Walk down any health store aisle or scroll through wellness TikTok, and you’ll be bombarded with buzzwords such as adaptogens, nootropics, gut health, detox, and more. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and even easier to spend money on supplements that make big promises but deliver little. Irene Pauline Humpelstetter wants to change that.
As Director of Education at Living Alchemy, Humpelstetter, a Certified Nutritional Practitioner and Chartered Herbalist, comes with deep roots in fermentation, holistic health, and plant medicine. Her mission is to help people understand what their bodies actually need and how to meet those needs naturally and safely.
In this candid interview, Humpelstetter explains why transparency in supplement sourcing matters, how fermentation unlocks nutrients in ways synthetics can’t, and what people should demand from supplement brands. She also breaks down when and why supplementing becomes essential, especially in today’s stressed-out, nutrient-depleted world.
Humpelstetter advises not to chase trends, but instead, to focus on foundational health. She encourages consumers to become their own health advocates. That means reading labels, asking questions, and choosing supplements made from real, fermented foods, not synthetic fillers. Most importantly, it means tuning into your body’s unique needs and seeking guidance when needed.
If you’ve ever felt lost in the supplement aisle or confused by conflicting advice online, this interview is your grounding point.
1. There’s a lot of confusion around natural supplements. What should consumers look for to ensure they’re getting a high-quality product?
Transparency is key. Consumers should look for brands that clearly state their ingredient sources and manufacturing processes. High-quality supplements use whole-food-based or naturally derived ingredients rather than synthetic isolates.
Certifications, such as organic, non-GMO, and third-party verification, also signal a commitment to quality!
2. Living Alchemy uses a fermentation process in its supplements. Can you break down why that matters and how it impacts the body compared to conventional supplements?
Fermentation is nature’s way of unlocking the full potential of food. It enhances nutrient absorption, creates beneficial microbes and enzymes, and breaks down compounds that can be hard for the body to digest.
3. The supplement industry isn’t as tightly regulated as pharmaceuticals. What steps does Living Alchemy take to ensure safety, and what should consumers demand from brands?
At Living Alchemy, we exceed industry requirements by sourcing only certified organic ingredients, rigorously testing for contaminants, and producing in GMP-certified facilities.
Our fermentation process naturally enhances the safety and efficacy of our products, ensuring they are free from harmful additives or synthetic fillers.
4. With so many new wellness trends, from adaptogens to nootropics, how can consumers separate real benefits from marketing hype?
Adaptogens and nootropics are property classifications of plants that provide specific health benefits and have been well studied for centuries in herbalism, Ayurvedic Medicine, and Traditional Chinese Medicine, and more commonly researched in pharmaceuticals.
Navigating the right one for you is always going to be individual. Don’t just follow the wellness trends, focus on your own needs, what your health priority is, do your own research, and seek professional advice to build a holistic team to fully understand your situation.
5. Many people assume they can get all their nutrients from food. When does supplementing become necessary, and how can someone build a regimen that actually works for them?
In an ideal world, food would provide all the nutrients we need, but modern agriculture has depleted soil nutrients, and lifestyle factors like stress, environmental toxins, and processed diets can create gaps.
Supplementation becomes essential when deficiencies arise, during periods of stress, or when addressing specific health concerns.
The best approach is a foundational regimen that includes fermented whole-food supplements for gut health, adaptogens for stress support, and targeted nutrients based on a holistic approach and individual needs. Working with a practitioner can help tailor the right combination.
6. For someone just starting their wellness journey, what’s one small change they can make today that will have the biggest long-term impact?
Start with your gut. A healthy gut is the foundation of overall wellness, impacting digestion, immunity, mood, and energy levels.
