- The weird case of the woman who injected herself with fruit
- The perils of this new ‘vitamin drip’ fad
- How to give yourself a super healthy vitamin shot the safe way
I’m always extolling the virtues of fruit and veg.
They are nature’s very best medicine!
Only a few weeks ago, a new study showed that a piece of fruit plus a large serving of vegetables a day could reduce the risk of stroke by 13%.
For instance, an apple in the day, then a side helping of asparagus or broccoli with your meal.
Not a lot to ask, is it?
This was a big study too – 418,000 people in nine countries over the course of twelve years.
But for some people, these simple solutions aren’t enough.
For instance, take the 51-year old woman in China who, in 2019, decided to INJECT her portions of fruit – all at once.
Yes, in a daring bit of improvisation, she decided to blend twenty different varieties of fruit into a homemade intravenous (IV) drip, then plunged it into her arm.
As a result, she grew itchy…
Then developed a high fever…
Soon she was in intensive care suffering from multiple organ damage.
Only dialysis and antibiotics saved her life.
Now, this sounds like an extreme case of silliness, which I suppose it is…
The number of people injecting homemade smoothies into their veins are few and far between.
Thank goodness.
BUT…
Intravenous vitamin drips ARE now a thing – and becoming more popular.
The perils of the new vitamin drip fad
Yes, vitamin drips are the latest celebrity-endorsed health fad (and I have seen a LOT of these in my time).
Have you come across this yet?
This unorthodox therapy has been trumpeted by the likes of Simon Cowell and reality TV star Stacey Solomon.
Effectively, it’s a drip that introduces a cocktail of vitamins and minerals directly into your blood stream.
The claim is that it can help reduce fatigue, migraines, and depression… while boosting immunity, reducing wrinkles and improving the skin.
Like any fad, businesses, start-ups and lone operators are piling onto the scene, offering these drips without needing any medical qualifications.
The obvious danger is that inserting a drip of any kind can risk damage to your tissues and nerves. It can cause infections, bruising and inflammation of the veins.
The second danger is that any sudden influx of nutrients like that could cause a reaction.
This is what happened to famous model Kendall Jenner, who was administered a drip that included vitamin C, magnesium, calcium and B vitamins.
She was rushed to hospital shortly after.
My view is this…
I’m all for nutritional boosts and alternative medicine.
But I’m highly sceptical of celebrity endorsed fads like these.
The best way to reduce fatigue, boost your immunity and protect yourself from the signs of ageing is to eat a varied diet with plenty of fresh fruit and veg.
The second best way is to top that up with specific bio-available vitamins that you might need, based on your age, health issues and lifestyle.
An example might be getting a vitamin D top up in winter, using fish oils to ease joint pain, or taking magnesium for sleep problems.
And if you want an intense shot of nutrients, why not try focussing on a powerfully medicinal ingredient, then getting it into your system the old-fashioned way.
By that I mean through the mouth not the veins!
How to give yourself a super healthy vitamin shot the safe way
Let’s take the humble blackcurrant, for instance. This is packed with five ingredients that could help do almost everything your vitamin drip promises:
- Antioxidants – helping fight cancer-causing free radicals.
- Vitamin C – helps to protect your cells and keep them healthy.
- Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) – this is an omega-6 fatty acid found in the oils from blackberry seeds, as well as primrose oil, borage seed oil and hemp seed oil. We have less of it in our bodies as we get older.
- Anthocyanins – these are the flavonoids, the kind of which you get in green tea. They can help stop oxidative damage which can contribute to brain ageing and failing memory. One scientific study has linked them to better eyesight. They also have cancer-fighting properties. A 2010 study in Phytotherapy Research found that anthocyanins extracted from blueberries helped stop the growth of breast cancer cells.
- Polyphenolic substances – these are what the latest Scottish study found to be the key in slowing and reversing stomach tumour growth. A few years back a study by scientists in Aberdeen and Dundee showed how the polyphenol in blackcurrants can stop tumour cells multiplying and then attack cancer cells.
And that’s just from this one fruit.
For a good dosage of blackcurrant, there’s no need to stick a drip into your arm. Instead, try blending to make a juice.
Here’s a very basic recipe:
• 125g blackcurrants
• 200ml fresh orange juice
• 200g natural yoghurt
• 100ml milk
• Ice cubes
See how you get on with that – add more fruit (with different health benefits) and juice or swap the milk for soya or almond milk if you’re vegan.
You can also try some natural runny honey to add more sweetness and pack a bit more of a health punch.
Honey contains magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium chlorine, sulphur, iron and phosphate, vitamins B1, B2, C, B6, B5 and B3.
Just make sure you get a high-quality honey that’s as raw, unfiltered and untreated as possible.
I’d go for a tasty concoction over an intravenous drip any day!
