For anyone following us on social media, it should be pretty obvious that we have a problem. Well, YOU might consider it a problem; our addiction to coffee and tea. This being said, you can find us snuggled into some little coffee shop or another at least a few times a week. It was on one of these visits that we invited our friend, Krista Koller, to come share her wisdom with us.
As you know we are featuring interviews with experts in health-related fields to learn and translate knowledge into tips to incorporate healthy practices into your 2018. So we aren’t just drinking coffee and tea for the hell of it people! We are working hard to get you the information needed to create healthy habits. I’ll drink a cup o’ tea to that!
You see, Krista has an extensive background in supplements, from the retail side. This being said, we knew she would have the inside scoop that we’re so desperate for. In addition, we knew that she, being the no-nonsense, native-born New Yorker that we so love and admire, would give us real answers.
Once upon a time, a woman from upstate New York, who had always held a deep passion for healing arts, followed her heart to Asheville. Thus began her circuitous route into the world of supplements. First, she attended a local massage school, The North Carolina School of Natural Healing, where she studied a variety of subjects and even went on to teach meditation herself. She taught EBMS (energetic body mind studies), meditation for self care, and grounding to the new massage students with a focus on herbs’ ayurvedic properties. Then, she landed the job at Greenlife (before it was sold to Whole Foods) and found herself on a new journey of discovery.
It was during this time, from 2008- 2012, that she was moved into the supplements department. She describes her position there as an “apprenticeship”, which seemed interesting. When asked why she put it that way she responded, “I met some truly amazing people and amazing women at Greenlife, and they trained me and I was able to receive a lot of education that I never would have, otherwise.” Also, being an independent store at the time, Krista and her coworkers were able to ask very specific questions from the suppliers and be particular about which products they brought in. She told us, “a lot of the important questions I learned to ask and investigate deeper were about sourcing; where the company received their USP vitamins or herbs from, what they paired them with, even what kind of fillers/preservatives companies were using. I learned what were safe versus non safe fillers and preservatives, which can be sometimes be carcinogenic. This was how I became informed about what to buy, and also how I became a bit of a snob about certain products.” Hearing this literally put us on the edge of our seats. This lady really knows what she’s talking about! Krista puts out right “I am not a doctor, or a certified herbalist, I just have a lot of experience in different areas, and with talking to different people and having people coming back [as customers in Greenlife] and my own experience within my own body.”
From there, we broke it down into five main questions.
1.Is there even any point in taking supplements?
A lot of people ask this question, and it’s not a bad one. Yes, you can find pretty much all of the minerals and vitamins you need in food if you maintain a well-balanced diet. And yes, your body can only absorb so much before the rest is simply cycled out. But be honest, how well-balanced is your diet? Do you really think you’re getting everything your body needs that way?
The truth is, supplements are neither a quick fix, nor a cure-all. (Hint: there’s no such thing!)
2. Is there a major difference between all natural and synthetic supplements?
As Krista explained, this is a tricky answer. She gave us some background knowledge first to understand some basic terms before delving into the answer.
In 2016, the natural supplements industry saw a 7.7% rise in sales in the US. Clearly, there is an obvious need and desire for supplements in the American public. Though she states, “not all supplements are created equal”. The USP (United States Pharmacopeia) is a nonprofit organization that sets federally recognized public standards of quality for medicines, dietary supplements, and foods. The USP verified vitamins are usually the ones that are manufactured in Labs. This means, they are at least partly synthetic; though not in the way you think.
Krista stated that if she is going to take a multi-vitamin she prefers if it has some food base in it. When asked why, she explained that having that bit added in, helps the body to absorb the nutrients, rather than just cycling them out. This is called bio-availability. Some companies have been putting food and antioxidants in to act as a carrier for the vitamins. Which begs the question, does that mean the supplements are more, or less natural? Krista’s response, “It really just depends on the company.”
For Example, Country Life has a line of vitamins called Realfood Organics, which incorporate food for increased bio-availablity, and are 100% gluten free. All their products are produced in their own facility, which has strict rules to insure no cross-contamination. “You can’t even walk in there with a cracker.” Krista joked. They also make regular USP supplements which Krista testifies are good quality as well. Other companies like Vibrant Health and Amazing Grass have products that are on par with the natural approach, but are used differently. These products are actually green powders you add to water or smoothies. 
Other larger companies like New Chapter and Megafood take their USP sourced vitamins and use yeast to break them down to make them more bio-available. They would also use foods and herbs with similar nutrient constituents to compliment the supplements.
This is part of what goes into determining price. A product that takes more time to break down the synthetics for better bio-availability is going to have a higher price. Rainbow Light is a company Krista highlights as a more affordable source for supplements because they use the regular USP’s, but also have a lot of food product incorporated in as well.
So as it turns out, the question of whether to purchase natural or synthetic supplements isn’t so simple. It’s intertwined together to produce a product that is in a sense, both.
3. How do you know what to buy?
There is also a wide range in the supplement field as Krista explained. She painted the illustration of comparing vitamins to liquor (she’s also a bartender). You have your top shelf (great quality, expensive), middle shelf (middle of the road in terms of quality and price), and your bottom shelf (something to get the job done without emptying your wallet).
Her advice is to go midway. Don’t buy the cheapest, and become frustrated that you don’t see results. Also, don’t go broke purchasing the most expensive if it is not in the budget because it will be a difficult habit to maintain. Not sure which supplements to try? Ask an associate in the supplements department! These people actually receive education and training related to the products the stores carry. They are a great resource when it comes to making a purchasing decision. Krista does highlight an important question about how this process will change in the next couple years. With online purchases on the rise, you lose the middle man who has the knowledge about each product in that process. My advice would be to not cut out the middle man when it comes to questions about supplements; get the education for the initial purchase. Then, if it works for you, go ahead and order as much as you want online. Just be sure to do your research first.
4. What’s the best way to incorporate this into my routine?
Find a medium you appreciate. Some people like tablets or caplets. They’re quick and easy and you’re on with your day. Others may not like this method, so they may try something else. Tinctures for example, are an alternative to taking a pill. Tinctures are herbs infused in alcohol to pull out the ayurvedic benefits of that herb. They are taken orally, then enter the body through the membranes in the mouth and the alcohol allows it be absorbed much more quickly. Another way would be through a tea or smoothie, which you can prepare yourself. Also, keep it somewhere were you see it to keep it in mind. Leave in on the kitchen counter, or maybe in the bathroom, where ever you need so you will notice it and remember to take it.
Krista is an advocate for tuning into your body; the body knows what it wants (and doesn’t), and once you can listen to it you can follow the advice of…yourself.
5. Where can we do our own research?
Pubmed.com is a great resource to get a more in depth look featuring actual clinical studies. Though the language can be tricky for the non-clinical person, it is a really great source to nerd out on. Also, as we mentioned earlier, your helpful clerk in the supplement department.
Some extra knowledge:
Krista’s favorite supplement is a turmeric supplement that not only helps with her arthritis, but has whole-health benefits.
It is Theracurmin from Natural Factors. This product crosses the blood brain barrier so it really absorbs into the body. The company is based in Canada which, according to Krista, is also an important detail when it comes to supplements. “Canadian and many European standards are higher than U.S. standards. Outsourcing from companies certified from these countries are a good sign to purchase the product.”
Fish oil gets a two thumbs up from Krista. You want to always look at the EPA and DHA because those are the active constituents that go into the body that reduce inflammation, help with heart health, memory retention and brain function, and really all the good things fish oil can do for us. It also contains the healthy fats need in a well-balanced diet. Krista’s advice, “Always look at the back of the bottle and make sure that the EPA and DHA equal at least 1,000 milligrams. My body always feels the benefits of fish oil best if I use product that’s higher in both these categories.” For that reason, this is a product Krista says she always pays top dollar for. Nordic Naturals and Ascenta are two of her favorite companies.
When it comes to Vitamin C, it’s always a nice idea to take because it is also an antioxidant, which is good for our bodies no matter what. Healthforce Nutritionals Vitamin C is a great brand to take, it is mostly made of finely ground Acerola berry, which is the most potent form of Vitamin C available.
In her hands Krista brought a book with her about her favorite group of herbs, Adoptogen herbs. They are a great supplement to harmonize the metabolic system as well as the immune system, and they are safe to take over a long period of time. “I love that these herbs are intuitive. When this book was first written in 2005/2006 science didn’t quite understand how some of the herbs went into the body. But they’re smart, if you are deficient or if you have an excess in the body, they can kind of bring it to balance.” Look out for Schisandra, Astragalus and Eleuthero as her three favorites.
She closed our interview with a tantalizing tip we never expected. The hidden power of Bitters. Honestly, this piece of gold was so good, we decided to save it for an entirely separate post. Better keep an eye out for that!
Beauty and brains, Krista shared critical information to help us understand the crazy world of supplements. It is a world of its own, which can be confusing and often deters people from stepping in. Though with Krista’s advice, maybe now we can all start tip-toeing our way to a healthier life.