From Vitamins to Vitality: How My Early Career Shaped the Jennifer Kersten Method

Before I started my coaching business, INJAFIT and the Jennifer Kersten Method, in 2013, I spent over a decade working in the health and wellness field in a way that laid the foundation for everything I do today. From 2000 to 2014, I was originally a holistic nutritionist, working as the Vitamins & More Manager at one of Canada’s top 50 managed companies, Thrifty Foods. But my role went far beyond managing a department.

I wasn’t just overseeing supplements and natural foods—I was a holistic nutrition advisor and functional wellness consultant, helping everyday people navigate complex health challenges. I worked closely with customers experiencing medical complications, often bridging the gap between pharmacists and individuals, finding root causes, and developing personalized strategies to support their wellness.

This experience is actually why my coaching today is so different. I regularly ask clients to get general blood work, refer them to specialists when necessary, and dive deeply into topics like gut health, hormonal balance, thyroid function, inflammation, and root causes of chronic issues. My approach has always been about understanding the body from the inside out, not just addressing the symptoms.

For example, many people assume that because of my supplement background, I hand out pills like candy. The truth is quite the opposite. I approach supplementation strategically—because if the body isn’t ready for it, supplements can sometimes make things worse. Take probiotics for someone with SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth): giving them probiotics without addressing the underlying issues can actually feed the problem rather than fix it.

I also learned the importance of considering the whole picture: how the liver metabolizes hormones, how gut health impacts detoxification, and how factors like long-term birth control use or mental health medications change how the body processes nutrients. Supplements can be powerful—but only when the environment inside the body is ready for them.

Those 14 years in the wellness industry taught me that true transformation comes from layering interventions from the inside out, not just throwing fixes at the surface. That philosophy remains the grounding root of the Jennifer Kersten Method today—helping clients build strength, balance, and vitality from the inside, out.