Learn How Aging Affects Nutrient Absorption

By Dr. Doreen DeStefano, NhD, APRN, DNP

Nutrient Absorption Many things can disrupt our ability to absorb nutrients from food and supplements, such as an overgrowth of gut bacteria, IBS, or microbiome imbalance. However, as we age, the stomach acids make it very difficult to absorb nutrients, even more so than when we were younger.

If you’ve ever noticed that when you’re fighting a virus such as a cold, and you’re taking extra vitamin C and herbal supplements for viral infections, they may not work as well as they did when you were younger, or perhaps it takes you a week or two to feel yourself again, when it would normally only take a few days, this can be due to absorption issues in the gut.

Now, more than ever, we realize how important it is to stay healthy and have a thriving immune system.

Nearly 80% of our immune system is stored within the gut. When the gut lining is damaged, toxins, antigens, undigested food particles, and bacteria can leak through the intestinal lining and bloodstream. When this happens, your immune system tries to overcompensate and works in overdrive to attack the toxic substances in the blood. It can also exacerbate the immune system and turn it against the body, causing it to attack itself because it confuses its own cells with foreign substances; this is called molecular mimicry. This type of immune response is known to cause and intensify illness and autoimmune disorders.

IV nutrients can help with numerous conditions, including boosting the immune system.

Instead of attempting to go through the stomach and digestion process, which can significantly break down the effectiveness of nutrients, IV therapy administers essential nutritional supplements directly into the bloodstream.

IV Therapy Can help combat many disorders. These are a few of the top performers in IV therapeutics:
A few examples of IV treatments are Alpha Lipoic Acid, Chelation, Glutathione, High-Dose Vitamin C, Meyer’s Cocktail, and Magnesium. These IV treatments help with countless issues from asthma, arthritis, diabetes, cholesterol, hormonal disorders, and so much more. Glutathione is one of the most potent antioxidants and is a master at detoxifying and healing the body.

IV therapy can target each patient’s specific needs; however, seeing a reputable, experienced practitioner is critical.

IV Therapy Benefits
• Asthma
• Anti-aging
• Acid Reflux
• Acne
• Arthritis
• Alzheimer’s & Dementia
• Cancers
• Tumors
• Fibromyalgia
• Stroke
• Cardiovascular
• Heart disease
• Hormonal disorders
• Diabetes
• Circulatory issues
• Impaired liver function
• High Cholesterol
• Hypertension
• Chron’s Disease
• Kidney disorders
• Glaucoma
• Cataracts
• Removes heavy metals and chemicals
• And much more

Functional medicine is integrative medicine that focuses on a complete look at a person’s lifestyle, genetics, environmental, and social factors concerning their overall health condition.

A key component of functional medicine is IV therapy. This type of treatment option, administers high dose vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other essential nutrients to fight disease, eliminate symptoms, and alleviate associated effects.

Dr. DeStefano, of Root Causes Holistic Health & Medicine in Ft Myers, FL, incorporates IV & Chelation therapy with hyperbaric chamber sessions to combat multiple chronic conditions and disease states.

Doreen DeStefano, NhD, APRN, DNP
Dr. DeStefano came to Fort Myers in the early 1980’s, leaving and coming back again several times until finally settling here in 2001. She has a lifelong background in health and wellness that began in middle school when she started running.

Dr. DeStefano is also a lifelong student. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing, and another in exercise physiology. She has a Masters (ABT) in criminology, a Master’s in public business administration and a Master’s in nursing. She holds a doctorate in natural health and is a licensed Advanced Practice Registered Nurse. She holds numerous licenses and certifications from advanced practice training. She continues to attend educational seminars in integrative and functional medicine twice a year to stay abreast of the most recent, cutting edge therapies available.

Her practice is centered on naturopathic principles that include healing the whole person on various levels and avoiding pharmaceutical intervention unless absolutely necessary. She believes your health Is within your control. Her goal is to help you achieve maximum health.

Learn more about unique and effective therapies with Doreen DeStefano.

Root Causes
Holstic Health & Medicine
12734 Kenwood Lane. Ft Myers, FL 33907
239-425-2900 | www.rtcausesmd.com