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A weAlth oF wellness At the vitAmin center Be mindFul oF your Body t he Vitamin Center in Capitola carries vitamins, minerals, herbs and more. Before doing research for this article, I only knew of their general reputation as a reliable store with many good selections. I learned they are much more: a true community partner providing not just health and wellness products and lots of discounts, but also a wealth of knowledge for locals. This knowledge begins with owner Jack Macdonald, who has been working in the industry for nearly 40 years. He first worked at The Vitamin Center in the early 1980s. Two men had started the business in 1979, with multiple locations including San Francisco and Carmel. Jack worked at a local branch (across 41st Ave. from the current location). The owners eventually decided to sell off the stores and Jack bought the Capitola spot in 1990. The desire to improve people's health runs in Jack's family. His daughter, Amy Jespersen, is a certified nutrition consultant through Bauman College's program. She currently serves as Manager for the shop, and loves it. "Helping people is very rewarding," she says. It's quite different from the first time she worked in the store, which was when she was 12 or 13 years old. "That was a punishment for some trouble I got into. I had to go after school and stock and clean," she shares. "I chose to come work at the store when I was in my early 20's." She has now been there for over 20 years, in various capacities as she raised four children. Ben Otto, who has been a staff member for about three years, is the final part of The Vitamin Center's expertise trifecta. A graduate of Five Branches University, he has worked in the field for many years—including several at The Herb Room. When asked about doing an overhaul of one's health for the New Year, Amy responded that overhauling health is a "…big picture concept. Supplements are just a piece of it. There can tend to be this idea of a 'pill for every ill' but that's not what improving your health should solely consist of." She emphasizes that overhauling health means looking at eating, sleeping, stress, and movement in your life. There are supplements that can help to fill gaps, but they alone aren't enough for a complete overhaul. Along the same lines, there is no one right diet or exercise program for everyone. "Everybody is different and we have to learn to pay attention to our own needs," says Amy. "A basic supplementation of a multi vitamin and mineral can be a good foundation. This supplementation program would grow based on needs that are specific to an individual." To reset your health, one of the best things a person can do is move away from eating processed foods. "Supplements can be used to support lifestyle changes. One of my favorite products is Green Vibrance, by Vibrant Health. It's a great way to bump up green intake," says Amy (it's a plant-based superfood). They also have supplements that can help with sugar cravings and other detox symptoms as a person switches to a healthier life style. "I really like magnesium and it's often depleted in a standard American diet," she adds. "Supplementing can be helpful with blood sugar control, sleep and even muscle aches." Another product line they carry is Vital Health, which is made under their private label with items manufactured in Oregon. Jack has worked closely with them to develop some of the formulas they sell. "I like their science minded formulas and the fact that they update formulas to reflect current information," says Jack. "Also, they use high quality ingredients and undergo rigorous testing to assure consumers they get exactly what they expect," he adds. For women of childbearing years, says Amy, folate and iron are two supplements to look into. No matter who you are, lifestyle, health conditions, and personal needs should all be considered when choosing a supplement, and "…well trained employees should be able to direct you to products that fit your specific needs," Amy says. For this time of year, she suggests that store visitors inquire about items, including locally made Wellness Formula (from Source Naturals), that support immune systems during cold and flu season. "Also, I really like our adrenal support products. With the stresses of the holidays, most of us could use a little assistance." It's important to think about the quality of supplements you're putting into your body. "A lot of people buy consumer grade supplements that are cheap, poorly absorbed ingredients where a lot of binders, fillers and other additives are used to preserve the product but not necessarily promote health," says Amy. "Supplements are definitely an area where quality is reflected in the price." These days, increasing numbers of people shop for vitamins and supplements online. They may think they're getting good deals, but all they get is the product, not expertise or tailored advice. "Some consumers go online where they recognize labels for a lot cheaper, but buyer beware. The online counterfeit supplement business is booming. Buying cheap from a third party online could very well be expired, stolen, or even worse—nothing close to what you think you are taking." Amy welcomes locals to visit the store. "If you want personal service, come see us. We aren't in a hurry. We are here to talk to you, and help you figure out what you need. If you already know what you need, we can help you find it in the store or special order something for you." One of the many things Amy has always respected about her dad Jack is that he never 'oversells.' "I've seen customers come in with a huge list of supplements they think they want to start taking, and he talks them down to a few instead." This may seem counterintuitive from a sales perspective, but The Vitamin Center is about serving people. "The truth is, starting a big supplement program is often a set up for failure. We would rather see you succeed with a few than fail with many," she says. Ben espouses the same philosophy. "Sometimes people bring things in to ask 'which of these do I really need?' It's a confusing industry and education is key. We may tell customers they don't need as much, which means lower sales, but it's the right thing to do!" It's no surprise that the web site for The Vitamin Center is "goaskjack. com." Jack, Amy, and Ben encourage store visitors to ask lots of questions. "Our combined knowledge is a community asset," explains Amy. "We promote information more than anything else," says Ben. "Our customers trust us a lot," he adds with pride. The store boasts multigenerational customers. There are many long-term customers who retire and move out of the area, who remain customers via mail order. "But we get to see them when they come visit their kids who still live here," says Amy. "I love that being a small business allows us an opportunity to establish relationships with customers that span decades and generations. That's not something you get from big box stores and the Internet." She refers to watching people improve their health and lives as "…amazing. My job is to share information so customers can make informed decisions. The customer does all the hard work. Between myself, Jack and Ben, we have so much information and are constantly collecting more." She readily admits there is a lot more to know, and that fortunately, our area features a plethora of health practitioners. "Sometimes my impact comes in the form of recommending a practitioner rather than a supplement," says Amy. The Vitamin Center offers several discounts. Seniors, students and gym members (it doesn't matter what gym) get 10 percent off every day, and veterans and those spending over $250 get 15 percent off. Also, they always pass along their vendor discounts to the customer. For example, the store often buys in large quantities from Nordic Naturals, so the company gives them a 25 percent discount. When this happens, customers pay prices that are marked down 25 percent. Now that's what I call looking out for the community. Details: Vitamin Center, 1955 B-6 41st Ave, Capitola, 831-462-4697, goaskjack.com by Tara Fatemi Walker A s we age our bodies change. This fact is obvious when we compare an eighteen year old with an eighty year old. There is no need for a descriptive comparison as we all know what the differences are. Most people start feeling "older" between the ages of forty and fifty. They begin to experience a gradual gain in weight, reduced energy and strength, and increased pain. These changes can result in a slowing of one's activity level and eventual disability. I don't mean to sound negative or to upset anyone by talking about this reality. Instead my hope is that we can look at it for what it is and not view aging as a negative thing, but rather as an opportunity to continue moving and growing. The key is learning how to restore, maintain and further manage our physical bodies as we move through the aging process. To restore your body, it is first necessary to find out what, if anything is wrong with it. If you haven't already done so, see your Doctor and get a complete medical examination. He or she will help steer you in the right direction so that you can get the necessary care to manage or recover from whatever ails you. Once you have a clean bill of health, the next step is acknowledging your stage in life and start listening to your body. What I mean is, choose activities that are appropriate for your age and stage and begin to pay attention to how your body responds to the things you do. For example, it does not make sense for a 65 year old with arthritic pain in the hips and spine to be playing competitive tennis for exercise. Nor is it reasonable for a 45 year old who is obese, unconditioned, and has high blood pressure to start lifting heavy weights. These are examples of activities that are not age and stage compatible and will only lead to injury or further pain and suffering. It does not mean that we should completely avoid playing tennis or basketball, or running and lifting weights, but for goodness sake, if it's going to hurt you, don't do it. Aging of our physical body is not a simple thing to understand or to accept. It is a gradual process and a fact of life. My hope is that more people will learn how to take care of themselves and avoid the pitfalls that come from over stressing their bodies and fighting the aging process. Let's use the wisdom that comes with age and learn how to manage and maintain a healthy lifestyle by respecting and being mindful of our bodies. Vitamin Center Staff (L-R) Ben Otto, Amy Jespersen & Jack Macdonald Contributed

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