The Story of East West Essentials

How did it all start? Esther Rogers finds out.

Walk into any GNC, and the sheer number of different dietary supplements will overwhelm you. Some are run-of-the-mill vitamins, while others promise weight loss, better memory, or an improvement to the old digestive system. But how much do we know about the ingredients? And how can we make the most efficient use of these supplements if no one is there to guide us? It is exactly these concerns that Dr. Jeanne Wilson’s East West Essentials addresses. And the results? The best dietary supplements and one-on-one guidance available.

I had the pleasure of visiting the East West Essentials office in Beverly Hills and interviewing Dr. Wilson to find out more about what makes her programs so unique. Dr. Wilson–who runs the family company with her daughters–has a doctorate in Chinese medicine, and specializes in everything from acupuncture to nutrition. She first set up shop about eight years ago, specializing in fertility; she keeps a board in her office hallway with pictures of all the babies she helped create. The entire office is warm and inviting, complemented by Chinese accents, perfectly channeling Dr. Wilson’s own natural warmth. It is clear from the beginning that she is not only an extremely intelligent and knowledgeable person, but also very empathic. But how did East West Essentials move into supplement programs, beloved by celebrities including Jennifer Lopez?

“We started out with fertility issues,” Dr. Wilson explains. “That’s using prenatals and different programs to help increase or enhance fertility for men and women. Then we went into the cleanse programs. One of the issues with fertility can be weight. If a woman loses 10 lbs, her fertility mark moves up. That was something we worked with. It had to be healthy and organic as much as possible, since these women were getting pregnant. It moved on from there to the more general population.” It was this need for healthy ingredients that ensures the quality of the supplements today. “We use high quality products, and those have to be picked very carefully,” says Dr. Wilson. “The beauty of our company is that we have that clinical experience, and we use it everyday and see what works and what doesn’t work. Even with the herbals, we are in an area where people are educated and they want the best, and we give them that. When I look at a program or product, I want to make sure it’s not only doing its function, but it has some nutritional value as well, supporting the body.”

Dr. Wilson's programs include the 10 Day Optimal Cleanse, 5 Day Optimal Fat Flush, and Optimal Qi. The supplements come with a dietary guide to get the most benefits from the programs. I took the opportunity to tap into the knowledge at hand, and asked Dr. Wilson which foods to avoid.

“One of the big ones is ‘fat free.’ Anything that says fat free is not a good idea, especially for women. They need the good fat for hormone balance, and children and teens too.” And foods to get more of? “Fatty acids are underestimated, because of the word fat. There is definitely good fat, and we need that in our diet. And we need an understanding of the difference between the good and the bad. Same with salt, as we need some amount of iodine. There are certain things that have become faddish, and we have to be careful with them.”

I also tell Dr. Wilson about the “food baby” I’ve been harboring for the past few months. She suggests it might be a weak digestive system, and I should consider taking papaya enzymes after my meals. I pick up a chewable supplement from Trader Joe’s for $3.99 that evening, and notice a difference after only a couple of days. Of course, a program at East West Essentials. would be an even better way to set my digestive tract straight, and Dr. Wilson keeps expanding the available options; her newest addition is the Optimal Teen program. It’s geared towards the specific needs of teenagers, and takes into account how to manage their erratic food cravings and very particular nutritional needs. It includes delicious recipes for shakes (including cacao banana and strawberry), which make for great on-the-go breakfasts.

I wonder if Dr. Wilson struggled with her daughters when they were growing up. “Oh of course!” she answers. “One was addicted to chewing gum, and one had some allergy issues. We visited a naturopathic doctor and he put us all on a diet. Now they’re mothers, so that’s one of the reasons this teen program came up.” But it’s important to note that the company also caters to men, with programs designed specifically for weight loss and general nutrition.

Since she has already expanded to so many different demographics, I ask Dr. Wilson what her long-term vision is for her brand. “I see the company being really cutting-edge, taking the supplement business away from a GNC-type of environment, where you go in and buy this item and that item, and there’s little consultation going on. But I see East West Essentials as a place of information, a place of understanding, and a place where the founders and creators really thought out what they’re putting out there and why.”

Beyond that, Dr. Wilson also plans to expand internationally. But ultimately, it’s all in the name of helping others. “My passion is to work with people and touch people, and that in turn touches me.”