virtually painless.
To make an appointment simply visit the Believe in Beautiful website and book at your preferred location. Alternatively, chat with our friendly team via online help or by calling a clinic directly.
