How to take care of your health every day? Inspiring conversation between Agnieszka Cegielska and doctor. med. Nina Nicheska

Agnieszka Cegielska, in a conversation with Nina Nicheska - co-creator of the nikalab brand - touches on the topic of conscious supplementation, asks about the life of a Macedonian doctor in Poland and why transparent running of a company is so important nowadays. Watch the conversation by clicking on the video.

Reading version below.

Agnieszka Cegielska: What are you, My Dear, doing in cold Poland?

bow. med. Nina Nicheska: I've been getting this question a lot lately! I realized that today is my anniversary in Poland, my tenth anniversary! I calculated that it is almost a quarter of my life! Why Poland? Let me start the story by saying that I am a doctor by profession, but I worked in a clinic for a short time. Due to my financial situation, I took advantage of a job advertisement at the Ministry of Health and stayed there for two years. I worked on a program addressed to patients affected by HIV, SCID and AIDS. So at that point I was working in an infectious disease clinic, also focusing on all this emotional and mental support for AIDS patients. Then a pharmaceutical company caught me and I stayed there for 10 years. I'm making this introduction so that you understand my path to creating nikalab. The company I worked for suggested I move to Poland. Poland was not a natural choice for me, and I must admit that I knew little about this country. But I decided, I'm here, for the next 4 years I worked for the same pharmaceutical company that brought me here. I was responsible for gastrointestinal and cardiological drugs, antibiotics and psychiatric drugs. And at some point I decided to combine what I was learning on my own with what work gave me. I once had the opportunity to participate in the process of creating a mobile application, this technology was present in my life. I combined this knowledge and decided it was time to create nikalab. Ultimately, I am very grateful that this company decided to bring me to Poland. At first I thought I would stay for two years, four at most, but as you can see, I've been here for ten years!

AC: Exactly, and in these recent, demanding times - Covid, you and your team decided to create something amazing. In Poland, the supplement market is a market that has its own rules and is difficult to control. As a patient or on the other side, you can get very lost in this market. For me, this quality is very important, and when I looked at what you conjured up, I was not surprised at all that a doctor was behind it. You are a very transparent company, it is written exactly what is inside the box, where it comes from, etc. And not all companies do this! And that's not fair. What's inside your mixtures?

NN: Maybe I'll start with why - as a doctor - I decided to take such actions. Paradoxically, I am skeptical about unnecessary and unwise supplementation. I also didn't think I would ever build a supplement company, but it just came naturally. It seems that the supplement market is so overcrowded that it does not need another product, but as a doctor and a person who worked for 10 years in a pharmaceutical company, I am very sensitive to the quality of ingredients, where they are produced, and to what standard they were produced. First, privately - for myself and my family, I was unable to find a supplement that would complement my daily diet. And this is where this idea came from, because I always had a problem finding something suitable, as you said - rarely anyone on the market states where the ingredients come from, and I was always looking for it. We decided to create nikalab as a response to this market, but also as a complement - the entire nikalab philosophy is based on the fact that diet is the most important. And even a well-balanced diet does not provide these ingredients in the right amount. Our Database includes only those ingredients that, in studies on the entire healthy population, have been shown to be incomplete in our diet. These are several ingredients, which is why I say that I am skeptical about providing myself with a handful of supplements, including those ingredients that we can easily get with food.

AC: You know, I thought it was worth talking about it. From the very beginning, I wrote in my books what my professors at university told me - let's get what we can from food. But what did it look like 20 years ago and what does it look like now? and I hope that you will also confirm this as a doctor - even broccoli in the past and now are two different vegetables.

NN: There are even studies that show that broccoli from the last 40 years was different. I call it "modern broccoli" because the folic acid content in it is 1.2 times lower than in broccoli from 40 years ago. In beans too - research shows that current beans have much less folic acid than before. The quality of food has changed a lot.

AC: The soil is heavily polluted. We have access to organic fruits and vegetables that are "clean", we have to cope somehow, our body needs nutrients. He calls all the time, without it we lack energy, he calls for vitamins and minerals - almost like in the fairy tale "Once upon a time". Please tell me, this is the moment, what do we have inside? This is something amazing, and I am very demanding when it comes to compositions.

NN: Me too. At nikalab we have three products - three bases tailored to a woman's age and life stage.

AC: Are the bases only for women?

NN: The bases are for women, we can talk about it later so that there is no discrimination - we also plan bases for children and men. But what we currently offer are Bases for women tailored to specific stages of their lives.

AC: You have the Base up to the age of 49, I have the Base over the age of 49 and I will explain in a moment why I use the "above" in the winter.

NN: Yes, you are 50+, and the third product is a Base dedicated to pregnant women. The five ingredients contained in Base 18-49 are: Omega-3 acids (DHA and EPA), vitamin D3 in the form of cholecalciferol, active folic acid (folate), choline and vitamin B12. These are the five ingredients that research shows are deficient in a large percentage of the healthy population. For example: 80% of people suffer from Omega-3 deficiency and do not absorb the recommended dose.

AC: Let's focus on Omega-3 acids for a moment, because there are many questions about it and we still know little about it. Omega-3 Omega-3 is not equal, especially when it comes to the issue of contamination. This is something that we do not pay attention to, but we also have no knowledge about it. We have Omega-3 from fish, but nowadays fish are increasingly contaminated, and we also have Omega-3 from algae - and boom! Fish have Omega-3 in them because they eat algae.

NN: Our body does not produce Omega-3 acids (DHA + EPA) on its own, so they must be supplied from the outside. Research shows that over 80% of the global population does not consume enough of them in their diet. As you mentioned, the entire market is built on fish oil containing Omega-3, and the only reason is that this form is cheaper. Our version is Omega-3 fatty acids from algae, because algae are the first source of them, they produce them, and fish only consume them. Unfortunately, in recent times there has been a lot of controversy surrounding fish, mainly regarding contamination with heavy metals and toxins. But not only that, also in terms of ethics in fish farming, which burdens the environment. Algae, on the other hand, regenerate quickly and produce oxygen for the planet, so since it is the first source, I think it is worth using it.

Choline – we will ask the Doctor for two words, because we don't know much about it either!

NN: Choline is an ingredient that is not talked about much. I hope that we will start talking more often and more about it, it is a vitamin from group B - B4. Choline is a very important ingredient because it is found in our cells. It is important at every stage of life, it participates in DNA synthesis together with folic acid and vitamin B12, but also supports the functioning of our liver. It supports cognitive functions, the functioning of our brain, protects our heart, reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes. We usually have a chance to get choline with products of animal origin (liver, fish), but research shows that people who eat meat still suffer from deficiencies of this ingredient. Research shows that up to 90% of the healthy population suffers from choline deficiency, which is why it is in our jar.

AC: A lot of people are now deciding to give up meat. And here there is a problem with choline, but also with vitamin B12. I gave B12 to my son because I know how important this vitamin is, even in the context of our energy level. B vitamins, in turn, are responsible for the functioning of our nervous system, so they are very important.

NN: Yes, it is. Another element is vitamin B12, which has been added to our Database. And not only in the context of vegans, but I myself belong to a group of people who try to limit the consumption of meat, and this group is constantly growing. There are also WHO recommendations on limiting the amount of red meat. Vitamin B12 is an ingredient whose deficiency is very difficult to detect. It takes two to five years for the first symptoms to appear. By then it may be too late, we may be approaching megaloblastic anemia. Therefore, you need to be very careful and check its level in the body regularly, once a year.

AC: I would also focus on folic acid, which is included in the Base up to and after the age of 50. And of course in the Database for pregnant women, because we often do not realize and associate folic acid with a blessed state. It is then natural for us to supplement it during pregnancy. But it is also an important acid for every person.

NN: You see, the third ingredient of our Base is a B vitamin. Another name for folic acid is vitamin B9. A very important vitamin that is often associated with pregnancy. And of course, this time is extremely important when a new life is taking shape, but vitamin B9 is important at every stage of life, not only in women - also in children and men. Folic acid is an ingredient that we cannot produce on our own. We have to get it from the outside. Usually in folic acid capsules, this vitamin is available in a regular, synthetic form. Forms of folic acid are divided into synthetic and natural (folate). The second, more desirable form is found in leafy vegetables: kale, spinach, broccoli. Due to the mentioned decrease in the quality of vegetables, deficiencies occur and it is worth supplementing this natural form of folic acid, i.e. folate. In nikalab products we have included the best form of this ingredient, fourth generation folate - quatrefolic. Why is it the best? Because research shows that up to 40-60% of people have a genetic mutation that prevents the absorption of the synthetic form of folic acid. This synthetic form must go through several reactions in the body and if we have a genetic mutation, the appropriate enzyme is missing, then ordinary folic acid has no way to activate. That's why I always advise everyone who takes this ingredient to pay attention to the form and whether it is really folate. It is then ready for absorption, it is its active form that does not cause absorption problems even with a genetic mutation.

AC: Nina, what if there are men on the other side and their ladies have such a packaging and they steal capsules from this jar for their ladies, what then?

NN: We have been working on women's products for a long time. It took us two years of continuous work and development. We are also planning a Base for men, we have been working on it for a year and a half, so men will also have their own product! But I must also admit that we have a base of regular customers who consciously decided to subscribe to the Database for women while waiting for the Database for men. They appreciated the quality, they appreciated the value, they decided that it was enough for now. But in a moment, I hope, we will launch a new product. It is not the case that the Base for men will have a radically different composition from the Base for women. There will be a slight difference, but men also need Omega-3 acids, choline, vitamins B12 and D, so the product for men will be similar, but tailored to men's needs.

AC: I am keeping the Base here, for which I received your blessing - I consulted you as a doctor, because I felt that for this winter period I should jump to the higher Base, i.e. 50+. I'm not 18 anymore, I'm turning 44 this year, so I'm close, but I felt that I needed more vitamins in the fall and winter. In this 50+ Base we have coenzyme Q10, vitamins E and A, i.e. sex vitamins.

NN: Yes, this Base has been enriched in accordance with research showing that, for example, after the age of 50, the production of coenzyme Q10 decreases, which is why it is added. This product also contains antioxidants, vitamin A and E and vitamin K2. Vitamin K2 greatly supports vitamin D and supports the transport of calcium directly to the bones.

AC: Especially since it is also a more difficult time for women, the perimenopause period, when we need more of these ingredients. Nina, but I also have my own feelings, because I have been using the Base for several months, I no longer have to travel with the entire "battery": separately B12, separately D, separately Omega-3 and it is very convenient. But I wanted to hear it from you, because you have been on the market for some time: what are the opinions of people who use this Base on a daily basis?

NN: Of course, everyone is different, it is a very individual matter. Some clients say they feel the first changes after just a few weeks. But there are also people who need more time to achieve this balance. Sometimes it is two, three, sometimes six months, because each body needs a different period to compensate for all deficiencies. What is important is that our Base and its ingredients work at the cellular level right away. Therefore, the effect at the cellular level begins with the first capsule, and users' feelings appear at different times. Many people write to us about the most important aspects such as: improved mood, more energy, better sleep, not only in terms of falling asleep faster or the continuity of sleep, but it is more nutritious, makes us have more strength, and this is very important. And the skin, make no mistake, we women like to look good and it is thanks to Omega-3 that the skin begins to look radiant. Due to the fact that the presence of vitamin D supports the functioning of the thyroid gland, we often hear opinions that the improvement is also visible in the condition of hair and nails. In addition, I will tell you what pleases me the most: that customers appreciate this quality and education, not only that it is a supplement, but that we try to educate. This supplement that we have built is only one part, one puzzle of the puzzle, and in our profiles we focus on education about sleep, exercise, relationships, emotions, diet... For us, the supplement is only a complement to this puzzle that everyone must consciously take care of.

AC: It's a pity that we don't have such advances in technology yet that you can feel it, because there's a reason there are oranges here, inside the jar there is...

NN: Inside there is an insert soaked in natural orange or lemon oil. We did it because it is such a small tidbit, but it has a big impact. Aromatherapy has its use here, sometimes I just open the jar to smell it and I immediately feel better. On a daily basis, it also helps swallowing pills, the insert eliminates the vitamin aftertaste that usually appears after taking supplements. We deliberately added a lemon scent to the Base for Pregnant Women because it eliminates nausea.

AC: I think that being a doctor is a very difficult profession nowadays, right?

NN: Not only in the current ones. The most difficult and the most beautiful, that's how I would describe it. It is the most difficult not only because it requires six years of studies, one year of postgraduate internship, and then a minimum of four years of specialization, but it is also a big responsibility. Responsibility not only for people, but also for yourself - you have to be healthy both physically and mentally to support people. I remember the times in Macedonia, when I was little, I always wanted to be a doctor. It wasn't just a dream, I looked at my family and friends and there was always some illness - serious or less - it was always associated with many questions, doubts, a lot of stress and just going to the doctor or hospital generated an increase in this stress. Since I was a child, I wanted to be an empathetic doctor, but also one who would not let a patient leave the office without answering the questions they asked. Even now, when I am an adult and I conduct a consultation, I do not allow a patient to leave with questions in his head. Sometimes medicine does not have the answer to everything, it does not offer all the solutions, which is why I am a fan of the holistic approach . Combining conventional and unconventional medicine expands the range of tools and methods and provides answers where traditional medicine cannot. Thanks to this, we can not only extend the patient's life, but also ensure the comfort of this life. If you send the patient home and he is even more confused than before he came to you - that is the worst.

AC: And you will take away his hope.

NN: Exactly. We cannot take away the patient's hope.

AC: Nina, why do you like us, Poles and in general - why do you like Poland? Today you told me that it's fifteen degrees in Macedonia, and here...

NN: As soon as I moved, I was very worried about how I would survive such a cold climate. I bought my first winter hat here in Poland. Recently, however, I caught myself doing this in a conversation and stopped complaining about the Polish weather. I guess I'm used to it, I've been here for so long and I think I even like how changeable the seasons are in Poland. It's winter, which I've never experienced as intensely as here, and I've even heard that for the last ten years, winters in Poland have not been as cold as they used to be. I like the balance that Poland has. Even Warsaw – it is neither too big nor too small. I'm amazed by the number of different parks, each one is beautiful, and I can't decide because I want to go to a different one every weekend. Lots of galleries! This balance, but above all, this contrast - there is the sea, there are mountains, many lakes. Most importantly: people. I have met a lot of wonderful people here, not only professionally, but also privately, they support me very much. There are many things that I like in Poland and I already feel like it is my country. Sometimes when I go to Macedonia and come back, I feel like I'm coming home.

AC: We also support you very much, the whole Naturalnie team, and we thank you very much for what you do, because apart from what is inside the jar, you also support the planet a lot. The yellow envelopes in which you send your products can be thrown into your home composter. And I only put them there when they are really worn out, because as long as they "work", I carry various things in them.

NN: Privately, I try to live in such a way that I do not separate our health from the planet. Because the planet gives us its resources and if we do not take care of it, it will not be able to give us its gifts. Creating nikalab was a big challenge, I must admit, there are few obvious solutions for ecological packaging at the moment. This is the first packaging that met our expectations. For me, an important aspect was also that it was suitable for storing pharmaceutical products. Our jar was made of sugar cane. There is a big difference between "biodegradable" and "compostable" and this jar can be disposed of in a composter, along with the label and glue. We didn't want to produce a surplus of packaging, so we rely on two. The envelope is made of corn, so it is also suitable for bio waste. We tried hard to find such a solution because the market is full of plastic and glass. Glass is also not ecological, as only 20% of glass is recycled. I'm glad we came up with this solution, I hope it will inspire other companies to take better care of our planet.

AC: Even yesterday, when I was parking my car, I couldn't find a spot and I thought of you. Nina sold her car to take more steps and now takes several thousand steps a day. And then I thought that I could leave the car, stop looking for excuses and just take a walk! And yet there is no health without exercise.

NN: What you say is very important. We are taught that we go to the doctor once a year. And it's very good that we perform tests that are considered preventive. But prevention is every day. These small steps make big changes every day. If we exercise and try to eat well, we should not overdo it - if we make an exception, that is also OK. Let's try to sleep well and find our own way to manage stress. Additionally, this wise supplementation and we have all the elements that make up everyday preventive activities.